The Ape (1940)
September 30, 1940Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
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Streaming in:🇺🇸 United States
This Movie Is About.
Cast & Crew.
Boris Karloff
Dr. Bernard Adrian
Maris Wrixon
Miss Frances Clifford
Gene O'Donnell
Danny Foster
Dorothy Vaughan
Mother Clifford
Gertrude Hoffmann
Jane - Adrian's Housekeeper
Henry Hall
Sheriff Jeff Halliday
Selmer Jackson
Dr. McNulty
Jessie Arnold
Mrs. Brill
Billy Bletcher
Short Mustached Posse Man
Harry C. Bradley
Quinn
George Cleveland
Mr. Howley
Ray Corrigan
Nabu
William Nigh
Director
Pauline Drake
Young Girl
Adam Shirk
Writer
Mary Field
Mrs. Mason
Curt Siodmak
Writer
Gibson Gowland
Posse Member
Richard Carroll
Writer
Julia Griffith
Townswoman
Harry Neumann
Cinematographer
Russell F. Schoengarth
Editor
I. Stanford Jolley
Ape Trainer
Stan Jolley
Boy in Soda Shop
Media.
Details.
Release DateSeptember 30, 1940
StatusReleased
Running Time1h 2m
Content RatingNR
Genres
Wiki.
The Ape is a 1940 American horror film directed by William Nigh. The film is based on Adam Hull Shirk's play The Ape, which was previously adapted by Nigh as The House of Mystery (1934). The film stars Boris Karloff as Dr. Bernard Adrian who is seeking to cure a young woman's polio through experiments involving spinal fluid. Meanwhile, a vicious ape has been terrorising the towns locals, and breaking into Adrian's lab. A battle ensues between the two leading to Adrian deciding to skin the ape and disguise himself as the beast in order to get more spinal fluid which was destroyed in the battle.
The Ape was made by Monogram Pictures Corp. after making several Mr. Wong films with both Karloff and Nigh. According to actress, it was filmed within a week. The film received mixed reviews from critics on its release, with positive reviews from The Hollywood Reporter, Kinematograph Weekly, and the Los Angeles Times while receiving negative reviews from The New York Times and Variety. Retrospective reviews generally have commented on how ridiculous they had found the film or how a reviewer felt it did not work as a thrilling story.