Wally Brown and Alan Carney probably don't come up that often when people talk of classic comedy teams. They do come off as a bargain version of Abbott and Costello. That said, they do manage to be likable enough and passably amusing, in this mostly enjoyable nonsense about Jerry (Brown) and Mike (Carney). Jerry and Mike are press agents for a former mobster turned entrepreneur, Ace Miller (the well cast Sheldon Leonard). Ace is starting up a nightclub named The Zombie Hut, and Jerry and Mike have promised an authentic zombie for the opening. So it's off to San Sebastian they travel to try to procure one of the living dead; here they encounter a beautiful singer (the ravishing Anne Jeffreys) and a nefarious scientist (the great Bela Lugosi, who is the main reason to watch this) trying to contrive his own zombies.
More modern viewers may wince at racist aspects to some characters and script details. Otherwise, this proves watchable enough for 68 lively minutes. The performers do their best; the supporting cast also includes Frank Jenks, Ian Wolfe, Louis Jean Heydt, and Sir Lancelot, who popped up in the more serious genre fare produced by Val Lewton and RKO. There's nothing particularly riotous or atmospheric in "Zombies on Broadway", but it has its mildly entertaining moments. One of the best bits is saved for the end, and it involves putting on an act for some natives. (The monkey is so cute in this scene.) Ms. Jeffreys plays a fairly tough and resourceful woman, not quite the typical victim. When she is face to face with zombie slave Kalaga (Darby Jones), she doesn't scream, but faints instead.
Bela Lugosi fans will want to see it for him. Even when working with second rate or third rate (or even worse) material, he never seemed to phone it in, and he's a delight as our conniving villain.
Fun ending, too.
Five out of 10.
More modern viewers may wince at racist aspects to some characters and script details. Otherwise, this proves watchable enough for 68 lively minutes. The performers do their best; the supporting cast also includes Frank Jenks, Ian Wolfe, Louis Jean Heydt, and Sir Lancelot, who popped up in the more serious genre fare produced by Val Lewton and RKO. There's nothing particularly riotous or atmospheric in "Zombies on Broadway", but it has its mildly entertaining moments. One of the best bits is saved for the end, and it involves putting on an act for some natives. (The monkey is so cute in this scene.) Ms. Jeffreys plays a fairly tough and resourceful woman, not quite the typical victim. When she is face to face with zombie slave Kalaga (Darby Jones), she doesn't scream, but faints instead.
Bela Lugosi fans will want to see it for him. Even when working with second rate or third rate (or even worse) material, he never seemed to phone it in, and he's a delight as our conniving villain.
Fun ending, too.
Five out of 10.