By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, June 16, unless otherwise noted: “Universal Horror Collection: Volume 5” (Blu-ray) Details: 1941-45, Scream Factory Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This quartet of creepy B-movie features — one from Paramount Pictures and three from Universal Pictures — all deal with some sort of ape-to-human or human-to-ape transplants. The first movie in the set is “The Monster and the Girl,” a 1941 Paramount release, that deals with a young man who, while trying to save his sister from a prostitution ring, is framed for murder and convicted. A scientist, played by George Zucco, is given the man’s body. He transfers the dead man’s brain into that of an ape which, later goes on a killing spree, killing the mobsters and the corrupt prosecutor who railroaded him. The cast for this release is rather impressive for a programmer; beside Zucco, it includes Paul Lukas as the gangland boss; Onslow Stevens as the prosecutor; Joseph Calleia, Robert Paige, Marc Lawrence and Gerald Mohr as the head mobster’s underlings; Ellen Drew as the victim’s sister; and Phillip Terry as the framed brother. The three Universals are “Captive Wild Woman” (1943) in which mad scientist John Carradine transplants the glands — and later — the brain of women in the body of a female gorilla he has kidnapped from the circus, transforming her into a beautiful woman he names Paula Dupree, played by Acquanetta. Because of her gift of dominating animals, Paul is given a job at the circus, helping wild animal trainer Fred Mason (played by future “Gunsmoke” Doc Adams, Milburn Stone). But when Paula becomes emotionally aroused, she transforms back into a gorilla and goes on a killing spree. The film was an early effort by noted director Edward Dmytryk. The movie, which runs only 61 minutes, contains a lot of stock footage from a 1933 feature, “The Big Cage,” starring Clyde Beatty. The first follow-up is “Jungle Woman” (1944), again features Acquanetta as Paula Dupree, who again causes mayhem and meets her demise in the finale. J. Carrol Naish plays the scientist in this outing. The final film in the trilogy, “Jungle Captive” (1945), with Vicky Lane taking over the role of Paula Dupree. Otto Kruger plays the scientist who experiments on the gorilla to transform her back to human form. The cast also includes Rondo Hatton, Amelita Ward and Phil Brown. The movies are rather campy by today’s standards and are enjoyable in a kooky manner.
New to View: June 16
New to View: June 16
New to View: June 16
By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, June 16, unless otherwise noted: “Universal Horror Collection: Volume 5” (Blu-ray) Details: 1941-45, Scream Factory Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This quartet of creepy B-movie features — one from Paramount Pictures and three from Universal Pictures — all deal with some sort of ape-to-human or human-to-ape transplants. The first movie in the set is “The Monster and the Girl,” a 1941 Paramount release, that deals with a young man who, while trying to save his sister from a prostitution ring, is framed for murder and convicted. A scientist, played by George Zucco, is given the man’s body. He transfers the dead man’s brain into that of an ape which, later goes on a killing spree, killing the mobsters and the corrupt prosecutor who railroaded him. The cast for this release is rather impressive for a programmer; beside Zucco, it includes Paul Lukas as the gangland boss; Onslow Stevens as the prosecutor; Joseph Calleia, Robert Paige, Marc Lawrence and Gerald Mohr as the head mobster’s underlings; Ellen Drew as the victim’s sister; and Phillip Terry as the framed brother. The three Universals are “Captive Wild Woman” (1943) in which mad scientist John Carradine transplants the glands — and later — the brain of women in the body of a female gorilla he has kidnapped from the circus, transforming her into a beautiful woman he names Paula Dupree, played by Acquanetta. Because of her gift of dominating animals, Paul is given a job at the circus, helping wild animal trainer Fred Mason (played by future “Gunsmoke” Doc Adams, Milburn Stone). But when Paula becomes emotionally aroused, she transforms back into a gorilla and goes on a killing spree. The film was an early effort by noted director Edward Dmytryk. The movie, which runs only 61 minutes, contains a lot of stock footage from a 1933 feature, “The Big Cage,” starring Clyde Beatty. The first follow-up is “Jungle Woman” (1944), again features Acquanetta as Paula Dupree, who again causes mayhem and meets her demise in the finale. J. Carrol Naish plays the scientist in this outing. The final film in the trilogy, “Jungle Captive” (1945), with Vicky Lane taking over the role of Paula Dupree. Otto Kruger plays the scientist who experiments on the gorilla to transform her back to human form. The cast also includes Rondo Hatton, Amelita Ward and Phil Brown. The movies are rather campy by today’s standards and are enjoyable in a kooky manner.