The Ape Man
| The Ape Man | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | William Beaudine |
| Produced by |
Jack Dietz Sam Katzman associate Barney Sarecky |
| Written by | Barney A. Sarecky |
| Based on | story "They Creep in the Dark" by Karl Brown |
| Starring |
Bela Lugosi Louise Currie |
| Music by | Edward J. Kay |
| Cinematography | Mack Stengler |
| Edited by | Carl Pierson |
Production company |
Banner Pictures Corporation |
| Distributed by | Monogram Pictures Corporation |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 69 mins |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Ape Man is a 1943 horror-science fiction film starring Bela Lugosi and directed by William Beaudine. The film follows the tale of a part human part ape.
An in-name-only sequel entitled Return of the Ape Man followed in 1944 and starred Lugosi, John Carradine and George Zucco.
Plot
Dr. James Brewster (Bela Lugosi) and his colleague Dr. Randall (Henry Hall) are involved in a series of scientific experiments which have caused Brewster to transform into an ape-man. In an attempt to obtain a cure Brewster believes that it will be necessary to inject himself with recently drawn human spinal fluid. When Randall refuses to provide the fluid, Brewster and his gorilla draw spinal fluid from those whom they have murdered. Most of the movie involves a male reporter and a female reporter who snoop around trying to find out what Brewster is up to and what is happening to the people who keep vanishing without a trace. There's also another man who sometimes pops up and looks in the window. The reporters and the police don't know who he is. At the end of the movie the mystery man admits, "I'm the one who wrote this movie. It's kind of silly, isn't it?"
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Bela Lugosi | Dr. James Brewster |
| Louise Currie | Billie Mason |
| Wallace Ford | Jeff Carter |
| Henry Hall | Dr. George Randall |
| Minerva Urecal | Agatha Brewster |
| Emil Van Horn | The Ape |
| J. Farrell MacDonald | Police Capt. O'Brien |
| Wheeler Oakman | Det. Brady |
| Ralph Littlefield | The Strange Little Man* |
| Jack Mulhall | Reporter |
| Charles Jordan | Det. O'Toole |
| Charlie Hall | Barney (the Photographer) |
| George Kirby | Detective #1 |
| Ray Miller | Reporter |
| Ernest Morrison | Copyboy |
| William Ruhlas Martin | Editor |
- NB - Ralph Littlefield's character is often misleadingly called "Zippo". In fact the character has no name in the movie, but is rather a comically dressed, odd-acting little man who appears at various times during the story, his purpose unclear. At the very end of the film, he claims to be its scenarist. This is intended as a humorous surprise revelation. Why the name "Zippo" was invented and used in the film's publicity, much less later copied without comment in literary and internet filmographies, is unknown.
Production
The film was originally known as The Gorilla Strikes.[1]
Filming began 18 December 1942 and took 15 days. Louise Currie replaced Amelita Ward.[2]
Reception
The Los Angeles Times said "chill chasers will get a tremendous thrill out of the picture, while the more detached will obtain laughs out of the slyly satirical moments."[3]
References
- ↑ MONOGRAM TO MAKE 48 FILMS IN 1942-43: 16 Westerns Among Feature Pictures Listed by Corporation New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 16 May 1942: 10
- ↑ Rhodes, Gary Don (1997). Lugosi. His Life in Films, on Stage, and in the Hearts of Horror Lovers. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-78640257-1. ISBN 0-78640257-1.
- ↑ Ape Man' Stars Lugosi Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 20 Feb 1943: A7.
- Wingrove, David. Science Fiction Film Source Book (Longman Group Limited, 1985)
- Halliwell, Leslie. Halliwell's Film & Video Guide 2002 (HarperCollinsEntertainment, 2002), edited by John Walker
External links
- The Ape Man at the Internet Movie Database
- The Ape Man is available for free download at the Internet Archive
- The Ape Man (review) at AllMovie by Craig Butler (rating 1.5/5)