Voodoo Woman (1957) - full transcript

Zuranda under spell now,
she ready.

You've done your work well.

Now it's my turn.

Your magic and mine.

No!

Gods like my magic, maybe
not like yours.

Oh, you startled me.

I wish you'd wear shoes.

No, shoes and Bobo big enemies.

No like.

What do you want?



Bobo come say maybe Madam
Mrs. Lady want cup tea.

No, thank you.

What are they doing out there?

Not know.

You like me, Bobo, don't you?

Oh, very fine lady.

Then help me get away
from here, please!

Get me as far Bandalaya
and I'll give you this.

You speak run away,
doctor kill me.

This, too.

It's yours if you
help me escape.

Gandor outside.

He watch house every minute.

No speak run away.



Bobo not listen.

This very sad house for you.

If I stay here, he'll kill me.

You can help me if you want to.

I know how I help.

I bring you cup nice hot tea.

She must be powerful of
mind and body, this new woman.

The blood of the fox
to make her cunning.

The claw of the cougar to
make her strong.

She will have the
strength of 10 tigers

and she'll kill, Chaka.

She'll have to kill to survive.

The venom of the viper
to make her kill.

It's reacting.

Now she's ready.

Not yet!

The blood ritual.

After that, we must wait.

Where's he taking ya?

Up north, that's all he'd say.

Last night after he go
to his room, I find this.

What do these things mean?

These are the objects
used by the natives

in the ceremony of the voodoo.

This isn't gonna help us.

Make him tell ya.

He's tough, Marilyn,
he's tough and he's smart.

It isn't that he's so smart.

It's just that you're stupid.

How'd I ever get mixed up
with a guy like you anyway?

I think I had some
dough at the time.

Come on, Mom'll show
you how it's done.

Well, what is it this time,
Marilyn?

You look lonely, Harry.

And you think you can cure it?

I've been known to.

Some cures are worse
than diseases.

You hate my guts and
I hate yours.

That's true, but that doesn't
mean we can't do business.

Get to the point.

You're spoiling my drink.

Go on, Ox.

About this trip, when
do we get going?

You know our guide is
supposed to be

on the Jawar bus tomorrow.

We leave the next day.

That's wild country
you're going into.

What are you looking for?

That's my business.

I thought this deal
was between us.

What's her stake in this?

She...

I figure to marry
Rick when he gets back.

I wanna make sure he does.

You know the way women are.

You going to marry her?

One week with you and
you'll join her boyfriend

back in the States,
the one she...

I'd kill you, too.

But there's still a
drink left in here.

Cut it out.

I've got a right to know
what I'm going after.

Wealth, lots of it,
if we get back alive.

What kind of wealth?

Gold? Money? Diamonds?

We're going into the
jungle to bring back

a secret recipe for borscht.

There's millions in it!

This fiancee of yours,
don't turn your back on her.

You'd better not either.

I don't intend to.

No luck, eh, cherie?

Give me another.

Alas, ma petite, I shall be
forced to cancel the credit

which I have so
generously extended,

but I am helpless.

Whiskey does not grow on trees.

Yours does.

This stuff tastes like
it comes from a gum tree.

Tastes like turpentine.

I'll outfox him.

Go to his room.

Wait for me.

Go on!

You are very angry, cherie.

Hand me my bag.

You think he's carrying a gun?

You know I do not permit
my customers to carry a gun.

I'm going to his room and
I don't want him to see me.

Yvette.

Yvette.

More of them drawings.

Keep looking.

Where did Marilyn go?

You have made Marilyn
very angry, Monsieur.

I tell you this for your
own protection.

Thanks for the warning.

If there were police
in this place,

you would seek their help.

I've got a gun in my room.

That's enough protection for me.

It's a long way to your room,
Monsieur.

For $5 American.

Did Monsieur think I would
give him an empty gun?

Just a little.

Alas that I am so misunderstood.

Yvette, my favorite song.

Rick!

Hold it in the light.

This stuff's gold.

I wonder what
they use for the eyes.

Diamonds and rubies.

I'm rich! I'm rich!

Not quite.

Turn around and put your
hands flat against the wall.

Put that down!

I'm not kidding.

I know you're not.

Marcel is a friend of mine.

She's cute, huh?

You'll never be able to
find where that came from

without me, Marilyn.

I'm the only one who knows.

I'll make a deal.

I can't deal with you, Harry.

You know that.

We'll find out where
they are, won't we, Rick?

Let's get out of here.

What for?

There's no cops here.

Marcel will cover for us.

Keep searching.

How come you didn't tell
me about that rigged gun?

A girl just naturally keeps

from telling
everything she knows.

Keep looking.

We're doing it, Chaka,

white man's science and
the black voodoo.

You know what they said
about me in the States?

That I was a man of science

trying to outrage the
laws of nature.

But my forms couldn't change.

We're proving them wrong.

Magnificent.

She like this while spell last.

Then she change back.

But she must stay like this.

I'll find a way.

I'll take her back home
to my own laboratory.

No, no take home.

Zuranda, daughter of priest,
next village.

But we can't stop now.

We're brothers of the blood,
Chaka.

I'll make a goddess of her,
mighty and indestructible.

Not my kind goddess.

I'll take her away from
here, back to my own people.

I not know.

Chaka.

You can tell your people
it was your magic.

They'll make you a god,
a god for all time.

They'll make sacrifices
in your image.

Look.

You take her.

It is Marcel.

Ah, poor Monsieur Harry,
a sad funeral.

No one to mourn him.

Only my tears to
water his grave.

May he rest in peace.

It was very costly, too.

You owe me much money.

I don't doubt that,
the way you keep books.

There were many
things to attend to,

witnesses to swear he
died of a heart ailment.

No one ever knows when the
gendarme will start coming

to this forsaken place and
start asking questions.

I hope all this
unpleasantness was worthwhile.

Not exactly, but we've
got a starting point.

These things make sense to you?

The black voodoo.

This beautiful sound
you hear is gold, Marcel.

Beyond Bandalaya, the
voodoo country.

Those dolls are up in
there somewhere.

And all we've gotta do
is find that somewhere.

It would be suicide
to attempt it.

I would throw myself on this.

You just finished telling
us how much we owe you.

If you wanna get it back,
why don't you help us?

I have warned you that
is all I can do.

If you are successful
in your attempt,

I will expect a respectable
rate of interest.

That's our Marcel, back
to normal again.

Rick tells me that Harry
didn't know the guide

who's coming today.

That's right.

He hired him by mail,
he told me that.

Marcel, meet the new Harry West.

A rare pleasure, Monsieur Harry.

Likewise, Monsieur.

I will offer
one suggestion, gratis.

Yeah, I'll bet.

Every voodoo tribe have their
own symbol, their own signs.

Then we've gotta find the
tribe with the right markings

and we're where we wanna be.

Precisely.

Marcel, you're a genius.

Well.

That is very possible.

Aha, a new face, and a
handsome one.

My girls will be pleased.

You can tell them
I'm not buying tonight.

Looking for a Harry West.

Oh, you must be the
guide Monsieur West hired.

Marilyn!

This is Monsieur West's guide,

Mademoiselle Marilyn Blanchard.

American, huh?

You know the Bandalaya country?

Been outta the States long?

Your tongue glued in your mouth?

I figured my boss was Mr.
Harry West.

No use answering the same
questions twice.

I got news for ya.

I'm his boss.

So if you answer my questions,
you're in the clear.

Name is Ted Bronson, 6'1",
180 pounds,

sleep light and eat heavy.

When I'm broke, which is
most of the time,

I hire out as a guide.

Anything else?

You'll pass.

I'm sure we'll make the most
of our little trip, you and I.

You going along?

It's pretty rough
country for a woman.

I'll survive.

When do we leave?

Tomorrow.

Good, gonna go turn in.

Oh, I forgot to tell you.

I never mix pleasure
with business.

Sometimes they're
one in the same.

I'm sure we'll get
along just fine.

Cherie, I think in that
one, you meet your match.

We'll see.

From this point on,
we'll be in voodoo country.

They won't like our being there,

but if we leave them alone,
they won't bother us.

Maybe.

We'll turn back at Bandalaya.

Beyond that point, they'll
do more than just resent us.

Like what?

Like a poison dart in
the back of the neck.

Pleasant little
things like that.

Sounds real cozy.

For a Russian ruble, I'd
check out of this treasure hunt.

Treasure hunt?

He's, uh, kidding.

Look, I'm warning you,
you make one hostile move

or show too much curiosity
about their customs and rituals

and they'll kill ya.

There's more than one
white man's skull

hanging from their totem poles.

We'll be good, won't we, Harry?

Oh, the very best.

Now let's start
this little walk.

Voodoo drums.

We'll be hearing
them from now on

and there'll be somebody
watching us all the time.

So don't leave camp by yourself

and don't reach for your guns

unless you know what
you're shooting at.

From here on, we're
very unwelcome visitors.

You make too much of
this voodoo stuff.

They know enough to
respect this.

Now listen, you.

Hey, cut it out, you two!

I know what's eating him.

He's jealous.

All right, we'll make camp here.

What are they doing down there?

Not know.

No go.

He kill you.

Me too.

Oh, God!

This time, its effect
will be permanent.

Go to your room, Susan.

I'll be back in a few minutes,
Chaka.

I told you never to go
near my laboratory.

I heard her cry out.

You were interfering
with my work, Susan.

Nobody's gonna stand in
my way, not even you.

If we had it to do over
again, we'd know better,

wouldn't we, Susan?

You wouldn't have married
a man of my age

and I wouldn't have
undertaken to play nursemaid

to a whimpering, shallow woman
who's been crying homesick

for the past seven years.

What were you doing with
that poor girl?

You'll know very soon.

I've a right to know now.

Very well.

I'm using her to
create a new being.

A being?

Not man, not beast, but a
combination of the best of each.

When I'm finished,

we'll take her back to the
States with us.

We'll shatter the very
foundations of science.

You're insane.

Never say that!

Never say that to me again!

Oh, Roland, let me
go home myself, please.

No, we're going back
together in triumph.

I can't stand it any longer.

Please, Roland.

Please.

It's too late now.

If you try to escape,
I'll kill you.

You are ready.

From this time on, I will
send my thoughts to you

and you will obey.

Even though I do not speak,
you will hear my voice.

Rise,
Zuranda.

Come with me.

Stop.

Go to the village.

The hut, destroy it.

After them!

You didn't obey me.

You must kill or you
will not survive.

Do as I say.

Destroy the house.

You asleep, Ted?

Tell me something about
this voodoo routine.

Well, it's as old as
human life itself.

Based on superstitions,
hysteria, hypnosis,

and native medicines.

You know, I've seen healthy
men shrivel up and die

because some priest cursed
a rag image of them.

And I've heard of men
going out of their mind

because somebody drew a
certain symbol

in the dirt at their feet.

I like the sound of those drums.

It's like they were
talking to me.

I wanna go past Bandalaya,
to the north country.

If you do, it'll be without me.

I'll change your mind.

Wait and see.

I'll wait.

My people angry.

They say you try make
Zuranda kill own people

in next village.

They want girl back.

That not all.

White man come this way.

Evil sign.

Tell them I'll use Zuranda
to get rid of the white people.

Tell them I'll have her
kill the white men

if they don't go back.

No, no, Zuranda no kill.

She good.

She no do nothing under
spell she not do when awake.

You tell her kill,
you break spell.

I'll teach her to kill.

No teach this.

Must be born to kill.

Bring girl back.

Soon it will be the night
of the blood sacrifice.

Third night
moon fill sky.

I'll bring her back then.

No harm my people.

I swear it.

I swear it in blood.

What's the matter?

Put that down.

Knock one of them watchdogs off

and they'll leave us alone.

From now on, I'd better
hang onto these.

If you'd have killed
that native,

we'd be feeding
vultures in an hour.

He won't give you any
more trouble, Ted.

All you gotta do is
lick him once.

All right, we'll be in
Bandalaya in the morning.

We get supplies and turn back.

Right back to Marcel's
place, empty-handed?

Oh, he'll love that.

He'd be so tickled,
he'd slit our throats.

What did you expect to
come back with?

Butterflies to add to
his collection.

I don't know about you two,

but when we get to Bandalaya,
I turn back.

Now let's go.

You've hardly eaten anything.

I'm not hungry.

I wanted to go for a walk today.

Gandor wouldn't let me.

He's just following
my instructions.

I'm a prisoner in my own home.

You might say that.

Bobo, you've been very
careless about Mrs. Gerard.

She found her way down to
my laboratory yesterday.

I, I go to kitchen.

I come back, she gone.

Very careless, Bobo.

I've spoken to Chaka about...

Chaka!

Please, Mr. Doctor, tell
him I do anything you say.

The matter's out of my hands.

I have a surprise for you.

I'm ready to show you
what I've accomplished.

Come along, my dear.

I...

I don't think I care to see.

You said you wanted to know.

Now I insist.

Come along.

No!

No!

No!

She's dead.

No, she's between
life and death.

She's in a state which I
call pre-transformation.

Talk to her, Susan.

Zuranda.

I only have to think a
command and she'll obey.

Get up.

Go to the end of the room
and come back.

Tell her to lie down
on the table.

Lie down.

Lie down on the table.

I've seen enough.

No!

No, not nearly enough.

Science has many disguises.

You'd be surprised how
much knowledge of medicine

and chemistry I've
gathered here.

Take the curichi root,
for example.

It has the most amazing
effect on a woman's skin.

Used to take hours to
achieve results.

Now it's only a
matter of seconds.

Not a mark.

I've thrown a spear at
this leg, not a scratch.

Look at this.

This acid could eat its
way through iron.

The indestructible being,
immune to the folly of man

and the death cycle of nature.

What are you trying to prove?

Prove?

Only that there are no secrets
that genius cannot fathom.

And this deathless
being of yours,

what are you going to
do with her?

Lead her through the
halls of the colleges

that mocked my theories.

And after that?

She may mother a whole
race of new beings.

Oh!

You are crazy!

You gonna babysit all
night with those guns?

Looks like it.

What's the matter?

You act like I was
sprayed with poison.

You are.

You didn't think so last night.

Temporary insanity.

I knew you were poison the
minute I laid eyes on you.

Then why'd you take the job?

I needed money.

I'm a sucker for eating regular.

What are you after, Marilyn?

What's this all about?

Eh, voodoo stuff, huh?

What about it?

Suppose I was to tell
you that one of the tribes

around here uses gold to
make the stuff.

Could be.

But you'd have to be
out of your mind

if you think you could
get your hands on it.

Then I'm out of my mind
because I'm gonna get it.

They'd tear you apart
limb from limb.

I need your help.

I'll split 50-50 with you.

What about your
friend over there?

The jungle swallows a
dozen of 'em every day.

Nice, clean-cut,
all-American girl, huh?

Right outta the slums
of Pittsburgh,

and this is my chance
to stay out.

I want that gold so
bad I can see it

every time I close my eyes.

You know your way around.

You can talk their language.

I'm still not buying.

I'll take you as far
as Bandalaya,

then you're on your own.

Oh, and leave me the
address of your next of kin.

I'll write them a nice,
long letter.

Tell 'em how you died
in the jungle,

'cause you won't be coming back.

I'll take that gamble.

I'm coming back with it
or not at all.

You're coming with me.

I need your help.

I can kill.

I've done it before.

Get yourself some sleep.

I'll sit up with this armory.

Go on!

It's either me with the
guns or Harry.

And you know how he
feels about you.

Better give it some
thought before morning.

Might save your life.

Who is it?

Me, Bobo.

Open door.

No one here.

Some of your people
come this way.

White people?

How far away?

Near Bandalaya.

Bobo!

Not you.

They catch you.

I try.

This place bad.

You write letter.

I take white man's camp.

Maybe I lucky.

This make you feel better.

Better I now go.

Be very careful, Bobo.

Bobo no careful.

He die.

Maybe some tomorrow
you be happy.

Me too.

Maybe.

That's what you gotta
look for, those markings.

You'll find them on
their totem poles

and on the walls of their
huts, if you find them.

What about that
watchdog out there?

I'll draw him off.

Ah, ah, ah!

I've been looking for an excuse.

You just won't be friendly,
will you?

Come on.

Look what you're making me do.

All right, lie down.

That'll keep him curious.

Go on out that way.

There could be somebody
out there, too.

If Harry doesn't come
back, we'll know there is.

First time I ever had to
tie a man to keep him down.

Those drums are talking to me.

They're saying you're
rich, Marilyn, you're rich.

Listen, he'll hear 'em, too.

Faster, we must move faster.

It isn't too late to sign up,
Ted.

Pay's real good with
bonuses thrown in.

You're still fighting me!

This'll be something to
tell your grandchildren,

how you protected your virtue
against overwhelming odds.

You gonna help me?

Well, untie me and I
might help you stay alive,

if it's not too late.

I'm tired.

I'm gonna go to bed.

See you in the morning.

I'm a light sleeper

and I like you, but...

Yeah?

There.

These are enemies of
your people.

They've come to kill.

You must kill them.

Your father's gods
demand their lives.

You must kill.

Kill!

Chaka was right, I
can't make you kill.

You're no use to me.

Go back to your village.

You lost, baby?

Don't be scared.

I'll see that you get home.

What'd you learn?

This, right in our own backyard.

The same outfit
that's been tailing us.

We got this far.

What now?

We'll talk about it
in the morning.

You're cut up pretty bad.

I just tangled with some
bushes, that's, that's all.

White man die for this.

That's only right.

All white man die, you too.

If they kill me, much
evil will come to them.

They say you evil.

My magic will curse
them forever.

Whoa.

It is bad to kill at the
time of the sacrifice.

The white people will
themselves kill the guilty man.

Tell them that.

Must do right away.

One of you killed a
native girl last night.

You must be punished at once,

otherwise you will all die.

It was him.

Now wait a minute, if
I remember correctly,

I was tied all night.

Looks rough.

Marilyn, you ain't
gonna let 'em kill me.

You can talk them out of it.

Square it somehow.

What can we do?

Take him.

They want one of
you to kill him.

Marilyn, wait a minute.

It's either him or us.

Now, Marilyn, listen.

Marilyn, you can't!

You weren't kidding when
you said you could kill.

You live around here,
near these people?

With them.

Can you fix it up for us to
hang around a little while,

kinda rest up a little
bit before we start back?

I don't know.

I think so.

This is the outfit that
owns the gold.

You can stay with me
for a few days.

If you don't mind, I think
I'll head for Bandalaya.

Wait a minute.

I think he needs a rest, too.

Yes, I believe he does.

It was lucky
meeting up with you.

I've got a hunch I can
use you in my business.

I'm almost positive
I can use you in mine.

What's that?

A death mask.

Crazy.

I don't know why, but
I see myself in that.

You're very susceptible.

If you're interested, I
can tell you a great deal

about the voodoo rituals.

Ted tells me that they
try to kill any white man

who wanted to see a ritual.

And yet you live right
in the middle of it.

You might say I'm part of it.

You, uh, live here alone?

My wife occupies that room.

Unfortunately, she's
not well at the moment.

She's...

She's mentally sick,
severe paranoid,

subject to hallucinations
of torture and persecution.

Oh, Gandor, show our
guests to their rooms.

I've already told them you're
to have complete freedom.

How 'bout me?

Gandor will act as a
sort of personal guide.

That's a new name for it.

Yes.

You're an unusual young woman.

I thought you'd be
frightened down here.

I haven't been
scared of anything

since I was two years old.

I heard that some of these
objects are made of gold.

Is that why you came here?

Yes.

Is it true?

Oh, Chaka had more gold
than you could carry.

Will you help me get it?

That could mean your life.

I'll gamble.

What do I do?

Undergo the rituals of the god.

With my influence, they'll
make you a priestess.

Then you can have
anything the tribe has.

I'll do anything they want.

We'll talk to Chaka.

What's in it for you, doc?

The usual?

The very unusual.

Who are you?

What do you want?

Ted Bronson, a
reluctant house guest.

Say, this isn't any
medicine for a sick woman.

You're wrong.

This is what's keeping me alive.

He'd kill me if I
didn't have this.

Who would?

My husband.

He's crazy!

He'll kill you, too.

You must get away from here.

Get to Bandalaya, bring
back help, please!

Ah, you're just overexcited.

You're imagining things.

I didn't imagine that
hideous creature

he made out of that
poor native girl.

Made?

I saw it, in his laboratory!

Be careful.

I just thought I'd go
for a little walk.

You changed my mind, corporal.

I can take a hint.

They are preparing for one
of their most sacred rituals

tomorrow night, the
festival of the sacrifice.

Sacrifice?

Generally some
member of the tribe

who's fallen out of favor.

These things made of gold?

I'll talk to Chaka.

You stay here.

Don't touch any of these things.

Won't be easy.

I've come along way for these.

I've brought you the white girl.

White woman no take voodoo.

This one will.

She's born with it in her blood.

She'll be perfect.

She'll bring you a white man

for the sacrifice
tomorrow night.

You must be
completely receptive.

Susan, it's me, Ted.

How'd did you ever
get past Gandor?

Even he's gotta sleep sometime.

Listen, I had to find out
who was crazy,

you or your husband.

Now I know.

I just took a look around
his laboratory.

He's got everything in there

from high octane gas and
gun powder to pig's blood.

I'm gonna try and make
it to Bandalaya.

If I'm lucky, I'll be back in
a couple of days with help.

You
could've gotten away.

Well, it wasn't
as important to...

Take me with you.

I can make it faster alone.

Now you be careful and
keep your door locked.

I wouldn't want anything
to happen to you.

We'll make it yet.

Be ready to travel.

It's working, Chaka.

Stop!

Too fast!

Nothing will stop me now.

Nothing will destroy you,

not a flame, nor
weapons made by man.

People say stop.

Perfection at last.

Very well, I'll take her home.

I
release you now.

You will remember
nothing of this.

How do you feel?

Fine.

Is that all there is to it?

Until tomorrow night.

Better be nice to me, Ted.

I become a full-fledged
priestess tonight

and that makes me eligible
for that yellow stuff

that you said I'd never get.

It's all yours.

I'm checking out of here
the first chance I get.

It won't be tonight.

What do you mean?

I heard Doc tell
Gandor to take you

to that big festival tonight.

Good dog, Rover.

I need you for a moment, Gandor.

I'm sure you will excuse him.

Don't be too long.

Now listen, I'm gonna
make a dash for it.

Gandor'll follow me.

Now you wait five minutes
and then you take off.

Do you know where the
path to Bandalaya

takes an eastern turn?

You wait for me right there.

Oh, Gandor will kill you.

No, I don't think so.

The doctor wants me at
that ritual tonight

and I think he wants me alive.

Why?

I don't know, but I
don't mean to find out.

Tonight you will leave
this form permanently.

You will forever remain a
being of strength and daring.

And as long as I live,
I will be your master.

You have no life but
that which I give you.

Now.

Evening, Rover.

Big doings going on out there,
huh?

Nice night.

You will hear me though
I do not speak.

Soon we will visit Chaka.

You are ready now.

Rise!

Keep away!

You can't kill her.

I warned you not to
try to escape.

Destroy her!

You've got to.

I don't know that I can.

I've given her eternal life.

You're insane.

You're a maniac!

Take her to Chaka.

Susan!

Put her down.

Come along, dear.

Chaka's expecting us.

Let me go!

I'm sorry, dear.

You
stay there 'til I call you.

Here you are, Chaka.

I promised you a
white sacrifice.

Your wife?

She was ready to betray me.

She means nothing to me.

Give her to your gods.

Oh no!

Oh no!

No!

Help! Help!

Susan!

Priest says give all
white mans to gods.

Tell them their lives
are in my hands.

At my command, they'll
grovel before

a new and mightier god.

This isn't exactly the way
we had planned it, is it?

You shouldn't have
come back here for me.

You could've gotten away.

Somehow it wasn't as
important without you.

Maybe I'll tell you
about it someday.

Lot of good that will do,

but I'll listen.

They want you, too.

I think this is coming loose.

Lean on these ropes.

It's coming.

Okay, once more now.

Your
gold is waiting for you.

Hurry!

The gold!

That is my magic.

She kill you, too.

Stop magic!

They thought I'd be
a sacrificial victim.

Chaka must die, too.

Fool.

What need have you for gold?

Clay, that's all they were.

There was only one gold
object left, Chaka's idol.

He took that with him
into the pit.

Stop!

Stop!

You must obey me.

You're nothing without me.

Nothing! Stop! Stop!

It's an old trick,
these Molotovs.

They're coming here.

This at least will
get us through.

Here they come.

If we have any chance
at all, it's right now.

Sorry I had to do that.

Come on, let's go.

Bus from Jawar on time?

It will be here in
a few moments.

Oh, good.

Marilyn and her friend,
they come back with you?

They're dead.

Dead?

She owe me much money.

Better luck next time.

Her friend perhaps is
dead, but not Marilyn.

I have a feeling that
one still lives.