SHE DEVIL

Mari Blanchard

SHE DEVIL (1957). Director: Kurt Neumann. 

Dr. Dan Scott (Jack Kelly of Cult of the Cobra) is convinced that all animals have the ability to heal themselves, and has come up with a miracle serum derived from fruit flies. His associate and friend Dr. Richard Bach (Albert Dekker of Gammera, the Invincible) warns him against testing it on humans, but they both agree there is no harm in testing it on a hopeless case, a dying woman named Kyra (Mari Blanchard). The serum not only saves Kyra's life, but gives her amazing healing properties as well. To study any further effects of the serum, Kyra agrees to move in with the two men -- the maid Hannah (Marie Blake) will serve as chaperone -- but they soon discover that Kyra has a decidedly ruthless and opportunistic nature. 

Marie Blake displays her opinion of Kyra's painting

She Devil should have been a fun movie, but it lacks energy and real viciousness and never fully exploits its potential. One gets the impression that Kyra -- who has a hard-luck story we never really get to hear -- was a sociopathic personality long, long before Dr. Scott administered his magical elixir, but this never occurs to the scientists. Despite the elixir being derived from fruit flies, Kyra never starts crawling across the ceiling or turning part-bug as The Wasp Woman does -- or as the hero does in The Fly, also directed by Kurt Neumann -- although that certainly might have been amusing. Blanchard plays the sexy hard-boiled, one-dimensional Kyra as well as anyone could, supported by a bland Kelly and an earnest Dekker. Marie Blake, herein billed as "Blossom Rock" as she was later on The Addams Family TV show, has one of her best and biggest roles and is very funny as the disapproving maid Marie, especially when she reacts to a painting of Kyra that she gives cast-off lover Dr. Scott as a wedding present. 

Jack Kelly and Albert Dekker

Two other significant roles in the film are played by John Archer and Fay Baker, the former as Barton Kendall, a wealthy suitor -- and then husband -- of Kyra's and the latter as the former's outraged wife, Evelyn, who is helped into eternity by the actions of the second Mrs. Archer. Although the score by Sawtell and Shefter at times tries to work up some pathos, sympathy, for Kyra (in the hopes that it was the serum that made her evil, as unlikely as that might be), the movie is too junky to really make anything of this. In fact, She Devil would have been a much more worthwhile watch if it was even more lurid and sensational. Paul Cavanagh shows up briefly as a wealthy man Kyra assaults and robs in a dress shop. Kurt Neumann also directed They Were So Young. 

NOTE: The same source material was used for an episode of Science Fiction Theater, "Beyond Return," that aired two years earlier. 

Verdict: Too tame by far. **. 

CULT OF THE COBRA

Faith Domergue as Lisa

CULT OF THE COBRA (1955). Director: Francis D. Lyon.

Several soldiers are in Asia in 1945 when they encounter a man named Daru (Leonard Strong), who tells them he can get them in to see the rites of a snake-worshipping cult  -- the Cult of the Cobra -- for a price. Unfortunately, while the ceremony is going on, one of the men, Nick (James Dobson), stupidly takes a photo with a flash bulb! Pandemonium results, one cultist is killed, and a death curse is placed on the heads of the fleeing G.I.s. 

Leonard Strong, Jack Kelly, Reynolds, Janssen

Back in the U.S., Tom (Marshall Thompson) learns that Julia (Kathleen Hughes), who dated both Tom and his roommate Paul (Richard Long), has decided to marry the latter. A despondent Tom is happy to meet a beautiful new neighbor, Lisa (Faith Domergue of Legacy of Blood), and they quickly fall for each other. In the meantime, Tom's G.I. buddies -- Rico (David Janssen), Carl (Jack Kelly), and Pete (William Reynolds) -- begin dying in mysterious ways, and Lisa takes surreptitious walks late at night. The Cult of the Cobra. also known as Lamians, always claimed some of the cultists could change from human into snake ... 

On the rebound? Marshall Thompson

Cult of the Cobra is an entertaining picture with an interesting cast. Although Domergue may not seem like the perfect choice to play an Asian snake goddess, she gives a generally good performance, as does Marshall Thompson. Domergue convincingly gets across her distress that she may be forced to kill a man that she is falling in love with. The other actors show little emotion as their buddies start dropping like flies. The picture has no atmosphere or much directorial flair, although it does generate some suspense towards the end. Kathleen Hughes is decorative as Julia. A confrontation between her and Domergue is over just as it starts to get interesting. 

Verdict: Worth one look but probably not another. **1/2.