The Monkey's Paw (1933)

A mother wishes for the return of her dead son--a wish that is granted by the severed paw of a dead monkey.

Directors:

Wesley Ruggles, Ernest B. Schoedsack (uncredited)

Writers:

W.W. Jacobs (story), Graham John

Stars:

Ivan F. Simpson, Louise Carter, C. Aubrey Smith

Cast

Cast overview:
Ivan F. Simpson	...	Mr. White
Louise Carter	...	Mrs. White
C. Aubrey Smith	...	Sgt. Maj. Morris
Bramwell Fletcher	...	Herbert White
Betty Lawford	...	Rose
Winter Hall	...	Mr. Hartigan
Herbert Bunston	...	Sampson
Nina Quartero	...	Nura

Storyline

A mother wishes for the return of her dead son--a wish that is granted by the severed paw of a dead monkey.

---

Plot Keywords:

monkeys paw | wish | lost film | wish fulfillment | loss of son | 

---

Taglines:

Every Wish Was Granted to Those Who Owned the Charm! But There's No Escape From the Penalty for Trifling With Fate!

---

Genres:

Horror

---

Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Often considered a lost (and much sought-after) film, a French copy is known to survive and screenshots from it have been posted on the internet.

---

Connections

Version of Suspense: The Monkey's Paw (1949)

User Reviews

One for the imagination

W W Jacobs was a well known & popular English short story writer of the 1930s - usually sea tales with mystery and The Monkey's Paw is about his best known and oft heard if not a great favourite with amateur dramatic groups (probably because of the small cast). It is a nice little creepy tale with a universal moral - be careful what you wish for.... it could come with a price tag! I originally heard it as a radio play and couldn't wait to read the play itself. This early film version is unknown to me although a variety of adaptations have been produced on film - in one inferior updated case(I forget the title),the paw was replaced by another gimmick. IMDb lists 8 versions including a TV production and it was also included in radio's Suspense & Lights Out! series because it is favourably compared with Lucille Fletcher's radio masterpiece Sorry Wrong No! as a classic of the short story and radio adaptation when only one's imagination can do justice to the imagery & action. The original background was a typical working class English home of the '30s - the rest of the background is just referred to. For once the premise is too possible! 8 out of 10 for the story.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 January 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Monkey's Paw

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

58 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1