Return of the Ape Man

Return of the Ape Man is a 1944 American film distributed by Monogram Pictures.[1][2] It was directed by Philip Rosen with top-billed star Bela Lugosi[3] and supporting actors John Carradine, George Zucco, Frank Moran, Judith Gibson and Michael Ames.[4]

Return of the Ape Man
Directed byPhilip Rosen
Produced bySam Katzman
Jack Dietz
Screenplay byRobert Charles
(uncredited)
StarringBela Lugosi
Music byEdward Kay
(musical director)
CinematographyMarcel LePicard
Edited byCarl Pierson
Production
company
Distributed byMonogram Pictures Corporation
Release date
  • June 24, 1944 (1944-06-24)
Running time
61 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Cast
Uncredited

Cast notes

George Zucco is co-credited on screen and in the publicity, along with Moran, as having played the Ape Man. At the onset of the laboratory scene where Prof. Dexter (Lugosi) and Gilmore (Carradine) are preparing to melt the caveman free from the block of ice, Zucco is shown in the Ape Man makeup - albeit briefly. Zucco's prominent nose, as well as his injured and withered left arm/hand (from a WWI injury) are clearly visible facing the camera. The shot then switches away from the Ape Man. When it returns again to the same shot, Moran has replaced Zucco. The producers later explained he became ill during the filming. Other speculations are that he was deemed too old to carry out the role, or that he simply refused to play the part.

References
  1. "Three Good Returns on Next Week's Bill at the Strand" (Lewiston Journal Magazine Section, June 17, 1944, p.A–5)
  2. "Tuesday and Wednesday / Bela Lugosi and John Carradine in "Return of the Ape Man" / If you have the nerve and your heart can take it, come on and see this one" (Kentucky New Era, December 30, 1946, Page Seven)
  3. "MENACE / Bela Lugosi is behind all the evil doings in "Return of the Ape Man" at the Barry" (The Pittsburgh Press, July 9, 1944, Page 24)
  4. "WALTER WINCHELL ON BROADWAY / Notes of An Innocent Bystander / "Return of the Ape Man" sells gooseflesh wholesale. Lugosi is up to his old bogey-mantics—but the yarn is haunted by the ghosts of dead scripts..." (St. Petersburg Times, July 25, 1944, p.16)
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