The Monster Maker (1944)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Sam Newfield

Writers:

Pierre Gendron (writer)
Martin Mooney (writer)

Release Date:

15 April 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

Mad scientist injects his enemies with acromegaly virus, causing them to become hideously deformed. |

Plot Keywords:

Mad Scientist | Acromegaly | Virus | Loss Of Wife | Remorse

Cast

J. Carrol Naish	...	Dr. Igor Markoff
Ralph Morgan	...	Anthony Lawrence
Tala Birell	...	Maxine
Wanda McKay	...	Patricia Lawrence
Terry Frost	...	Bob Blake
Glenn Strange	...	Steve
Alex Pollard	...	Stack (as Alexander Pollard)
Sam Flint	...	Dr. Adams
Ace the Wonder Dog	...	Ace

Also Known As:

The Devil's Apprentice (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

62 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Company:

Producers Releasing Corporation

Trivia:

Lowly PRC hadn't released a horror picture in nearly 17 months, having spent most of 1943 substantially expanding their once-laughable capabilities by purchasing the bankrupt Chadwick Studio (a poverty row operation that specialized in renting stages and production equipment to low-budget producers along Gower) for $305,000. While critics -- what few that would review a PRC release -- complained about the film's lack of action, production values were noted to be somewhat higher than earlier releases.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The same wall barometer and elephant statuette seen in Dr. Markov's office are also visible in the office of Dr. Adams.

Movie Connections:

References Frankenstein (1931)

The maddest of ALL mad scientists!

Very cheap but hugely enjoyable 40's horror with above-average acting performances and a surprisingly well-written script. In case you too are a fan of those typically 40's low budget flicks revolving on mad scientists, you have to see "The Monster Maker" as J. Carrol Naish portrays one of the most dangerously insane men of science ever!! Well, maybe along with George Zucco in "The Mad Monster"… Naish, obviously imitating Bela Lugosi, is a doctor who enjoys infecting people with the acromegaly-disease (which makes them look kind of like "The Elephant Man"), simply because he's the only one who found a cure for it. He really goes out of his mind when he contaminates the eminent pianist Anthony Lawrence in order to get close to his beautiful doctor, Patricia. Is it just my impression, or are all mad scientists actually sad romanticists? The structure and plot are fairly standard but this film especially gets itself noticed because of the brutality! There are a couple of shocking images (the revelation of Lawrence's horribly deformed face) and Naish character is a really evil and relentless man! Considering the time it was made, "The Monster Maker" is quite a nasty horror film that shamelessly tries to outdo the famous Universal monster-classics. Oh, the guy inside the hilariously fake gorilla suit is a blast!