An archaeologist Prendergast ( Clay Clement ) provokes an ancient Hindu curse in "Asia" in 1913 by stealing some treasure and a high caste Indian dancer Chanda. He then disappears. Twenty years later the investors in his expedition track him -now a cripple - down and want their share of the loot. He complies as long as they stay in his dark creepy house for a week to experience the Curse for themselves. A killer gorilla then starts bumping off characters you don't give a stuff about when the lights go out.
Haven't we been here somewhere before ?
This is just full of cliches and plot holes ; there's no real reason for the twenty-year gap for a start and the motive for most of the murders remains murky. It is fairly light in tone with comic cops and a bickering eldely couple providing some mild amusement but it's easily forgotten.
Verna Hillie ( as Ella Browning )
Sex : No
Death : Survives
Verna was better known for Westerns in a short film career curtailed by contracting Bell's palsy. She later worked as a health care administrator. She died after a stroke in 1997 aged 83.
Joyzelle Joyner ( as Chanda )
Sex : Her dancing costume is quite skimpy
Death : Survives but may well be executed for murder after the events of the film
Joyzelle was not , surprise surprise, Indian. She was a bit part actress, usually employed for her dancing skills, and this was probably her most substantial role. It was also one of her last. She died in 1980 aged 75.
Fritzi Ridgeway ( as Stella )
Sex : No
Death : Neck broken by the ape although there's no real motive as Stella is merely a companion to one of the investors who's already been despatched.
Fritzi was also at the end of her career having made enough money, mainly in Westerns, in the silent era to build her own hotel in 1928. She died of a heart attack in 1961 aged 62.
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