While it's by no means a classic of any kind, THE BRUTE MAN nonetheless rates a look- primarily because of its star, Rondo Hatton. Soft spoken and intelligent, he gives an understated performance that, in its own limited way, rivals that of Charlie Chaplin in CITY LIGHTS. I cite the Chaplin movie only because of the similarity in the storyline: both deal with men who fall for blind women (both of whom need "an operation" to restore their sight) and fear that, once able to see, the women will reject them (Chaplin because he's down and out, Hatton because he's "disfigured"). The direction as well as the supporting performances are something less than stellar (this is the guy who gave us the motionless picture SHE-WOLF OF London, one of the biggest cheats to come down the pike since MARK OF THE VAMPIRE), but Hatton as "The Creeper" comes across as somewhat sympathetic- especially when the blind girl attempts to touch his face: he turns away abruptly, and one can't help but factor his action(s) into his Real World experiences.
Review of The Brute Man
