Obeah! | |
---|---|
Directed by | F. Herrick Herrick |
Written by | Robert Carse [1] |
Story by | F. Herrick Herrick |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Harry W. Smith |
Edited by | Leonard Weiss |
Production company | Arcturus Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 75 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Obeah! [2] is a 1935 American horror film directed by F. Herrick Herrick and starring Jean Brooks and Phillips Lord. In the United Kingdom, the film was released under the title The Mystery Ship. [1] It is believed to be a lost film, as no copies of it are known to exist. [3]
A sailor, known as "The Adventurer," searching for a lost American explorer discovers him being held hostage on a remote island in the South Sea. The man is held captive by the island's natives, who have placed him under a voodoo spell known as " obeah." The Adventurer attempts to halt a death ritual but fails, and the explorer dies. The Adventurer is forced to flee the island, taking with him a native woman and the daughter of the dead explorer.
With the help of a map taken from the explorer, the three attempt to locate a chest of gold that has been sunk off the island shore. Meanwhile, the high priest of the island people casts a curse on the three, and a love triangle ensues between those on the ship. [a]
The film was produced by the New York City-based production company Arcturus Pictures. [8] Based on a story by director F. Herrick Herrick, [9] the film's script was written by Robert Carse, the film's production began in June 1934 [10] and lasted several weeks. The film was shot on location in Kingston, Jamaica. [11]
An additional article published in Film Daily claimed the film's shoot lasted a total of eleven months, shot on a worldwide cruise that stopped in over twenty countries. [6] Later trade reports reported the shoot had only lasted four months. [6] The ship's crew as well as various unknown performers appear in the film. [6] Scenes were filmed at Papine and Port Royal, alongside interior shots in downtown Kingston bars. [12]