Curse of Simba
| Curse of Simba | |
|---|---|
 Australian theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Lindsay Shonteff |
| Screenplay by | Brian Clemens (as "Tom O'Grady") Leigh Vance |
| Produced by | Richard Gordon |
| Starring | Bryant Haliday Dennis Price |
| Cinematography | Gerald Gibbs |
| Music by | Brian Fahey |
Production company | Gala Film |
| Distributed by | Allied Artists |
Release date | 1965 |
Running time | 77 min (UK) 61 min (US) |
| Country | UK |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £50,000[1] |
Curse of Simba, also known as Voodoo Blood Death, is a 1965 British supernatural horror film set in Africa, but filmed in England in 18 days.[2] The film was cut by several minutes and released as Curse of the Voodoo in the United States where it was released as a double feature with Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster.
Plot
When white hunter Mike Stacey kills a lion in Simbazi country in Africa, he is cursed by the tribal chief. When the curse that manifests itself with hallucinations follows him to England, he consults an expert on the subject. The expert informs Stacey that the only way to remove the curse is to return to Africa and personally kill the man who put it on him.
Production
As a follow up to Devil Doll (1964) producer Richard Gordon and director Lindsay Shonteff selected a completed screenplay by Brian Clemens originally titled The Lion Man for their star Bryant Haliday. Though set in Africa, the film was economically shot in black and white with outdoor sequences filmed in London's Regent's Park and the use of stock footage of African fauna.[3][4]
The movie was originally budgeted at £35,000 and meant to be shot in four weeks, but because of poor weather ended up being completed a week over schedule and £15,000 over budget.[1]
Cast
- Bryant Haliday ... Mike Stacey
- Dennis Price ... Major Lomas
- Lisa Daniely ... Janet Stacey
- Ronald Leigh-Hunt ... doctor
- Mary Kerridge ... Janet's mother
- John Witty ... Police Inspector
- Jean Lodge ... Mrs. Lomas
- Beryl Cunningham ... nightclub dancer
- Louis Mahoney ... African expert
- Danny Daniels[5] ... Simbaza chief
References
- ^ a b John Hamilton, The British Independent Horror Film 1951-70 Hemlock Books 2013 p 142-144
- ^ p. 24 Jaworzyn, Stefan Shock xpress 2, Volume 2 Titan, 01/03/1994
- ^ p.186 Weaver, Tom Richard Gordon Interview in Return of the B Science Fiction and Horror Heroes: The Mutant Melding of Two Volumes of Classic Interviews McFarland, 2000
- ^ Tom Weaver, The Horror Hits of Richard Gordon, Bear Manor Media 2011 p 114-118
- ^ http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2010/12/12/hollywood-actor-dies-at-yarrokabra/