The Snake Woman (1961): Cast & Plot
The Snake Woman is a 1961 horror film directed by Sidney J. Furie, starring John Cazabon as Dr. Horace Adderson, Dorothy Frere and Elsie Wagstaff. It runs 1 hour 8 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 8m (68 min)
- Director
- Sidney J. Furie
- Genre
- Horror
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Caralan Productions Ltd.
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Snake Woman About?
The premise of The Snake Woman without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In 1890 England a doctor injects his wife with snake venom to cure her madness. She later bears a daughter, dubbed “the Devil’s Baby,” and fearful villagers burn the family’s home. Years later a Scotland Yard detective is sent to the village to investigate a string of mysterious snake‑bite deaths, uncovering the terror of a girl who can transform into a lethal serpent.
The Snake Woman Cast & Characters
John Cazabon leads the cast as Dr. Horace Adderson, with Dorothy Frere as Martha Adderson and Elsie Wagstaff as Aggie Harker. Directed by Sidney J. Furie; 12 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Sidney J. Furie
- John Cazabon as Dr. Horace Adderson
- Dorothy Frere as Martha Adderson
- Elsie Wagstaff as Aggie Harker
- Arnold Marlé as Dr. Murton
Also Starring in The Snake Woman
· 8 more- Geoffrey Denton Col. Clyde Wynborn
- Hugh Moxey Inspector
- John McCarthy Charles Prentice
- Susan Travers Atheris
- Frances Bennett Polly, the Barmaid
- Michael Logan Barkis
- Jack Cunningham Constable Alfie
- Stevenson Lang Shepherd
More from Sidney J. Furie
More films directed by Sidney J. Furie, best-rated first: The Ipcress File, The Boys in Company C, The Entity and Iron Eagle.
The Snake Woman Plot Summary
What happens in The Snake Woman from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the remote Northumbrian village of Bellingham, set in 1890, Dr. Horace Adderson, John Cazabon, has spent years stabilizing his wife Martha Adderson, Dorothy Frere, whose mental illness seems to respond only to a dangerous treatment: regular injections of venom from snakes. When Martha dies in childbirth, the midwife Aggie Harker, Elsie Wagstaff, believes the newborn girl is a curse—the Devil’s offspring—because the baby does not blink and feels cold to the touch. Aggie initially tries to end the infant’s life with a stabbing, but is interrupted. The mob then storms Adderson’s laboratory and his home, setting both aflame. In a desperate twist, Dr. Murton, Arnold Marlé, who attended the delivery, rescues the baby and entrusts her to a compassionate local shepherd, hoping to hide her until morning.
Full summary
The whole story of The Snake Woman, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Snake Woman?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In which English county is the village of Bellingham located?
The Snake Woman Also Known As
2 alternative titles: “La figlia del serpente” and “La Femme Serpent”.
- Also known as
-
- La figlia del serpente
- La Femme Serpent
Seen The Snake Woman?
The Snake Woman FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Snake Woman, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Snake Woman?
The Snake Woman runs 1 hour 8 minutes (68 minutes).
When was The Snake Woman released?
The Snake Woman was released on April 26, 1961.
Who directed The Snake Woman?
The Snake Woman was directed by Sidney J. Furie.
More films by Sidney J. Furie Who is in the cast of The Snake Woman?
The Snake Woman stars John Cazabon as Dr. Horace Adderson, Dorothy Frere as Martha Adderson and Elsie Wagstaff as Aggie Harker, among 12 credited actors.
Does The Snake Woman have a post-credit scene?
No. The Snake Woman has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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