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Adventure Cult Classic

Twin sisters, ancient rituals, and perilous passions on a lush island ruled by serpentine secrets.

COBRA WOMAN

STRANGE LOVES, UNBELIEVABLE ADVENTURES in the SOUTH SEAS!

1944 · 1h 11m · NR · Adventure / Drama / Romance · IMDB TMDB

A beautiful woman is abducted from her peaceful South Seas home and taken to Cobra Island, where her grandmother Queen wants her to displace her evil twin sister and vengeance against her priest and corrupt advisor.

Quick Answer

What is Cobra Woman about?

Cobra Woman is a 1944 American adventure, drama, and romance film directed by Robert Siodmak about a woman abducted to Cobra Island, where she discovers her evil twin sister and a plot to reclaim the throne.

Programmer's Pick

Maria Montez pulls double duty as dueling sisters in a Technicolor fever dream of island intrigue and snake worship. Robert Siodmak's direction turns every jungle path and ceremonial dance into a swirl of melodrama, peril, and camp delight. If you like your adventure lush and your villains slithery, the cobra’s waiting.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

On the sun-soaked shores of the South Seas, Tollea is unexpectedly abducted and whisked away to the mysterious Cobra Island. There, she learns that her grandmother, the Queen, wants her to challenge the island’s dangerous high priestess—who also happens to be Tollea’s own twin sister, Naja. Determined not to lose Tollea, her devoted fiancé Ramu braves the forbidden island’s dangers, aided by his resourceful friend Kado. Between wild animal attacks, mistaken identities, and an island driven by pagan rituals, alliances and intentions quickly become complicated. ‘Cobra Woman’ blends romance, adventure, and melodrama with vibrant island intrigue and a touch of the fantastical.

Details & Specs

Director
Robert Siodmak
Writers
Gene Lewis, Richard Brooks, Scott Darling
Release
1944
Runtime
1h 11m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Also Known As
Le signe du cobra, Die Schlangenpriesterin

Why This Matters

Celebrated as a camp classic for Maria Montez's flamboyant performance and its infamous snake-dance sequence, this Technicolor adventure is also notable as avant-garde filmmaker Kenneth Anger's favorite film and has been praised by Leonard Maltin as a standout in the genre.
— SassyFlix Curator

Why Cult

Twin Role Magic

Maria Montez dazzles by playing both the noble Tollea and her sinister twin Naja, with sibling rivalry cranked up to cinematic excess.

Pagan Paradise

Cobra Island is a land of snake-worshipping rituals, a scheming high priestess, and danger lurking in every shadow—making for a deliciously exotic backdrop.

Technicolor Romance

Adventure and melodrama entwine as love and mistaken identity threaten hearts and thrones alike, shot in vivid 1940s color.

Sabu Sidekick Energy

Fan-favorite Sabu brings action, wit, and a blowgun to the quest to save Tollea, adding spark to every perilous turn.

Scene Gallery

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Cobra Woman? +

Cobra Woman was directed by Robert Siodmak.

How long is Cobra Woman? +

Cobra Woman has a runtime of 71 minutes.

What genre is Cobra Woman? +

Cobra Woman is an adventure, drama, and romance film.

Where can I watch Cobra Woman? +

You can watch Cobra Woman on SassyFlix.

How does Tollea discover she has an evil twin sister? +

After being abducted to Cobra Island, Tollea learns from her grandmother, the Queen, that the island’s high priestess is actually her twin sister Naja.

Trailers & Clips