Cinema Revisited: The Ape Man (1943)

Directed by William Beaudine. Cast: Bela Lugosi, Louise Currie, Wallace Ford, Henry Hall, Minerva Urecal, Emil Van Horn, J. Farrell MacDonald. Wheeler Oakman. Ralph Littlefield.

Released March 5, 1943. Running time: 68 minutes

"The Ape Man" is one of many Bela Lugosi films at the low budget studios, a lot of which continue to define the horror icon's career.

Lugosi made an enormous impact in the 1931 Universal feature "Dracula," so much so that his approach to the character is how it continues to be defined. Even though Lugosi only played Dracula in two movies (the other being the 1948 parody "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein"), it is his style and delivery that is invariably used when anyone acts out the character, even in a comedy sketch. By the early 1940s, Lugosi was working in a lot of low budget B movies, bringing up their quality with interesting, edgy performances.

Lugosi plays Dr. James Brewster whose experiments have resulted in his becoming half human and half ape. His only cure can happen if he injects himself with human spinal fluid. Wallace Ford plays a typical fast-talking reporter named Jeff Carter, and Louise Currie his pretty photographer Billie Mason. They are investigating Brewster's disappearance, which leads them to his sister Agatha (Minerva Urecal), who hunts ghosts. A series of murders take place, and Brewster needs continual injections, as they wear off. He goes on his killing spree with the help of an actual ape. The photographer gets captured, is rescued by the reporter, and Brewster is killed by the ape.

Director William Beaudine understood the campiness of this horror movie and tried to keep it light and amusing. In fact there is a running character who seems to be detached from the immediate narrative, but looms about in several scenes. At the end, the reporter asks who he is, and the man says, "I'm the author of the story - screwy idea, wasn't it?" He then rolls up the car window to reveal "The End" on its surface. Ending the film on a gag does not negate the actual mystery and horror elements that precede it.

Louise Currie lived to be 100 years old, and in later interviews would fondly recall working with Bela Lugosi and with William Beaudine. She recalled Beaudine's calm temper, his readiness for each day's shooting, his giving the actors a lot of creative leeway, and his ability to do a lot with a little. The Ape Man was shot in 15 days. Film Daily called it "a thrill-packed shocker" stating: "Here is an offering that should appeal to horror fans. It has Bela Lugosi doing his usual good work in the title role, able direction by William Beaudine, and good production values supplied by Sam Katzman and Jack Dietz."

Beaudine’s direction and the actors did a good job cultivating an eerie atmosphere that endured. The cutting back and forth between all the characters and what they were up to raised the tension somewhat.

"The Ape Man" was followed by a sequel, "Return of the Ape Man," that was even more popular on double feature programs and at neighborhood theaters. Both hold up well as quickie B-level horror movies that would work well in a Halloween movie marathon.