NEW PRODUCT: Star Ace Toys: 1/6 1932 Edition "White Zombie" - Bela Lugosi (Deluxe Edition / Regular Edition / Scenario Stage)

I like the design of the diorama but it is too small to be much use for anything.

It is a very nice base...

I have no idea who White Devil is. The figure looks decent enough.

ukshaun wrote:I have no idea who White Devil is. The figure looks decent enough.

The movie in which this Lugosi character appears is actually called "White Zombie," not "White Devil." The film was released in 1932, following the success of "Dracula" (1931).

The base of the lamp is wrong, and the birds in the film are supposed to be vultures, not crows.

"A cloud of vultures always hovers over the house of the living dead."

LOL, they really goofed up after all, didn't they, Skippy. I was blissfully unaware...

GubernatorFan wrote:LOL, they really goofed up after all, didn't they, Asta. I was blissfully unaware...

I skipped through the film to see if there were any other similar lamps in the graveyard, but didn't spot any. So these by the garden gate must be the ones, because Bela opens the right hand one and takes the candle out to carve into the effigy of Madeline. He then melts it in the flame of the left hand one.

The bird is a big goof because it's 'vultures' that appear repeatedly, and hold significance throughout the film.


For the film itself, it does have its moments of creepy atmosphere. The acting is still very much influenced by the silent era. There's one pretty gruesome scene left to the imagination: the zombies in the Haitian sugar mill walk in a circle pushing bars that turn blades chopping sugar cane in a vat above. On the upper level one of the zombies tipping the cane trips and falls into the vat, while the zombies below continue turning the blades!  

I confess I have never seen it, so I lack this deeper appreciation (or expectation) of the product. But, as always, I admire your interest in getting (or making) something as close to its source as it can possibly be. And such things are a useful thing to know for any of us collectors, so thank you for sharing.

GubernatorFan wrote:I confess I have never seen it, so I lack this deeper appreciation (or expectation) of the product. But, as always, I admire your interest in getting (or making) something as close to its source as it can possibly be. And such things are a useful thing to know for any of us collectors, so thank you for sharing.

It's not a figure that I'll be ordering, but it's interesting to see more focus on films of this period. Maybe if it was Kaustic Plastik who was completely behind this and in control of the project, and they applied their usual quality and attention to detail I'd be more inclined.

With KP's figures the license is for the actor likeness rather than the film, which explains certain differences with the accessories (such as Dracula's coffin). Even the name 'Dracula' is used as the term "Bela Lugosi as Dracula" under the Lugosi LLC copyright.

White Zombie is apparently in the public domain so Star Ace were able to reference it without copyright concerns. Therefore there shouldn't be any need to make the lamps different or the vulture as a crow.


Star Ace have also used "Bela Lugosi as Murder Legendre" under the Lugosi LLC copyright in the exact same manner as KP.

I do get the feeling that KP are behind this on Star Ace's behalf, though looking at the Bela Lugosi site there's no mention of KP, Star Ace or X-Plus on the licensing page:

https://belalugosi.com/licensing/


The Star Ace and X-Plus sites don't have any reference to this figure either. It's all pretty mysterious.

Interesting distinctions, Skippy. Looks like all the more reason to have gotten it right.

Four-hundred bucks?

https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/193439

I'm being priced out of this hobby!

So is there any indication of who actually is responsible for the finished product? It seems Star Ace is just distributing, which would make sense considering how good it looks. I'm tempted by the regular version but know of Star Ace's issues.

At BBTS:

Deluxe Version with Base - $399.99 + shipping -- https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/193439

Standard Version - $279.99 + shipping -- https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/193454

Black & White Limited Edition version - $299.99 + shipping -- https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/205024

Display base only - $149.99 + shipping -- https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/193467