Zombies of Mora Tau [The Dead That Walk] ** (1957, Gregg Palmer, Allison Hayes, Autumn Russell) – Classic Movie Review 8582

‘TERROR ON THE AFRICAN VOODOO COAST.’

‘In the darkness of an ancient world – on a shore that time has forgotten – there is a twilight zone between life and death. Here dwell those nameless creatures who are condemned to prowl the land eternally – the Walking Dead.’

Karl ‘Killer’ Davis and William Baskin play zombie sailors who protect a sunken wreck, whose diamond treasure greedy adventurers (Gregg Palmer and Joel Ashley) are after, in director Edward Cahn’s daft 1957 horror nonsense Zombies of Mora Tau [The Dead That Walk].

Zombies of Mora Tau is cheap and cheerful for those who like their horrors with unintentional laughs.

It is amusingly ridiculous, with a zero budget thanks to Sam Katzman Productions and Columbia Pictures, and no ambitions except to amuse thanks to the screenplay and story writers and to director Edward L Cahn. The screenplay is by Bernard Gordon, who was blacklisted and originally credited as Raymond T Marcus, based on a story by George H Plympton.

Also in the cast are Allison Hayes, Autumn Russell, Morris Ankrum, Joel Ashley, Marjorie Eaton, Gene Roth, Leonard Greer, Lewis Webb, Ray Crash Corrigan, Mel Curtis, and Frank Hagney.

Zombies of Mora Tau [The Dead That Walk] is directed by Edward L Cahn, is made by Sam Katzman Productions, is released by Columbia Pictures, is written by Bernard Gordon [who was blacklisted and originally credited as Raymond T Marcus], based on a story by George H Plympton, is shot in black and white by Benjamin H Kline, is produced by Sam Katzman, is scored by Mischa Bakaleinikoff (composer and conductor), with much use of stock music, and is designed by Paul Palmentola.

It was filmed at Columbia Pictures, 1020 West Washington Blvd, Culver City, California, and at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California.

Columbia Pictures released Zombies of Mora Tau in a double bill with The Man Who Turned to Stone (1957) with the ‘Warning – This is the Most Shocking Horror Bill Ever Shown!’

Allison Hayes (1930–1977) is remembered for The Undead (1957), The Unearthly (1957), Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) and The Hypnotic Eye (1960).

An acquaintance named Bernard Gordon (1918–2007) before the House Un-American Activities Committee, and he was fired from a studio and blacklisted. In 1997 he said: ‘The action by the Screenwriters Guild [restoring some of his writing credits] comes about 40 years too late to help my Hollywood career. I sure am angry at the way I was treated by all the major studios. They blacklisted me, and I couldn’t get any work in this damn town.’

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8582

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com