The Mad Monster (1942)
The Mad Monster (1942)
In 1942 director Sam Newfield directed 19 films, so it is without a doubt that these films are made very cheaply and very quickly, a director like Sam Newfield is definitely about quantity over quality, and he did productions for "Poverty Row" studios like PRC (Producers Releasing Corporation). One of those films that he did with PRC in 1942 was the Mad Monster, which featured two stars that were familiar in the horror genre with George Zucco who would be known for films like The Mummy's Hand from 1940, and Glenn Strange who we all know as playing Frankenstein's Monster multiple times for Universal in the 1940s. For being a "Poverty Row Quickie" The Mad Monster is actually a pretty decent film, with elements of the "mad scientist" and "the wolfman" film tropes.
The Mad Monster is about a scientist who has been discredited by his peers for his theories. So when he creates a monster by mixing the DNA of a wolf with a man, effectively creating a wolfman, he plots his revenge on those who discredited him. A very basic monster film idea, and though the film isn't really original, it does work. Despite it's low budget, and quick filming, the film actually acts as an effective 1940s monster film.
The Mad Monster was directed by Sam Newfield, with a screenplay by Fred Myton. The film was produced by Sam Newfield's brother Sigmund Neufeld. The film was distributed by Producers Releasing Corporation in 1942. The film has been described as a bad film that is difficult to dislike. In the UK The Mad Monster was banned until 1952 for being too shocking.
The Mad Monster stars George Zucco as Dr. Lorenzo Cameron, Glenn Strange as Petro, Anne Nagel as Dr. Cameron's daughter Lenora Cameron, Johnny Downs plays her boyfriend and reporter Tom Gregory, Gordon De Main as Professor Fitzgerald, Reginald Barlow as Professor Warwick, Robert Strange as Professor Blaine, John Elliot as Prof Hatfield, Sarah Padden as The Grandmother, Ed Cassidy as The Father, and Mae Busch as The Mother. Glenn Strange as Petro reminded me a lot of Lon Chaney Jr, with a mix of him playing Lenny in Of Mice And Men, and him playing the Wolfman. I really liked him as the dimwitted Petro, and his incredible height of 6'5' made him a towering monster when he was in the "wolfman" makeup. I feel like Glenn Strange as Petro and the monster are the real reason to watch this film. Not to take away from George Zucco, who did a great job at playing the mad scientist, but his character was just just run of the mill and could really be played just as well by anyone. The rest of the cast are really little more than side characters with little actual importance.
The film is a low budget "Poverty Row quickie" but it is an enjoyable film. Though for it's low budget the make-up effects for the monster are pretty well done, a bit of a toned down version of the Wolfman effects that were used for the Universal film The Wolf Man. The plot is pretty run of the mill mad scientist theme, with very little in the way of character development, and the pace is nice and quick, and the film is over before the audience could get bored at all. Overall, it is a great film for what it is, and one that I have enjoyed watching multiple times. The Mad Monster is a popcorn horror film, not a serious film at all, but a fun little b-horror creature feature. If you haven't seen it, I do recommend checking it out, it is by no means a must-see film, but it is definitely worth watching if you like classic monster films. I think from watching this film it is obvious to see why Glenn Strange would be cast by Universal Pictures to play the Frankenstein Monster, he was more known for his role in Western films before doing the Mad Monster. Definitely give the film a chance if you come across a copy of it.
The Mad Monster is about a scientist who has been discredited by his peers for his theories. So when he creates a monster by mixing the DNA of a wolf with a man, effectively creating a wolfman, he plots his revenge on those who discredited him. A very basic monster film idea, and though the film isn't really original, it does work. Despite it's low budget, and quick filming, the film actually acts as an effective 1940s monster film.
The Mad Monster was directed by Sam Newfield, with a screenplay by Fred Myton. The film was produced by Sam Newfield's brother Sigmund Neufeld. The film was distributed by Producers Releasing Corporation in 1942. The film has been described as a bad film that is difficult to dislike. In the UK The Mad Monster was banned until 1952 for being too shocking.
The Mad Monster stars George Zucco as Dr. Lorenzo Cameron, Glenn Strange as Petro, Anne Nagel as Dr. Cameron's daughter Lenora Cameron, Johnny Downs plays her boyfriend and reporter Tom Gregory, Gordon De Main as Professor Fitzgerald, Reginald Barlow as Professor Warwick, Robert Strange as Professor Blaine, John Elliot as Prof Hatfield, Sarah Padden as The Grandmother, Ed Cassidy as The Father, and Mae Busch as The Mother. Glenn Strange as Petro reminded me a lot of Lon Chaney Jr, with a mix of him playing Lenny in Of Mice And Men, and him playing the Wolfman. I really liked him as the dimwitted Petro, and his incredible height of 6'5' made him a towering monster when he was in the "wolfman" makeup. I feel like Glenn Strange as Petro and the monster are the real reason to watch this film. Not to take away from George Zucco, who did a great job at playing the mad scientist, but his character was just just run of the mill and could really be played just as well by anyone. The rest of the cast are really little more than side characters with little actual importance.
The film is a low budget "Poverty Row quickie" but it is an enjoyable film. Though for it's low budget the make-up effects for the monster are pretty well done, a bit of a toned down version of the Wolfman effects that were used for the Universal film The Wolf Man. The plot is pretty run of the mill mad scientist theme, with very little in the way of character development, and the pace is nice and quick, and the film is over before the audience could get bored at all. Overall, it is a great film for what it is, and one that I have enjoyed watching multiple times. The Mad Monster is a popcorn horror film, not a serious film at all, but a fun little b-horror creature feature. If you haven't seen it, I do recommend checking it out, it is by no means a must-see film, but it is definitely worth watching if you like classic monster films. I think from watching this film it is obvious to see why Glenn Strange would be cast by Universal Pictures to play the Frankenstein Monster, he was more known for his role in Western films before doing the Mad Monster. Definitely give the film a chance if you come across a copy of it.
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