The Jungle Captive (1945)

Director:

Harold Young

Writers:

Dwight V. Babcock (screenplay)
Dwight V. Babcock (story)

Release Date:

29 June 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

Once again Paula ape woman (Vicky Lane) is brought back to life, this time by a mad doctor (Otto Kruger) and his disfigured assistant (Rondo Hatton)...

Plot Keywords:

Sequel

Cast

Otto Kruger	...	Mr. Stendahl
Amelita Ward	...	Ann Forrester
Phil Brown	...	Don Young
Jerome Cowan	...	Insp. W.L. Harrigan
Rondo Hatton	...	Moloch
Eddie Acuff	...	Bill, morgue wagon attendant
Ernie Adams	...	Jim, morgue wagon attendant
Charles Wagenheim	...	Fred, first morgue attendant
Eddy Chandler	...	Motorcycle Cop
Jack Overman	...	Detective at Lab
Vicky Lane	...	Paula Dupree

Also Known As:

Wild Jungle Captive (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

63 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

UK:H | USA:Approved (PCA #10903)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Quotes:

[first lines]
Johnny, errand boy: Ah, my dear Ann! So glad to see you again after all these minutes. Twenty of them, at least.
Ann Forrester: *Fifty* minutes, Johnny.
Johnny, errand boy: Fifty minutes! Fifty years away from you, Ann.
Ann Forrester: You're not flattering me Johnny. Now what have you been doing?
Johnny, errand boy: Waiting for the specimen at Dr. Lees'.
Ann Forrester: I could check with Dr. Lees' office nurse, you know... but I'll let it go at that.
Johnny, errand boy: Ah, gee, thanks Ann. Dr. Lee would like to have reports quickly as possible.
Ann Forrester: I don't think we can run another test this afternoon, Johnny.
Johnny, errand boy: Well, that's OK with me. But if the boss wouldn't spend so much time experimenting with those rabbits, he'd get down to his own...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Follows Jungle Woman (1944)

Brings back fun memories...

This little seen Universal horror movie from 1945 brings back fun memories for me as I remember watching this with my sister Tammy and my cousin Shalaine on the local Friday night creature feature on TV. Even as a teenager I can remember thinking that this movie was more funny than actually scary.

The basic plot revolves around Mr. Stendall, a mad scientist who is trying to revive the dead ape woman, Paula Dupree, from the previous two Universal movies Captive Wild Woman and Jungle Woman. Rondo Hatton plays the menacing servant of Stendall, Moloch, who kills several people in order to help Stendall achieve his goal of bringing the ape woman back to life. Armelita Ward portrays Mr. Stendall's pretty assistant, whom he kidnaps in a bid to use her blood to make the ape woman into a real woman. Vicki Lane is Paula, the ape woman, when she is actually a woman (are you following all this?). Lane is pretty, but has no lines and basically just wanders around looking like a zombie. The scenes when she is actually an ape woman are hilarious, she is grunting and snorting...it's a hoot.

This movie is a lot of fun for people who enjoy the old Universal monster movies. Although this is definitely not frightening, it's fun to watch on a rainy Saturday night.