The Monster and the Girl (1941)

After a young woman is coerced into prostitution and her brother framed for murder by an organized crime syndicate, retribution in the form of an ape visits the mobsters.

Director:

Stuart Heisler

Writer:

Stuart Anthony (story)

Stars:

Ellen Drew, Robert Paige, Paul Lukas

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ellen Drew	...	Susan Webster
Robert Paige	...	Larry Reed
Paul Lukas	...	W. S. Bruhl
Joseph Calleia	...	Deacon
Onslow Stevens	...	J. Stanley McMasters
George Zucco	...	Dr. Parry
Rod Cameron	...	Sam Daniels
Phillip Terry	...	Scot Webster
Marc Lawrence	...	Sleeper
Gerald Mohr	...	Munn
Tom Dugan	...	Captain Alton
Willard Robertson	...	Lieutenant Strickland
Minor Watson	...	Judge Pulver
George Meader	...	Dr. Knight
Cliff Edwards	...	Leon Beecher 'Tips' Stokes

Storyline

Scot Webster tries to save his sister Susan from the clutches of gangster W.S. Bruhl. When Scot comes to Bruhl's rented room, one of the gangster's henchmen collapses into his hands, killed by a gunman. The murderer tosses his gun to Scot and disappears. Since all the evidence points at him, Scot is arrested, tried and sentenced to death. A mad scientist uses his brain to transplant it into a gorilla. After the operation Scot wakes up in the body of a gorilla, eager to get his revenge...

---

Plot Keywords:

gorilla | gangster | revenge | prostitution | retribution | 

---

Taglines:

IT'S A SPINE-TINGLING SENSATION! A monster on the loose...and a whole city in terror! (original ad)

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 February 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

D.O.A.

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

65 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.

---

Quotes

Scot Webster: [Screaming to Dr. Perry] You want my brain after I'm dead?
[He laughs hysterically]
Scot Webster: Help yourself, mister! Help yourself!

---

Connections

Referenced in Men in Suits (2012)

User Reviews

Good Old-Fashioned Storytelling

Ellen Drew plays a woman tricked into prostitution by Robert Paige and a group of gangsters after leaving a small town for the lights and allure of the big city. Drew's brother comes to her rescue and is instead set up in a murder by the gang led by Paul Lukas. Phillip Terry(her brother) is given the death penalty for his innocence and is executed. Right now you must be thinking...is there a monster? Oh yes! Just before the execution takes place, scientist George Zucco asks Terry is he can have his brain after he is killed. Zucco receives Terry's consent and transplants the brain of Terry into a giant gorilla that will seek payback from the gang of thugs and the attorney that sent Terry to his death. This is certainly not your typical monster film from the 40's. It opens with Drew narrating and then we are immediately thrust into the courtroom. We see everything through the testimony of the witnesses. Very innovative, and well-done. The story gets ridiculous midway, but the director Stuart Heisler never for one moment takes the material as anything less than serious. This attitude really allows the film to work. The story also sheds light on what was at the time a very scandalous subject....prostitution. We are never told what actually happens in so many words with regards to Drew's shame, yet we know through subtle means. The gang is truly repulsive. Each of the actors in it are extremely good playing men with no souls. Gerald Mohr, Paige, Lukas, and Marc Lawrence(isn't he always playing a thug?) do very well also in their obvious demises to come. The rest of the acting in this film is pretty good too. Onslow Stevens has a small part as the prosecuting lawyer. And George Zucco is always a treat to watch. I never have seen him give a bad performance. And the ape?" Not bad...looks fairly realistic..I have seen far worse. A good all around film from Paramount. They sure don't make em like this anymore and ain't it a shame!