The Ape Man

The Ape Man is a 1943 horror Science fiction film starring Bela Lugosi and directed by William Beaudine. The film follows the tale of a part human part ape.

A sequel, in name only, called Return of the Ape Man, followed in 1944, one year later after this film and starred Bela Lugosi, John Carradine and George Zucco.

Plot

Dr. James Brewster (Bela Lugosi) and his colleague Dr. Randall (Henry Hall) are involved in a series of scientific experiments which have caused him to transform into an ape-man. In an attempt to obtain a cure Brewster believes that it will be necessary to inject himself with recently drawn human spinal fluid. When Randall refuses to help him by providing the fluid, Brewster and his captive Gorilla must attempt to find an appropriate donor.

Cast

• NB - Ralph Littlefield's character is often misleadingly called "Zippo". In fact the character has no name in the movie, but is rather a comically-dressed, odd-acting little man who appears at various times during the story, his purpose unclear. At the very end of the film, he claims to be its scenarist. This is intended as a humorous surprise revelation. Why the name "Zippo" was invented and used in the film's publicity, much less later copied without comment in literary and internet filmographies, is unknown; however, it is amusing to find him credited with this role name in the AFI Catalogue entry on "The Ape Man", and then in the notes to read extensively about an "unnamed character" played by an "unidentified player."

See also

• Bela Lugosi filmography

References

• Wingrove, David. Science Fiction Film Source Book (Longman Group Limited, 1985)
• Halliwell, Leslie. Halliwell's Film & Video Guide 2002 (HarperCollinsEntertainment, 2002), edited by John Walker

External links

• The Ape Man at the Internet Movie Database
• The Ape Man is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
• The Ape Man at AllRovi