Dr. Bernard Adrian is a kindly mad scientist who seeks to cure a young woman's polio. He needs spinal fluid from a human to complete the formula for his experimental serum. Meanwhile, a ...
See full summary »
Get the best new trailers in under a minute, including "True Detective" Season 3, Spies in Disguise, and "Room 104."
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: The Ape (1940)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
More Like This
The Ape Man
(1943)
Certificate: Passed
Action
|
Drama
|
Horror
Director:
William Beaudine
Stars:
Bela Lugosi,
Louise Currie,
Wallace Ford
Black Dragons
(1942)
Thriller
|
War
Director:
William Nigh
Stars:
Bela Lugosi,
Joan Barclay,
George Pembroke
Return of the Ape Man
(1944)
Horror
|
Romance
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Phil Rosen
Stars:
Bela Lugosi,
John Carradine,
George Zucco
Invisible Ghost
(1941)
Horror
|
Thriller
Director:
Joseph H. Lewis
Stars:
Bela Lugosi,
Polly Ann Young,
John McGuire
The Ghoul
(1933)
Action
|
Drama
|
Horror
Director:
T. Hayes Hunter
Stars:
Boris Karloff,
Cedric Hardwicke,
Ernest Thesiger
Bowery at Midnight
(1942)
Crime
|
Thriller
Director:
Wallace Fox
Stars:
Bela Lugosi,
John Archer,
Wanda McKay
The Devil Bat
(1940)
Horror
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Jean Yarbrough
Stars:
Bela Lugosi,
Suzanne Kaaren,
Dave O'Brien
Before I Hang
(1940)
Crime
|
Horror
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Nick Grinde
Stars:
Boris Karloff,
Evelyn Keyes,
Bruce Bennett
The Corpse Vanishes
(1942)
Certificate: Passed
Horror
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Wallace Fox
Stars:
Bela Lugosi,
Luana Walters,
Tristram Coffin
Voodoo Man
(1944)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Horror
Director:
William Beaudine
Stars:
Bela Lugosi,
John Carradine,
George Zucco
Scared to Death
(1947)
Thriller
Director:
Christy Cabanne
Stars:
Bela Lugosi,
George Zucco,
Molly Lamont
Postal Inspector
(1936)
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
Otto Brower
Stars:
Ricardo Cortez,
Patricia Ellis,
Michael Loring
Edit
Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Boris Karloff | ... | Dr. Bernard Adrian | |
| Maris Wrixon | ... | Miss Frances Clifford | |
 |
Gene O'Donnell | ... | Danny Foster |
| Dorothy Vaughan | ... | Mother Clifford | |
| Gertrude Hoffman | ... | Jane - Adrian's Housekeeper (as Gertrude W. Hoffman) | |
| Henry Hall | ... | Sheriff Jeff Halliday | |
| Selmer Jackson | ... | Dr. McNulty | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
See All (10) »
Storyline
Dr. Bernard Adrian is a kindly mad scientist who seeks to cure a young woman's polio. He needs spinal fluid from a human to complete the formula for his experimental serum. Meanwhile, a vicious circus ape has broken out of its cage, and is terrorizing towns people. Written by Marty McKee <mmckee@wkio.com>
Plot Keywords:
mad scientist | spinal fluid | wheelchair bound | searching for cure | double life |Taglines:
Jungle Beast or Man of Science? See more »Genres:
HorrorParents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
30 September 1940 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Gorilla See more »Filming Locations:
Santa Clarita, California, USACompany Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
(1887) (uncredited)
Written by Juventino Rosas
Played at the circus for the trapeze act
Reprised as background music on the circus grounds
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The play opened in Los Angeles, CA, on 12/13/27. See more »Goofs
When the doctor is showing off his 'cured' guinea pigs, one of the poor critters falls off the table, at the end of the shot. See more »Soundtracks
Sobre las Olas (Over the Waves)(1887) (uncredited)
Written by Juventino Rosas
Played at the circus for the trapeze act
Reprised as background music on the circus grounds
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
Explore popular movies available to rent or buy on Prime Video.
In this very short and extremely cheap horror film, horror legend Boris Karloff once again stars as a devoted doctor/scientist on the verge of a big medical breakthrough. He played quite a few similar roles in his rich career and this time he's helping out a young woman who's suffering from an almost terminal case of polio. Dr. Adrian (Karloff's character) has great visions but his experiments are what they call 'unethical' and all the villagers avoid him. When a mad-raving ape escapes from a nearby circus, it brings Dr. Adrian to an idea 'The Ape' is quite an imaginative and well-intended horror film with a slick plot but unfortunately too little action. It never features a horrific atmosphere and the ape costume isn't exactly convincing. Still, I'd certainly categorize it as a worthwhile horror film if it were only for the performance by Boris (who looks quite thin and unhealthy here, though). In case you're looking for a really excellent film starring Karloff going insane while reaching new medical heights, I strongly recommend purchasing 'Corridors of Blood'. This film would make a neat appetizer before watching that one.