The Monster Maker
The Monster Maker is a 1944 science-fiction horror film starring J. Carrol Naish and Ralph Morgan. Albert Glasser supplied the film score, his first, an assignment for which he was paid US$250.[1]
| The Monster Maker | |
|---|---|
 Promotional release poster | |
| Directed by | Sam Newfield |
| Produced by | Sigmund Neufeld |
| Written by | Lawrence Williams Pierre Gendron Martin Mooney |
| Starring | J. Carrol Naish Ralph Morgan Tala Birell |
| Music by | Albert Glasser |
| Cinematography | Sam Newfield |
| Edited by | Robert E. Cline |
| Distributed by | Producers Releasing Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 62 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
Dr. Markoff (J. Carrol Naish) has concocted a formula that spreads a hideous disease named acromegaly - which extends bones and distorts facial features. Markoff has no moral dilemma in experimenting on unsuspecting human subjects. His amoral behavior assumes monstrous dimensions when famed concert pianist Lawrence (Ralph Morgan) is injected with the doctor's disease-inducing serum. In return for an antidote, Markoff intends to exact more than his pound of flesh by extorting a fortune from Lawrence and demanding the hand of the musician's pretty daughter Patricia (Wanda McKay).[2]
Cast
- J. Carrol Naish as Dr. Igor Markoff
- Ralph Morgan as Anthony Lawrence
- Tala Birell as Maxine
- Wanda McKay as Patricia Lawrence
- Terry Frost as Bob Blake
- Glenn Strange as Giant / Steve
- Alexander Pollard as Butler / Stack
- Sam Flint as Dr. Adams
- Ace the Wonder Dog as Ace
Production and reception
Lowly PRC hadn't released a horror picture in nearly 17 months, having spent most of 1943 substantially expanding their capabilities by purchasing the bankrupt Chadwick Studio (a poverty row operation that specialized in renting stages and production equipment to low-budget producers along Gower) for $305,000. While critics, what few that would review a PRC release, complained about the film's lack of action, production values were noted to be somewhat higher than earlier releases. The working title of this film was The Devil's Apprentice.[3]
The film holds an extremely low 3% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 4.7/10 on the Internet Movie Database.
References
- Weaver, Tom (2006). Science Fiction Stars and Horror Heroes: Interviews with Actors, Directors, Producers and Writers of the 1940s Through 1960s. McFarland. pp. 98–99. ISBN 0-7864-2857-0.
- Erickson, Hal. "The Monster Maker". AllMovie. Retrieved 2009-08-04.
- The Monster Maker TCM Notes
External links
- The Monster Maker at IMDb
- The Monster Maker is available for free download at the Internet Archive
- The Monster Maker at AllMovie