Tad Pole
. . . is one of the many medical dramas from that era showing that what was then referred to as "The World's Second Oldest Profession"--Nursing--was one of the quickest ways for a lady to earn her MRS. degree back then. I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE is somewhat of an outlier, as most of the movies churned out from this mold involved wounded World War Two servicemen getting serviced by and sometimes wedding the female nursing staff (this being the benighted times BEFORE "Don't ask, don't tell"). Instead of being called upon to serve a private with major wounds (or vice versa), Nurse Betsy's I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE adventure calls her up to action on behalf of a wealthy husband with a nonfunctional wife. As brother Wes notes, Betsy has all the meds necessary to allow her to fill this breach herself through attrition. Sadly, Betsy is not the sort of chick to get her hands soiled, forcing Wes himself to step in and do the dirty work. But as so many G.I.s found out to their delight in the mainstream cinema nursing docs, "Things go better with Cloak"--whether it's the white shroud of secrecy surrounding the nursing "profession," or their white wedding-like capes that do nothing to bridle their inexorable march toward that hallowed Bridal Aisle.
writers_reign
This is a clever take on Jayne Eyre by a great producer-director team Val Lewton and Jacques Tourneur who made several films for a stick of gum in the early forties and obtained 90 per cent of their effects by allowing the viewers imagination to stand in for cgi which was still decades in the future. Tom Conway may have only had a voice and suavity in common with his brother George Sanders but he makes a half-decent fist of the Rochester role and it's a great chance to catch the elusive Frances Dee as the Jane Eyre figure. She married Joel McCrea in the early thirties and didn't work nearly enough post-nuptials despite being a talented actress and a looker with it. Decent B-picture.
Charles Herold (cherold)
There are a lot of terrific elements in this movie. It is moody and atmospheric, subtly ominous, and like many Lewton movies leaves its supernatural elements ambiguous.But the most unusual thing aspect from a 1940s movie is how it treats black. First off, note that the West Indies natives don't speak in either the "yass ma'am" or "ooga booga" styles that represented the entire spectrum of black portrayals in the U.S. at the time. They talk in slightly accented, but perfectly normal English. Also, the movie specifically mentions the slave industry at least twice. There is a wonderful scene near the beginning in which the main character discusses the island's history with her driver. He mentioned they were brought here in chains, she says, well at least they brought you to a beautiful place, and he says, very politely "if you say so."That is such an awesome exchange. He is a servant and he's not going to argue with her, but he also won't kowtow. It is a conversation you can actually believe will happen.The movie also shows surprising respect for the Voodoo aspects. The natives believe in it, but they aren't mocked for it, and in the ceremony they do actual African dance, instead of some weird Hollywood fakery. The movie, again typical of Lewton, has a lovely complexity to it. Characters are more than they appear to be, and their motives are not simple. It's not a perfect movie. Some of the acting is less than stellar and I suspect some explanatory scenes were cut, as it sometimes feels rushed and slightly disconnected. But it is not to be missed.
dstanwyck
That's what I said. What in the world, or rather, other world was that all about? Beautifully atmospheric and photographed and as James Agee said about Frances Dee "one of the most beautiful faces in Hollywood", and well enough acted. But - what was going on? One absurdity after another. No real need to make any sense out of it. After all, what sense could be made? None. Too many loose ends and unfinished thoughts and jumpings ahead and poorly scripted without anything holding it up. And, finally, who cares and if you do, why? However - it was exquisite to look at which is all that you need to do for this film. Just look at it and breathe it in. And, in the end, in this film - that is all that really mattered. 6 stars for "stuff" and 11 stars for beauty.
AD
