This is the third and final film in Universal's 'Ape Woman' series, which began with the entertainingly goofy Captive Wild Woman (1943), that film followed the year after by the dull and repetitive Jungle Woman. The Jungle Captive is a slight return to form for the series thanks to the fact that it actually delivers a mad scientist and an ape-woman, both of which were conspicuous by their absence in the second film. Otto Kruger is particularly entertaining as loopy Dr. Stendahl, who takes his experiments on reviving dead animals to the next level by operating on the dead body of Paula Dupree, the Ape Woman (Vicky Lane); it's a performance to rival the greats of the mad scientist sub-genre - Bela Lugosi, John Carradine, George Zucco and Boris Karloff.
In order for his operation to be a success, Stendahl needs to perform a blood transfusion, and uses his pretty assistant Ann Forrester (Amelita Ward) as the unwilling donor; this troubles the doctor's hulking henchman Moloch (Rondo Hatton), who has feelings for the girl. After reviving the ape-woman, and successfully transforming it into Paula Dupree, it becomes apparent to Stendahl that his subject's brain is sub-normal. The scientist decides that the answer is to do a switcheroo with Ann's brain; meanwhile, Ann's fiance Don (Phil Brown, Uncle Owen from Star Wars) is frantically searching for his missing girlfriend.
While the The Jungle Captive admittedly treads very familiar ground, fans of the genre will no doubt appreciate the fact that it delivers precisely what is required to be a fun time.
6/10.
In order for his operation to be a success, Stendahl needs to perform a blood transfusion, and uses his pretty assistant Ann Forrester (Amelita Ward) as the unwilling donor; this troubles the doctor's hulking henchman Moloch (Rondo Hatton), who has feelings for the girl. After reviving the ape-woman, and successfully transforming it into Paula Dupree, it becomes apparent to Stendahl that his subject's brain is sub-normal. The scientist decides that the answer is to do a switcheroo with Ann's brain; meanwhile, Ann's fiance Don (Phil Brown, Uncle Owen from Star Wars) is frantically searching for his missing girlfriend.
While the The Jungle Captive admittedly treads very familiar ground, fans of the genre will no doubt appreciate the fact that it delivers precisely what is required to be a fun time.
6/10.