Obeah![2] is a 1935 American horror film directed by F. Herrick Herrick and starring Jean Brooks and Phillips Lord. In the United Kingdom, the film was released under the title The Mystery Ship.[1] It is believed to be a lost film.[3]
| Obeah! | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | F. Herrick Herrick |
| Written by | Robert Carse[1] |
| Story by | F. Herrick Herrick |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Harry W. Smith |
| Edited by | Leonard Weiss |
Production company | Arcturus Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 75 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
A sailor, known as "The Adventurer," searching for a lost American explorer discovers him being held hostage on a remote island in the South Sea. The man is held captive by the island's natives, who have placed him under a voodoo spell known as "obeah." The Adventurer attempts to halt a death ritual but fails, and the explorer dies. The Adventurer is forced to flee the island, taking with him a native woman and the daughter of the dead explorer.
With the help of a map taken from the explorer, the three attempt to locate a chest of gold that has been sunk off the island shore. Meanwhile, the high priest of the island people casts a curse on the three, and a love triangle ensues between those on the ship.[lower-alpha 1]
The film was produced by the New York City-based production company Arcturus Pictures.[8] Based on a story by director F. Herrick Herrick,[9] the film's script was written by Robert Carse, the film's production began in June 1934[10] and lasted several weeks. The film was shot on location in Kingston, Jamaica.[11]
An additional article published in Film Daily claimed the film's shoot lasted a total of eleven months, shot on a worldwide cruise that stopped in over twenty countries.[6] Later trade reports reported the shoot had only lasted four months.[6] The ship's crew as well as various unknown performers appear in the film.[6] Scenes were filmed at Papine and Port Royal, alongside interior shots in downtown Kingston bars.[12]