kevin olzak "Cobra Woman" brought together two of Universal's biggest box office stars of the war years, Maria Montez and Lon Chaney, in a Technicolor extravaganza helmed by director Robert Siodmak, who proves better than his material by going at such a linear, fast paced clip that one simply goes along for the ride. So simple is its structure that it's no wonder that Montez fans consider it her masterpiece, for indeed no matter your disposition, this one is tough to dislike. Chaney fans can only be disappointed however, for after starring in two of his greatest films, "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man" and "Son of Dracula," he is sadly reduced here to a mute supporting role as Hava, powerful priest/bodyguard for Mary Nash's Queen, hoping that Tollea will save her people from the tyranny of evil twin sister Naja (both played by gorgeous Maria), whose immunity to the poisonous bite of the King Cobra makes her the all powerful ruler. Edgar Barrier's high priest supplies additional villainy, while the expected heroics of Jon Hall and Sabu include much leaping and jumping. It's pretty much Maria's show whenever she's on screen, and for my money her finest moment is the exotic dance performed for the cobra's benefit, exalted fodder for lovers of camp, but also a real showcase for her abilities at undiluted eroticism at its best. For Chaney, it was the only color film among his Universal credits of the decade, and an opportunity to pay tribute to his father in the opening scene, pretending to be a blind beggar while preventing Sabu from discovering his cleverly hidden instrument of death.

jpjjpowers A grand example of Hollywood delirium, and a major influence on 60s filmmakers including Jack Smith, Andy Warhol and John Waters. Maria Montez plays twin sisters---one good, one evil---vying to be queen of Cobra Island, a dazzlingly lush tropical location. Actually filmed on location in Laguna Beach. Some think of Montez as the first method actress in the movies, which is to say that she took her roles so seriously that she was known to act as if she had 'become' her character even to the point of appearing off-screen in full costume and expecting to be treated as some sort of exotic royalty. Now that's entertainment!

slabihoud This film is far beyond camp and so bad that it is bad again! There are many bad films who are at least fun to watch, but not this. Although only 70 minutes long you feel every one of it. I was watching it at Vienna's International Film Festival and regretted it heavily. Kenneth Anger presented the film and that was the only entertaining thing about it. For the rest of the time I tried to decide what was worse, the acting, the dialog, the story or the outrageous costumes and sets. Robert Siodmak must have closed his eyes and ears during shooting this and hoping for a better chance, which he got. The three main actors were easily upstaged by a chimpanzee and even that one would have had a strong rival in his colleague from the Tarzan series.Maria Montez and Jon Hall did a fine job not to look into the camera while speaking that stupid dialog without laughing but that was about it. Sabu was even worse. I had to close my eyes several times when he was on screen. I don't need to mention that his role was degradingly racist, but he did nothing to show you that he had more sense than the role demanded.If this had come from a small studio of Poverty Row I would not talk about it at all. But this was a Technicolor production by Universal Pictures during WWII with an unusual amount of outdoor scenes. A lot of money went into the sets and costumes as well. I do suspect that not only Kenneth Anger saw this film in his early days, I believe so did Stephen Spielberg. The costumes, sets and some parts of the story reminded me of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom". But Spielbergs film had a definitely better screenplay and actors as well!

MartinHafer To many, this film will seem pretty silly and insignificant. I admit it. But, for what it was, it was one of the best. This film was meant to be a silly escapist film--not a "big" movie but a B-movie meant to entertain the kids and adults alike. And, it was a major step up from the average B-western (which, after seeing a few, looked the same). And the audiences loved these silly, yet magical films. This happens to be one of my favorites. Before I even saw it, I saw a publicity photo of the very sultry Maria Montez as the Cobra Woman--dressed in a turban, evening gown and lounging across a giant cobra statue. Considering I was about 13 or so, I think I fell in love! I HAD to see this hot lady in the film! Well, when I finally located a video of it years later, I finally had my chance (though by then, I had found my own "Cobra Woman" and didn't have quite the same pressing need as when I was a teen). It was silly but intensely exciting--with lots of action, campiness and Jon Hall as the only man virile enough to tame this "she-beast"! I loved it and wanted to see it again--it was magical and just plain fun! See it and enjoy unless you are a super-sophisticated person. I love foreign films and art films but sometimes I just gotta have some mindless B-movie fun!