White slaves Charismatic American actor Vincent Price for a half-century career played more than two hundred roles in movies, but became famous for his work in horror films. The role of the villain brought him many fans and made him a cult figure among fans of this genre. The high stature and aristocratic appearance of the actor made him an ideal figure for playing the roles of cunning criminals and conspirators. Of course, not all of his roles are equally important. Along with classic horror films in his filmography, there are many passing works that have not left a noticeable trace in the history of cinema. This category includes the thriller “House of a thousand dolls”.
The film is set in Tangier, a major port city in Morocco. A married couple suddenly meets an old friend who is extremely puzzled by the mysterious disappearance of his wife. Enthusiasized to investigate, new detectives discover that this is not a single crime, but a gang of international criminals who kidnap beautiful young women and sell them to underground brothels. Traffickers are helped by the nightclub magician Felix Manderville (played by Price), who hypnotizes future victims and deprives them of the will to resist. The unfortunate girls are taken to the “house of a thousand dolls” mentioned in the title, where they are forced to fight each other in the mud for the entertainment of the public and subjected to various tortures. It is curious that the owner of this broth was played by actress of Russian origin Elena Samarina, born in Omsk.
This collaboration between Germany and Spain, directed by British director Jeremy Summers, is not a complete failure, although it is clearly made hastily with the help of many genre clichés. The story itself is absolutely standard and does not harbor special surprises, but viewers can be interested in beautiful landscapes, cute actresses and, of course, Vincent Price, who even in such an unassuming tape manages to create a memorable image of the villain.
5 out of 10