PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES
Director - John Gilling, Screenplay - Peter Bryan, Producer - Anthony
Nelson Keys, Cinematography - Arthur Grant, Music - James Bernard,
Special Effects - Bowie Films Ltd, Makeup - Roy Ashton, Art Director -
Don Mingaye, Production Company - Hammer-Associated British Pathe Limited.
1966.
Cast: André Morell (Sir James Forbes), Diane Clare (Sylvia Forbes),
Brook Williams (Dr. Peter Tompson), Jacqueline Pearce (Alice Mary Tompson),
John Carson (Squire Clive Hamilton), Alex Davion (Denver), Michael Ripper
(Sergeant Jack Swift), Marcus Hammond (Tom Martinus), Dennis Chinnery
(Constable Christian)
In a Cornish village during the mid-1800's, the inhabitants of the town
are dying from a mysterious plague that seems to be spreading at an
accelerated rate. Even the local doctor, Peter Thompson, cannot combat
the disease. Alarmed, Thompson sends for outside help from his friend
Sir James Forbes. Accompanying Sir James is his daughter Sylvia. In an
attempt to learn more aabout the disease, Sir James and Dr. Thompson
disinter the corpses that were recently buried. To their surprise, the
men find all the coffins empty! Conducting further investigations on the
mystery lead the doctors to encounter zombies walking near an old,
deserted tin mine on the estate of Squire Clive Hamilton. Sir James
is informed that the squire lived in Haiti for several years and practiced
voodoo rituals, as well as black magic. This information leads him to
research on the subject of the black arts.
Later that evening, Squire Hamilton pays Sylvia a visit. Purposely,
Hamilton manages to shatter a wine glass, and Sylvia happens to cut her
finger on one of the sharp edges of the glass. Secretly, the Squire
conceals a piece a piece of the blood-stained glass into his coat pocket
and departs. With a vistage of Sylvia's blood, Hamilton uses his voodoo
magic to lure the heroine into venturing in the dark woods. She is led
to the abandoned tin mineby an army of walking zombies for a voodoo
ceremony that will transform her into one of the walking dead.
Sir James and Dr. Thompson race to the mine where they confront Hamilton
and his army of zombies. The demented Squire reveals how he controls the
zombies, how they work the mines as slaves for him, and how they are
capable of killing anyone who stands in his way. Suddenly, a battle
ensues and a fire is inadvertently set off as a result of the fight.
Sir James and the doctor rescue Sylvia and flee from the burning flames
as they listen to the anguished screams of Hamilton and his zombies;
thus the plague is ended.
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