THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick! in Poverty Row Forum

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THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!

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Leonide	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#21	[-]
Dec 6 05 2:06 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I totally forgot (or just didn't realize) that the great Wallace Ford was in the picture! I love the fact that Ford's draft number was called and he considered himself prime material. Talk about a wartime shortage. If that wasn't bad enough, dockside reporter (Laurel & Hardy nemesis, Charlie Hall) was about to head overseas). I was sort of expecting to see Henry Hall on his way to the draft board as well. The little scene where Aggie* plays her ghost record offers an atmospheric little chill. Bela growling at his caged gorilla offers a chill too. But not the same kind. Bill (ska AuWren...oh.. "Call me vhat you like") * Was that a WAC uniform she was wearing. Loves that Minerva who was just as haunted in THE LIVING GHOST.
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Borgo	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#22	[-]
Jan 27 06 10:08 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I know this must have been been discussed before, but I did a search and didn't come up with anything: What's the story behind George Zucco's co-billing (along with Frank Moran) as the Ape Man in RETURN OF THE APE MAN? I've heard of this sort of thing happening when an actor's part is cut out of the final film, yet still receives billing in the credits, but this particular instance seems an especially glaring example. This film was made roughly the same time as VOODOO MAN, THE MUMMY'S GHOST and HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN. Could commitments on one of these projects possibly have interfered with working in this movie? (Although Carradine was in all 3 of these movies as well). I know the answer to this is most likely in Tom Weaver's *Poverty Row Horrors!* (I've ordered it...it's in the mail), but having seen this film last night, was just curious.
Joe Karlosi	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#23	[-]
Jan 27 06 10:28 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Oboy! Yes, we've discussed this before and I'll leave someone else (Tom?) to go into the details! All I know is, it's not Zucco in the film, but there is at least one lobbycard or still where it surely looks like George Zucco. ---------------------- "It's MORE ... than a hobby!"
TomWeaver999	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#24	[-]
Jan 27 06 1:20 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	On the fifth day of production, the Hollywood trades reported that Zucco had quit because of "illness." Yes, he IS in a couple of stills (the getting-up-out-of-the-block-of-ice lab scene). Speaking of Frank Moran, I was at a pal's house on Wednesday for a seven-movie marathon (all 60-minute Bs, Cs and Zs) and one was a 1941 PRC called DOUBLE CROSS in which Moran had a very nice little part, much more dialogue than usual, played a likable bad-guy who finally comes around and helps the heroine, and is even featured in the film's fadeout gag. I was really tickled to find him playing such a good part.
Leonide	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#25	[-]
Jan 27 06 1:49 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Speaking of Frank Moran, Moran was also fun as Lyle Latell's (Pat Patton from Dick Tracy) buddy, Ox, in FEDERAL FUGITIVES (1941-PRC). Bill Chase (ska AuWren)
Count Gamula	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#26	[-]
Jan 28 06 1:36 AM Burgomaster Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	One strange thing about Zucco's casting in RETURN OF THE APE MAN (which might have been a factor in his departure) was the fact that he had an under-developed right arm. Although it was usually not too noticable, Zucco's right arm and hand had a rather withered and boney look which you can see from time to time. Perhaps either Zucco didn't realized until filming began that he would be wearing a sleeveless costume, or perhaps the producer's didn't realized Zucco's condition until they saw him in the costume. I think the Moran was the better choice for the role anyway, but it sure is odd that they left Zucco's name in the credits and his photo in the stills and lobbies when he didn't appear in one frame of the movie.
HalLane	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#27	[-]
Jan 28 06 8:00 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	That's a real good point. It's usually assumed that it was his idea to leave, but maybe not. It says somewhere (UNIVERSAL HORRORS, maybe?) that Zucco was missing fingers and wore a glove, like Harold Lloyd, but I always have trouble remembering or seeing which hand it is-- not always obvious.
Borgo	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#28	[-]
Jan 28 06 3:40 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* George Zucco was born in Manchester, England on January 11, 1886. Winning school honors in mathematics in England, he ventured to Canada when he was a teenager and worked on a farm and in a bank. In Winnipeg he became a member of a stock company and made his first stage appearance in 1908, eventually touring both Canada and the United States. Zucco returned to England to fight in World War I. In France, he was shot in his right arm and two of his fingers became paralyzed, but he was still able to use his thumb, forefinger, and middle finger. Source: www.kabinet.org copyrite 2003
Count Gamula	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#29	[-]
Jan 28 06 4:22 PM Burgomaster Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Here's a photo showing Zucco's damaged arm. It's not as bad as I had imagined it from from just seeing his wrist sticking out of his sleeve in some scenes.
TomWeaver999	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#30	[-]
Jan 28 06 5:52 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	There are a couple movies -- I think CAT AND THE CANARY is one -- where, if you look at Zucco's hand, you can tell that a couple fingers are out of commission. They kinda just dangle while the rest of the hand is doin' its thing.
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Borgo	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#31	[-]
Jan 28 06 8:20 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	OK, so we've established that Zucco was not exactly Inspector Krogh (Lionel Atwill's wooden arm bearing character in Son of Frankenstein) and I think we've uncovered all there is to know (all that we need to know) about this curiosity. After all, he obtained his wound defending his country from the Kaiser and for that we should all admire him (oh, and for his brilliant performances in American cinema in the late '30's and 1940's).
Count Gamula	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#32	[-]
Jan 29 06 12:39 AM Burgomaster Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I think we've uncovered all there is to know (all that we need to know) about this curiosity. Probably true, but... If anyone is curious, you get a pretty good look at Zucco's hands in FOG ISLAND during the scene of him rigging the trap room to lock and fill with water. It's in chapter 2 of the Alpha DVD.
Joe Karlosi	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#33	[-]
Jan 29 06 8:11 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks, Kerry, but I'd rather take your word for it than endure FOG ISLAND again. :) ---------------------- "It's MORE ... than a hobby!"
Leonide	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#34	[-]
Jan 29 06 10:55 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* endure FOG ISLAND again. :) I enjoyed FOG ISLAND though it could have done with a little more Atwill. Bill Chase (ska AuWren)
bosko52	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#35	[-]
Jan 29 06 5:01 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	sure is odd that they left Zucco's name in the credits and his photo in the stills and lobbies when he didn't appear in one frame of the movie. ------------------- Actually, I seem to recall there is one brief shot of Zucco in the picture during the fire sequence at the end. I don't have a copy nearby to check, tho.
TomWeaver999	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#36	[-]
Jan 29 06 6:16 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	<< I don't have a copy nearby to check, tho. << With the help of my magnetic-tip Komelon 16-foot tape measure (Patent Pending) I just determined that, because I work at my desk every day, I spend about half my waking life exactly 96 inches from my VHS tape of RETURN OF THE APE MAN. sigh
HalLane	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#37	[-]
Jan 29 06 7:18 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tom, if you plan on checking that fire scene in your RETURN OF THE APEMAN VHS tape sometime, you might want to keep that *magnetic-tip* Komelon away from it. A lit blowtorch might be safer, and more apropos.
Ron Prescott	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#38	[-]
Jan 29 06 8:10 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I think THE APE MAN ranks as my least favorite (right down there with GHOSTS ON THE LOOSE) Lugosi Monogram. It's got a certain dullness...too much emphasis on extraneous characters, and it's just not a good showcase for Lugosi. And for the most part, the Lugosi Monograms can do no wrong with me! -------------- "Say, this is obscene!"
Count Gamula	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#39	[-]
Jan 29 06 8:18 PM Burgomaster Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I just took a look at the ending of RETURN OF THE APE MAN from a DVD-R that I have. Using slow motion and freeze-frame, I couldn't find any shot that looked like Zucco. My recent study of his hands came in "handy" since in a few spots where it wasn't clear from the face that is was Frank Moran, you could tell by the right hand that was could not be Zucco. There does appear to be a second actor in some shots, but in my opinion it was a stunt man used because of the fire which was pretty intense at times.
TomWeaver999	Re: THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!	#40	[-]
Jan 29 06 9:00 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Teala Loring, the leading lady, told me that it was definitely a stunt man (a young guy she enjoyed talking to) in some parts of RETURN OF THE APE MAN, like (for instance) the scenes where the Ape Man is carrying her (or a dummy of her).
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THE APE MAN - Pretty Fun Flick!