Movie Info
Movie Name: Revolt of the Zombies
Studio: Academy Pictures Distributing Corporation
Genre(s): Horror
Release Date(s): June 4, 1936
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Geeze! Zombies are boring!
A group of “zombie” soldiers fights in World War I, and after the war, a group sets up to find the secret of creating and controlling living zombies. Armand Louque (Dean Jagger) finds himself falling in love with Claire Duval (Dorothy Stone), but Claire is in love with Clifford Grayson (Robert Noland). When Armand finds the secret of turning people into zombies, he uses it to take control and force Claire to be with him.
Originally Revolt of the Zombies was a planned to be a sequel to the Bela Lugosi classic White Zombie. A legal battle broke out about the rights to a sequel because of White Zombie‘s backers and Revolt of the Zombies wasn’t allowed to be marketed as a sequel. Throughout the movie however, Bela Lugosi’s eyes can be seen (much like they were seen in White Zombie).
Exotic dancing! Alright!
The story is kind of uninspired. The movie just plods along and since it is a relatively early movie, the sound is kind of all over the place. The story just doesn’t have the thrust of White Zombie (which was the first zombie movie). It is interesting that the zombies aren’t zombies as they are considered today, but more of the “real” idea of zombies. They are the living dead essentially…people who are being controlled and can’t control themselves. It would be interesting to see another zombie movie like this and see if it could make it in today’s “zombies are actually dead” market.
Oh no! Eyes!
Revolt of the Zombies is in public domain and can be easily found. It is often part of the big multi-movie packs that usually also include White Zombie and more pre-code classics…so might be worth an investment. It is short so it isn’t much of a commitment, so if you are a fan of zombie movies or just simply want to see early horror, it should maybe be checked out. If you have the choice however, watch White Zombie which is much better and more developed as a film. Revolt of the Zombies isn’t awful, but a bit of a struggle to watch.
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