The Ape Man (1943)

Conducting weird scientific experiments, crazed Dr. James Brewster, aided by his colleague Dr. Randall, has managed to transform himself into a hairy, stooped-over ape-man. Desperately ... See full summary »

Director:

William Beaudine

Writers:

Karl Brown (story), Barney A. Sarecky (screenplay)

Stars:

Bela Lugosi, Louise Currie, Wallace Ford

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bela Lugosi	...	Dr. James Brewster
Louise Currie	...	Billie Mason
Wallace Ford	...	Jeff B. Carter
Henry Hall	...	Dr. George Randall
Minerva Urecal	...	Agatha Brewster
Emil Van Horn	...	The Ape
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Capt. O'Brien (as J. Farrel MacDonald)
Wheeler Oakman	...	Detective Brady
Ralph Littlefield	...	Zippo
Jack Mulhall	...	Reporter
Charles Jordan	...	Detective O'Toole

Storyline

Conducting weird scientific experiments, crazed Dr. James Brewster, aided by his colleague Dr. Randall, has managed to transform himself into a hairy, stooped-over ape-man. Desperately seeking a cure, Brewster believes only an injection of recently-drawn human spinal fluid will prove effective. With Randall refusing to help him, it falls to Brewster and his captive gorilla to find appropriate donors.

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Plot Keywords:

ape man | monster movie | evil man | poverty row film | mutant | 

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Taglines:

No one is safe from the cruel desires of this inhuman fiend!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 March 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Gorilla Strikes

Company Credits

Production Co:

Banner Productions, Monogram Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

64 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot in 19 days.

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Goofs

At the 40-minute mark, as Jeff Carter is walking through a doorway he removes his hat twice.

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Quotes

Agatha Brewster: Most spirits are honest, gentle and kind, and only want to bring happiness to humans. But a few are evil and, having been wicked in life, are wicked in death, and only haunt the scenes of desperate crimes, reveling in murder.

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Connections

Referenced in Circle of Fear: Graveyard Shift (1973)

User Reviews

nice 40's b-movie

Decade of 40! It's the most suitable time for a horror b-movie , isn't it ? But how could this be successful ? Let's try the simple one – shot way! William Beuadine and Bela Lugosi , the lord of horror owns the first role. Well , Bela Lugosi acts a very bad scientist (a role that we've so many times , we loved it , we got used it in , but we never borrowed of it) Dr. James Brewster , who transforms Emil Van Horn (`Sleepy Lagoon') to Ape. Police Captain O' Brien is the role of the classical J. Farrell Mac Donald (who played in 294 movies . Of them we remember especially the `Trail Of Shadows' , F.W. Murnau's `Sunrise' , `Four Devils' , `Dangerous Female' , `Sporting Blood' and the `Phantom Killer') attends to catch Dr. James Brewster . Lugosi and Farrell Mac Donald surrounded of a wonderful cast , ideal for a b-movie , just like this one . Buise Currie (`Here Comes The Boogie Men') , Wallace Ford (Tod Browning's `Freaks' , `The Mummy's Hand' , `The Mummy's Tomb' , Alfred Hitchcock's `Spellbound') , Henry Hall (`The Ape') , Minerva Urecal (who was played again the first role with Bela Lugosi at the films `The Corpse Vanishes' and `Ghost On The Loose') , the classical Wheeler Oakman (who was played in 195 movies , from whom we chose the `Ghosts On The Loose' with Bela) , Jack Mulhall (who has not only played in 314 movies but is also the producer of Madame Spy) , Charles Jordan (Cat People) , Charlie Hall (who made some short roles in movies with Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel). The offhand script that Karl Brawn (Phantom Killer) wrote with Barney D. Sarecky (The Phantom Killer) is exalted by the master of b-movies , William Beaudine . If you're not fans of this kind , you will have a good time , but if you are fans of b-movies , you shouldn't miss the `Ape Man'