The Snake Woman * (1961, Susan Travers, John McCarthy, Geoffrey Denton, Elsie Wagstaff, Arnold Marlé, John Cazabon) – Classic Movie Review 13,986

Sidney J Furie’s 1961 British horror film The Snake Woman is written by Orville H Hampton, and stars Susan Travers, John McCarthy, Geoffrey Denton, Elsie Wagstaff, Arnold Marlé and John Cazabon.

Director Sidney J Furie’s 1961 British horror film The Snake Woman is written by Orville H Hampton, and stars Susan Travers, John McCarthy, Geoffrey Denton, Elsie Wagstaff, Arnold Marlé and John Cazabon.

In 1890 England, herpetologist Dr Horace Adderson (John Cazabon) injects his wife Martha (Dorothy Frere ) with snake venom to cure her ‘sick mind’. She dies giving birth to a daughter the villagers call The Devil’s Baby and they end up burning down the family’s house.

Nineteen years later a young Scotland Yard detective, Charles Prentice (John McCarthy), is sent to the village to investigate a rash of deaths caused by snakebite. He encounters a beautiful young woman named Atheris, who is unblinking and cold to the touch.

It promises much, well a little anyway, but sadly is a rather amateurish and risible effort, good for a few laughs maybe. The scrappy script, scruffy sets, and low production values sink it, along with the modest acting and moderate black and white photography. It is however a pleasure to have Susan Travers, daughter of actress Linden Travers and niece of actor Bill Travers, in the star role as Atheris.

It’s the kind of film you might think would have fallen into obscurity, but no, it has regularly enjoyed VHS and DVD releases. It was released on Blu-ray in the UK on 4 May 2026 in a new 2K restoration.

Sidney J Furie’s Caralan Productions bought the script by Orville H Hampton and rewrote it set in turn of the 20th century England.

Furie shot the film back-to-back with Doctor Blood’s Coffin, also produced by George Fowler, and using most of the same crew.

The film premiered in the US on 26 April 1961 in Los Angeles.

Duration: 68 minutes.

Susan Travers (born Jennifer Susan Leon; 18 February 1939)

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,986

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