Captive Wild Woman

Universal programmer proves to be a mixed bag.

Dr. Walters (John Carradine) has made great strides in his field of glandular transplants. But as his work progresses, the more unhinged his approach to his science becomes. Stealing a tame gorilla from the local circus, Walters transforms the gorilla into a beautiful woman whom he names Paula Dupree (Acquanetta). Upon taking Paula to the circus it's found that she has hypnotic powers over the lions and tigers and is promptly made part of the taming of the beasts act. But can Paula contain her true animal instincts?.

Sounds bonkers doesn't it? Well it is, but it's not the plot that makes the film so distinctly average. This is after all a low level Universal Pictures movie, we want, in fa...

Middling 1940s horror movie with John Carradine playing a mad scientist converting an ape into a woman. Could've made for a cheesy entertaining film that I couldn't enjoy with the clear animal abuse; fine for the times I know, but was at times hard to watch. 2.5/5

ohn Carradine is a scientist bent on discovering a way to morph animals into people - quite why, we are not sure - and so when he develops a method that involves transplanting human glands into the beasties, his loyal nurse is horrified. Unfortunately for her (and us) she is soon incorporated into his experiments and the resulting creature "Beth" (Evelyn Ankers) is both menacing and hilarious in equal measure... Add to the mix some good, old-fashioned, lion taming - complete with whips and chairs and the whole thing descends into a farce in a big top with some really risible visual effects that two minutes with a Gillette could sort out swiftly and effectively. Carradine rescues it to a certain extent, he always did have the mesmerising eye...