Customer Reviews

Cobra Woman [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

FANTASTIC DVD-R!!!! After reading so many negative remarks about these DVD-R's, I felt compelled to write a review of this DVD-R. I have been anxiously waiting for Universal to release this Film on DVD. I just received this DVD-R today and have already watched it three times!! The picture quality is Fantastic along with the sound quality. Clear and sharp picture. I played it in my Blu-ray player without any problem's whatsoever. Now if only Universal will release Sudan, Gypsy Wildcat and White Savage!! I will be in Jon Hall and Maria Montez Heaven. I definitely will be buying more of these DVD-R's from the Universal Vault Collection.

By no means a cinematic masterpiece, 1944's COBRA WOMAN instead illustrates the perfect, undemanding "check your cares at the door" fare that WW2 audiences adored. Universal's established megastar threesome Maria Montez, Jon Hall and Sabu ("Arabian Nights") reunite for arguably their most popular outing.

Island beauty Tollea (Maria Montez) is kidnapped on the eve of her wedding to Ramu (Jon Hall), and transported back to the island of her birth. Ramu and his sidekick Kado (Sabu) soon follow, where they discover a cult of cobra-worshippers, led by Tollea's twin sister Naja and corrupt High Priest Martok (Edgar Barrier). The girls' aging grandmother, the Dowager Queen (Mary Nash) wants sweet Tollea to inherit the throne, but evil Naja isn't about to quit without a hell of a fight! Seriously Tollea, just give Naja her "cobra jool" already...

A noted camp classic (mainly because of it's outrageous sets and the "cobra kooch dance" sequences led by Maria Montez and a group of showgirls who look like they've just escaped from a Copa floorshow), COBRA WOMAN is the splashy Technicolor B-adventure at it's glorious height. Despite being made in the thick of WW2, there's very little economy seen on the screen. Never exactly great shakes in the acting department, Maria Montez soldiers on and almost gets away with the twin routine. Mary Nash, best-remembered for her 'witchy' roles (tormenting poor Shirley Temple in "Heidi" and "The Little Princess" for example), adds a much-needed gravity to the proceedings as the old Queen. Studly Jon Hall and Sabu are given little to do in this otherwise estrogen-fuelled film. Lon Chaney Jr. has a curious role as a mute thug.

For those who aren't terribly enthusiastic about the whole Manufacture-on-Demand scenario (and who have multi-region capability) there's also a fantastic pressed DVD edition of COBRA WOMAN available from the Odeon Entertainment label in the United Kingdom.

Cobra Woman (1943) is Maria Montez's best picture because she plays
twin sisters, one good and one evil, and every one knows that two
Maria Montezes are better than one. Unfortunately, that means her acting
is twice as bad, but who cares? She's beautiful and a joy to watch -
like Carmen Miranda without the musical talent and the fruit.
Jon Hall, Sabu, Lon Chaney Jr., Edgar Barrier, Mary Nash and Lois Collier
are featured players.

On the day of her wedding, the good sister is kidnapped and returned to
Cobra Island (her birthplace) by the aging queen in order to confront
her evil sister to prevent her from continuing her sadistic ritual of
human sacricfices to the angry volcano god. The pagan King Cobra ritual
is high camp and a must-see.

Cobra Woman is everything a fan of Saturday Matinee flicks could hope for.
If you love the RKO Tarzan series, you will love this film, plus it has the added benefit of glorious Technicolor. The print is beautiful...sharp
and clear and bright and the colors are perfect.

So far, Arabian Nights (1942) and Ali Baba And The Forty Thieves (1944)
have been released on dvd. Can Sudan (1945), White Savage (1943)
and Gypsy Wildcat (1944) be far behind? I hope so.

Unfortunately its not a Technicolor "restoration", but instead appears to have been transferred from what is probably the best print available. Picture and sound are pretty good all things considered; just makes me wish for a Blu-ray version of a full restoration, which with old Technicolor can sometimes produce eye-popping results like "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves".

By no means a cinematic masterpiece, 1944's COBRA WOMAN instead illustrates the perfect, undemanding "check your cares at the door" fare that WW2 audiences adored. Universal's established megastar threesome Maria Montez, Jon Hall and Sabu ("Arabian Nights") reunite for arguably their most popular outing.

Island beauty Tollea (Maria Montez) is kidnapped on the eve of her wedding to Ramu (Jon Hall), and transported back to the island of her birth. Ramu and his sidekick Kado (Sabu) soon follow, where they discover a cult of cobra-worshippers, led by Tollea's twin sister Naja and corrupt High Priest Martok (Edgar Barrier). The girls' aging grandmother, the Dowager Queen (Mary Nash) wants sweet Tollea to inherit the throne, but evil Naja isn't about to quit without a hell of a fight! Seriously Tollea, just give Naja her "cobra jool" already...

A noted camp classic (mainly because of it's outrageous sets and the "cobra kooch dance" sequences led by Maria Montez and a group of showgirls who look like they've just escaped from a Copa floorshow), COBRA WOMAN is the splashy Technicolor B-adventure at it's glorious height. Despite being made in the thick of WW2, there's very little economy seen on the screen. Never exactly great shakes in the acting department, Maria Montez soldiers on and almost gets away with the twin routine. Mary Nash, best-remembered for her 'witchy' roles (tormenting poor Shirley Temple in "Heidi" and "The Little Princess" for example), adds a much-needed gravity to the proceedings as the old Queen. Studly Jon Hall and Sabu are given little to do in this otherwise estrogen-fuelled film. Lon Chaney Jr. has a curious role as a mute thug.

Please release a DVD format of this movie "Cobra Woman, starring Maria Montez" with English Subtitle and in English language...

I saw this film, years ago...when I was a young boy. Loved it then, and am enjoying it all over again.Maria Montez,and Jon Hall had a chemistry. They looked great together, and made a few films.These Universal epics were great entertainment, back then. Wish they would release more of Maria Montez's films. These films are pure entertainment, and escapism...Beautiful technicolor...and lavish setttings...I recommend this film.

For anyone who's interested the Spanish Region 2 edition of "Cobra Woman" looks great - it's a pity about the script, story & acting! Maria Montez proves herself to be, without doubt, one of the worst acresses ever to grace the silver screen (& she plays 2 roles so we get twice as much of her)! Even the likes of Mary Nash & Lon Chaney struggle to keep their dignity in this truly apalling film that makes "The Prodigal" & "Queen of Outer Space" both look fantastic.

If you're a fan of bad cinema and/or Maria Montez then this is a must. The print is beautiful with vivid colours and a fairly crisp picture throughout. I gave it 3 stars because of the visual quality - the actual film barely deserves one star!