1932s White Zombie is the first real Haitian “zombie” film and the first “zombie” film. Produced and directed by the Halperin Brothers, it starred Bela Lugosi as Murder Legendre and gave Madge Bellamy her first role in a number of years. Screen writer Garnett Weston took many of the film’s plots/imagery from William Seabrook’s The Magic Island. The film would get a sequel (of sorts) with 1936s Revolt of the Zombies, which was originally to star Lugosi and even used shots of his eyes—but that film is more infamous for its court cases than its actual substance. White Zombie is a classic of the horror film, not only because of the acting but because of the atmosphere, which is reminiscent of the Val Lewton horror films of the 1940s. The Halperin Brothers would never again bring such a tight production—rumours that Lugosi help with direction, including directing parts of the film have gone down in Hollywood lore.