Wednesday, May 23, 2012

CULT OF THE COBRA - "She Who Is A Snake" (1955)

They used to show "Cult Of The Cobra" all the time on TV when I was a kid, but I never did really like it! Besides the fact that it's a simple accursed mystery tale disguised as a horror flick, the basic premise is just bothersome!

Here's the basic storyline!! If the stupid American G.I.'s had just done as they were told, there wouldn't have been a problem or a story! They were warned, one guy didn't listen, and now the whole team has to pay the price!

Talent is not a problem as "Cult Of The Cobra" sports an all-star cast that includes Jack (FORBIDDEN PLANET - BART MAVERICK) Kelly, William (109 Episodes of The F.B.I.) Reynolds, David (The Fugitive) Janssen, Marshall (IT! The Terror From Beyond Space) Thompson, Richard (77 Sunset Strip - The Big Valley) Long, and James (Mutiny In Outer Space) Dobson!!!!!! Daru the snake charmer is played by Leonard (The Claw) Strong! In this beginning scene, Daru is telling the boys about the ancient sacred snake ceremony that he will sneak them into for 100 bucks, but there's just one catch, "No Cameras!"

The Asian version of the RCA Victor His Master's Voice logo with a monkey instead of a dog!

I was in The Army! I know what guys do when they're off duty, they get really drunk, and act stupid, no matter what part of the world they're in! Too bad these characters didn't have some pinball machines to keep them occupied and out of trouble!!

"Remember, No Pictures!"

James Dobson's character is an idiot! He thinks he can sneak a picture of the ceremony with one of those old-time flashes that throw a massive white light, and make a big popping sound to boot! Reminds me of the time Tabonga and I smoked a cigarette in the car when my Mom went into the market for five minutes, and we thought she wouldn't notice the smell!!

The Carlssons get credit for the dance numbers! Good Luck finding out any more info on them!

A huge melee breaks out when the guys are discovered and brain bat Dobson tries to make off with the snake urn, like they're not in enough trouble already!!

The other five stage a daring escape!!

Meanwhile, now in the hospital, Dobson has an uninvited guest! All I can say is that the dumbass ends up reaping exactly what he sowed, "The Curse Of The Cobra!"

The boys all head back to America, and the next thing you know, a beautiful stranger shows up in their town! This stunning beauty is one of Tabonga's favourite actresses, the sultry siren Faith Domergue! Faith is a Dungeon Goddess, and her next three movies after this were "This Island Earth," "It Came From Beneath The Sea," and "The Atomic Man!"

David Janssen is the next to go! After some 97 credits, hard working, fast living David succumbed to a heart attack at the age of 48!

Faith's character is named Lisa Moya, and she just recently moved into an apartment directly across from Marshall Thompson's pad. They've only gone out a couple of times, but she already feels compelled to go to David's funeral!

One by one, the curse takes it's toll! Jack Kelly is the next victim!! Dig that krazy snake eye lens!

There's not a whole lot of suspense here, the viewer knows exactly what's going on from the get go! Looks like they spent a lot on these silhouette images!

They just don't make movies like this anymore because these days somebody would have looked up cults on Google after the first death, and the film would have only been 20 minutes long!

Everybody else is getting it figured out, but Marshall is a little dense, and doesn't realize Lisa is a snake until after he tosses her off a balcony, and in this amazing transformation scene, changes back to her normal self!!

Aw, Man, snake or not, now I'm never going to get any! Damn, Damn, Damn!!!

Beautiful poster!!

2 comments:

  1. Great post! i haven't seen this one since the 70s and had forgotten that Domergue was the cobra...

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  2. Thanx Prof, always keepin' yer mind in mind!!

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