Geev Me that Cobra Jewl

Cobra Woman is as fun as Universal’s other exotic tales. It was actually meant to follow Arabian Nights, but White Savage came first. If it was filmed first, then it would explain why Maria Montez, Jon Hall, and Sabu are all reunited after the latter’s absence in Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Once again, Cobra Woman has nothing to do with One Thousand and One Nights, but I’m glad I had an excuse to watch it. It really is a forgotten camp classic. The title sounds like a comic book crossed with a monster flick. The Wolf Man himself Lou Chaney Jr. is the first person we see. He plays the large mute Hava who comes from the mysterious tropical Cobra Island.

Hall and Montez are close once more as Ramu and Tollea respectively. They’re soon to be married with Sabu as their best man. Sabu often feels like an Indian Kato, and this time his name is Kado. Kado is Ramu’s young friend who saves the day with a blowgun. There’s also an intelligent chimp named Coco who can sew. Samuel S. Hinds is the fatherly Father Paul and Moroni Olsen is Tollea’s adoptive father MacDonald who reveals her origin. Tollea is the rightful ruler of Cobra Island brought back by Hava. Mary Nash is her Queen grandmother and model Lois Collier helps out as Veeda.

They tell Tollea about her ruthless twin sister Naja who took over as High Priestess. It’s a good excuse to have Montez in a dual performance as the fragile Tollea and devious Naja. Naja’s costumes are ridiculously extravagant and her snake dance is just as entertaining as her accentuated accent. Naja deliberately messes with Ramu when he finds her before Tollea. Edgar Barrier is the supporting villain Martok who plans to marry Naja. There’s also an angry volcano that the people worship. Montez fighting herself is the crown jewel of the whole silly picture. Cobra Woman has everything you could want from an island adventure made at this time.

High Priestess Naja