This is also known as "Siren Of Atlantis" but it's good under any name.
A pair of explorers, Lt. Andre Saint-Avit (Jean-Pierre Aumont) and Capt. Jean Morhange (Dennis O' Keefe) stumble into a lost kingdom in the middle of the desert.
Yes, it is Atlantis and it's ruled over by an evil queen named Antinea played by the ever gorgeous Maria Montez. Andre falls for her in a bad way and wants nothing but her. Jean sees how evil she is and plans an escape.
The problem is nobody can ever leave Atlantis and those that try are killed. The Queen's lovers whom she tires of are encased in gold to be with her forever.
Jean is caught in an escape attempt and brought before the Queen. The slave girl that helped him kills herself rather than face the wrath of Antinea, and for some mysterious she lets Jean live.
She slowly pits Jean and Andre against each other and things boil over until Andre viciously kills Jean. This is something Antinea really likes. Andre then decides to escape himself and he makes it back to his desert fort, hence the story we are seeing is a flashback.
Andre is still drawn to Antinea and sets back to find her. This is an odd, but wonderful little film. Montez is and always will be beautiful and she looks smouldering here.
The movie is in Black and White but I think it should have been in color as Montez is "The Queen Of Technicolor". However, the story moves along fine and really reminded me of the 1965 Hammer film "She".
This has been on my want to see list for about 37 years now and the long wait didn't disappoint. Montez has always been one of my favorites actresses and I am determined to see every film she made.
All of the performances are great and special note goes to Henry Daniell as Blades, a man who seems to relish getting people into major problems. Thanks again to Greg Luce at Sinister Cinema for turing out another winner. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
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