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 ...
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Title: The Ape (1940)
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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
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Plot Synopsis
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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:
These cold eyes have watched a thousand men die screaming! See more »Genres:
HorrorParents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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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
(uncredited)
Traditional Scottish music
Played on a bugle by a relaxing circus worker
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The final film in Boris Karloff's six-picture contract with Monogram. Filming began 7/29/40. 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 »Connections
Referenced in Cinemassacre's Monster Madness: The Man They Could Not Hang (2009) See more »Soundtracks
Auld Lang Syne(uncredited)
Traditional Scottish music
Played on a bugle by a relaxing circus worker
See more »
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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.