98 Weird Woman ( 1944 )

This  is  a  bit  more  like  it. Four  of  our  girls  feature  in  this  enjoyable , and  thunderously  un-pc  from  the  sensitive  title  onwards, offering  from  Universal's  Inner  Sanctum  franchise. That  was  usually  concerned  with  mystery  thrillers  but  this  has  enough  of  the  trappings - and  certainly  enough  of  the  stars  - to  qualify  as  a  horror  pic.

Norman  Reed ( Lon  Chaney  Jr )  is  a  sociology  professor  who  meets  a  young  girl  Paula  living  in  a  voodoo  tribe  in  the  South  Seas  and  becomes  her  somewhat  patronising  husband. She  encounters  hostility  and  suspicion  from  his  campus  associates particularly  his  old  flame  Ilona. It's  a  good  job  Paula's  played  by  a  white  actress  when  she's  being  told  to  "Get  back  to  the  jungle !" Strange  things  start  to  happen.

Anne  Gwynne  ( as  Paula  Reed )

Sex : No

Death : Survives

Anne  plays  the  titular  character  and  has  never  looked  better  as  you  can  see  for  yourself.

Evelyn  Ankers  ( as  Ilona  )

Sex : Evelyn's  been  pretty  buttoned-up  in  her  previous  films  so  it's  nice  to  see  her  in  some  nightwear.

Death  : Falls  through  a  trellis  roof  and  is,  rather  improbably,  strangled  by  vines  on  the  way  down.

Evelyn  gets  to  play  the  villain  for  once  and  is  a  revelation  as  a  scheming  jealous  bitch.

Elisabeth  Russell  (  as  Evelyn  Sawtelle  )

Sex : No

Death : Survives

Elisabeth  chews  the  scenery  somewhat  as  the  wife  of  Norman's  academic  rival  but  it's  nice  to  see  her  getting  a  bit  more  screen  time.

Lois  Collier  ( as  Margaret  Mercer )

Sex : Comes  on  to  Norman  but  he  rebuffs  her

Death :  Survives

Lois  is  great  as  the  perky  student  Ilona  sets  up  to  seduce  Norman.