The Ape (Horror, 1940)

"The Ape" (1940) is an American horror film with elements of science fiction and mystery. Produced by Monogram Pictures, a Poverty Row studio known for low-budget fare, it fits the B-movie mold, blending mad scientist tropes with a touch of gothic absurdity. Its short runtime and sensational premise make it a quintessential example of 1940s exploitation horror.
Plot
The film centers on Dr. Bernard Adrian (Boris Karloff), a compassionate yet ostracized scientist living in the small town of Red Creek. Haunted by the deaths of his wife and daughter from polio, Adrian is obsessed with curing the disease, particularly for his patient Frances Clifford (Maris Wrixon), a young woman paralyzed by the condition. His experimental serum requires human spinal fluid, a resource he lacks—until a circus comes to town. A vicious ape named Nabu escapes after mauling its abusive trainer, who is brought to Adrian’s care. Seizing the opportunity, Adrian extracts the trainer’s spinal fluid, killing him, and uses it on Frances, who shows slight improvement.
When Nabu later breaks into Adrian’s lab, a fight ensues, destroying his remaining fluid samples. Adrian kills the ape with acid and a knife, then hatches a macabre plan: he skins Nabu and wears the ape’s hide as a disguise to murder townsfolk—starting with the unsavory bank manager Henry Mason—for more spinal fluid, letting the ape take the blame. As Frances begins to regain feeling in her legs, her boyfriend Danny Foster (Gene O’Donnell) grows suspicious of Adrian’s methods. The townspeople, led by Sheriff Jeff Halliday (Henry Hall), hunt the supposed ape, unaware of Adrian’s deception. In the end, Adrian’s scheme unravels; he’s fatally shot while in the ape suit, but not before Frances takes her first steps, hinting at his serum’s success. The bittersweet conclusion leaves Adrian’s legacy ambiguous—a tragic figure undone by his own desperation.
Fun Facts
Lightning-Fast Production: Shot in just one week, as recalled by actress Maris Wrixon, "The Ape" exemplifies Monogram’s churn-and-burn approach to filmmaking, prioritizing speed over polish.

Karloff’s Monogram Finale: This was Boris Karloff’s last film under his Monogram contract, following his Mr. Wong detective series. During production, he was also preparing for his Broadway triumph in Arsenic and Old Lace, balancing horror schlock with theatrical prestige.

Play Origins: Adapted from Adam Hull Shirk’s play The Ape, previously filmed by director William Nigh as The House of Mystery (1934), the story’s core idea of a man in an ape disguise was recycled with a sci-fi twist by screenwriter Curt Siodmak, known for The Wolf Man (1941).

Mixed Reception: Contemporary reviews were split—The New York Times dismissed it as juvenile, calling Karloff “properly baleful” but the acting dated, while The Hollywood Reporter and Los Angeles Times praised its horror effects. Retrospective takes, like Michael Weldon’s Psychotronic Encyclopedia, call it “probably the silliest movie in Karloff’s career.”

Public Domain Staple: Due to a lapsed copyright, "The Ape" is widely available, often in poor-quality prints, cementing its status as a cult curiosity.

Ape Suit Woes: The ape costume, worn by stuntman Ray “Crash” Corrigan, was notoriously shoddy, even by 1940s B-movie standards, adding unintentional humor to the film’s climax.

Cast
Boris Karloff as Dr. Bernard Adrian: The horror icon brings gravitas to the mad doctor role, infusing Adrian with sympathy despite his murderous turn. Fresh off Son of Frankenstein (1939), Karloff’s presence elevates the low-budget production.

Maris Wrixon as Frances Clifford: A minor starlet, Wrixon plays the wheelchair-bound ingenue with quiet dignity. She appeared in numerous B-films, often in supporting roles, and shines here as the emotional anchor.

Gene O’Donnell as Danny Foster: The protective boyfriend, O’Donnell’s performance is stiff but earnest. A bit player, he’s overshadowed by the leads.

Dorothy Vaughan as Mrs. Clifford: Frances’s trusting mother, Vaughan adds warmth in a small role, typical of her career as a character actress.

Henry Hall as Sheriff Jeff Halliday: The gruff lawman, Hall’s no-nonsense demeanor fits the small-town vibe. He was a regular in B-westerns and horror flicks.

Ray “Crash” Corrigan as Nabu: A stuntman known for ape roles (e.g., White Gorilla), Corrigan dons the suit briefly before Karloff takes over, his physicality adding menace to the early scenes.

Supporting Roles: Gertrude Hoffman as Adrian’s mute housekeeper Jane, Philo McCullough as the sleazy Henry Mason, and I. Stanford Jolley as the doomed trainer round out the cast, mostly Monogram regulars.