The Films
The Monster and the Girl
A clever Film Noir, Mad Scientist, Revenge story all rolled into one. After Scot Webster (Phillip Terry) is framed and convicted to death for killing a man who forced his sister (Ellen Drew) into Prostitution, Webster is given the chance to help science with his body. That helps happens to be his body transferred into the body of a Gorilla. Yes, you heard that correct.
Into. The. Body. Of. A. Gorilla.
Once in the body of the Gorilla, Webster escapes and sets to hunt down the gangsters that framed him. The best part of the film is the way that it’s told with the utmost sincerity and seriousness by director Stuart Heisler from an adroit script by Stuart Anthony. Heisler manages to create a few stand out moments like the montage of the surgery transferring Webster’s brain to the Gorilla’s body. It’s a gonzo concept done with the right amount of style. The best of the bunch.
Captive Wild Woman
Acquanetta is the sole reason to watch this Z-Grade piece of lunacy. You’ll have to forgive the ample amount of animal abuse on screen if you’re going to get through this one. The story is about a Circus, a Mad Scientist testing on animal-human hybrids, and the love story between a lion tamer and a woman. It’s all very of the era. This is an early entry into journeyman Director Edward Dmytryk filmography, and it does not really show any of the “style on a budget” that Dmytryk was known for. Acquanetta as the Ape-Woman is the main attraction here. Her work is magnetic even if everything else is just passable, the wordless performance.
Jungle Woman
The sequel to Captive Wild Woman that spends 20 of its 62-minute run time with clips from the first film essentially recapping the events of the first film. Once the film does start it manages to be more entertaining than the first with a love triangle between’s Acquanetta’s Paula aka Ape-Woman and the dim blub (Richard David) paramour to the scientist’s daughter (Lois Collier). Be warned there is an absolutely wild un-PC performance by Eddie Hyans here that many will wince at. That said, it manages to be an engrossing entertaining piece of lunacy. Acquanetta is given more to do here and is the best part of the film as both the most sympathetic character but oddly framed as the film’s tragic villain.
Jungle Captive
The third of the ape-woman films finds them loosing it’s the MVP of this series, Acquanetta for Vicky Lane. Acquanetta’s loss is apparent from the beginning. The film takes its cue from The Monster and the Girl as it mashes Film Noir and Mad Scientist genres to good effect. This time a scientist frames his young assistant for crimes he didn’t commit. The best part of the film is the appearance of Rondo Hatton. For those unfamiliar with Hatton’s many film appearances and striking appearance may recognize his visage as the inspiration for Lothar from The Rocketeer.
The Transfers
The Monster and the Girl
The new 2K Scan of A Fine Grain Film Element is nothing short of spectacular. The restored black and white image is beautifully rendered on Blu-Ray. The grain structure and sharpness are gorgeous.
Captive Wild Woman
This is the most troublesome of the lot. It has not been restored and my thought is because of all of the images of animal cruelty on display. The transfer does contain quite a few scratches and blemishes. It’s an acceptable image but nowhere near the quality that the other three films have been restored too.
Jungle Woman
The new 2K Scan of A Fine Grain Film Element is like The Monster and the Girl nothing short of spectacular. The restored black and white image is beautifully rendered on Blu-Ray. The grain structure and sharpness are gorgeous. There are a few dips in quality but that’s the nature of the footage and not the quality of the restoration.
Jungle Captive
The new 2K Scan of A Fine Grain Film Element is nothing short of spectacular. The restored black and white image is beautifully rendered on Blu-Ray. The grain structure and sharpness are gorgeous. The film looks so good it points out some of the terrible day-for-night effects used in the film.
The Extras
They include the following:
DISC ONE: THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL
- Audio Commentary With Film Historians Tom Weaver And Steve Kronenberg
DISC TWO: CAPTIVE WILD WOMAN
- Audio Commentary With Film Historian/Author Tom Weaver
- Theatrical Trailer
- Still Gallery
DISC THREE: JUNGLE WOMAN
- Audio Commentary With Film Historian Gregory William Mank
- Still Gallery
DISC FOUR: THE JUNGLE CAPTIVE
- Audio Commentary By Film Historian Scott Gallinghouse
- Theatrical Trailer
Each of the commentaries hosted by various historians are fantastic accompaniments to the films. Each by Tom Weaver, Steve Kronenberg, Gregory Mank, and Scott Gallinghouse give historical context, fun fact, and loads of insight into the productions, the directors, writers, and stars of the films. If you found yourself wondering how these films were made, please listen to these tracks as they will give you a ton of information on that.
The Final Thought
Scream Factory continues the important work of persevering these oft-forgotten titles. Universal Horror Collection Vol. 5 is a definite RECOMMEND!
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Scream Factory puts together a great Mad Scientist film collection with their Blu-Ray set Universal Horror Collection Vol. 5
The Films
The Monster and the Girl
A clever Film Noir, Mad Scientist, Revenge story all rolled into one. After Scot Webster (Phillip Terry) is framed and convicted to death for killing a man who forced his sister (Ellen Drew) into Prostitution, Webster is given the chance to help science with his body. That helps happens to be his body transferred into the body of a Gorilla. Yes, you heard that correct.
Into. The. Body. Of. A. Gorilla.
Once in the body of the Gorilla, Webster escapes and sets to hunt down the gangsters that framed him. The best part of the film is the way that it’s told with the utmost sincerity and seriousness by director Stuart Heisler from an adroit script by Stuart Anthony. Heisler manages to create a few stand out moments like the montage of the surgery transferring Webster’s brain to the Gorilla’s body. It’s a gonzo concept done with the right amount of style. The best of the bunch.
Captive Wild Woman
Acquanetta is the sole reason to watch this Z-Grade piece of lunacy. You’ll have to forgive the ample amount of animal abuse on screen if you’re going to get through this one. The story is about a Circus, a Mad Scientist testing on animal-human hybrids, and the love story between a lion tamer and a woman. It’s all very of the era. This is an early entry into journeyman Director Edward Dmytryk filmography, and it does not really show any of the “style on a budget” that Dmytryk was known for. Acquanetta as the Ape-Woman is the main attraction here. Her work is magnetic even if everything else is just passable, the wordless performance.
Jungle Woman
The sequel to Captive Wild Woman that spends 20 of its 62-minute run time with clips from the first film essentially recapping the events of the first film. Once the film does start it manages to be more entertaining than the first with a love triangle between’s Acquanetta’s Paula aka Ape-Woman and the dim blub (Richard David) paramour to the scientist’s daughter (Lois Collier). Be warned there is an absolutely wild un-PC performance by Eddie Hyans here that many will wince at. That said, it manages to be an engrossing entertaining piece of lunacy. Acquanetta is given more to do here and is the best part of the film as both the most sympathetic character but oddly framed as the film’s tragic villain.
Jungle Captive
The third of the ape-woman films finds them loosing it’s the MVP of this series, Acquanetta for Vicky Lane. Acquanetta’s loss is apparent from the beginning. The film takes its cue from The Monster and the Girl as it mashes Film Noir and Mad Scientist genres to good effect. This time a scientist frames his young assistant for crimes he didn’t commit. The best part of the film is the appearance of Rondo Hatton. For those unfamiliar with Hatton’s many film appearances and striking appearance may recognize his visage as the inspiration for Lothar from The Rocketeer.
The Transfers
The Monster and the Girl
The new 2K Scan of A Fine Grain Film Element is nothing short of spectacular. The restored black and white image is beautifully rendered on Blu-Ray. The grain structure and sharpness are gorgeous.
Captive Wild Woman
This is the most troublesome of the lot. It has not been restored and my thought is because of all of the images of animal cruelty on display. The transfer does contain quite a few scratches and blemishes. It’s an acceptable image but nowhere near the quality that the other three films have been restored too.
Jungle Woman
The new 2K Scan of A Fine Grain Film Element is like The Monster and the Girl nothing short of spectacular. The restored black and white image is beautifully rendered on Blu-Ray. The grain structure and sharpness are gorgeous. There are a few dips in quality but that’s the nature of the footage and not the quality of the restoration.
Jungle Captive
The new 2K Scan of A Fine Grain Film Element is nothing short of spectacular. The restored black and white image is beautifully rendered on Blu-Ray. The grain structure and sharpness are gorgeous. The film looks so good it points out some of the terrible day-for-night effects used in the film.
The Extras
They include the following:
DISC ONE: THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL
DISC TWO: CAPTIVE WILD WOMAN
DISC THREE: JUNGLE WOMAN
DISC FOUR: THE JUNGLE CAPTIVE
Each of the commentaries hosted by various historians are fantastic accompaniments to the films. Each by Tom Weaver, Steve Kronenberg, Gregory Mank, and Scott Gallinghouse give historical context, fun fact, and loads of insight into the productions, the directors, writers, and stars of the films. If you found yourself wondering how these films were made, please listen to these tracks as they will give you a ton of information on that.
The Final Thought
Scream Factory continues the important work of persevering these oft-forgotten titles. Universal Horror Collection Vol. 5 is a definite RECOMMEND!
Scream Factory’s Universal Horror Collection Vol. 5 is out June 16th
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