Summaries

People in an old dark house on a stormy night are menaced by a killer ape.

A doctor, who keeps an ape for medical studies, dies and his daughter inherits his estate. Her uncle, a paralytic, working through his natural son by the housekeeper, plans her death, and the ape may or may not be involved. However, the plan does have a problem or two in its execution.—Les Adams <[email protected]>

Ruth Earlton and her fiance Dr. Ted Carver arrive at her father's house soon after his death. There they find her invalid Uncle Robert, the housekeeper Mrs. Krug and the housekeeper's son Hanns. Ruth learns a chimpanzee her father used in experiments is still kept in the basement. Earlton's will leaves his estate to Ruth, but it will go to Uncle Robert in the event of her death. Small monthly sums are left to the housekeeper and her son. When Ruth goes to bed that night, a large, hairy hand reaches through the headboard and attempts to strangle her. She screams; it disappears. Ted and Mrs. Krug arrive at her room to comfort her. Ted gives her a sedative, and she falls asleep in a chair. Mrs. Krug stays with her, taking the bed. The hairy hand reappears through the headboard and strangles Mrs. Krug. Ruth awakens and alerts the rest of the household. Afterward, Hanns meets with Robert in secret, who tells him that their plan to kill Ruth has failed and Hanns has accidentally murdered his own mother. Hanns blames Robert for this, and after mentioning that Robert is actually his father, he strangles him as well, leaving him for dead. Hanns takes Ruth to the ape, but the ape grabs him.—Garon Smith

Details

Keywords
  • ape
  • chimpanzee
  • black stereotype
  • reference to charles darwin
  • darwinism
Genres
  • Mystery
  • Horror
Release date Feb 9, 1932
Motion Picture Rating (MPA) Passed
Countries of origin United States
Language English
Filming locations International Film Studios - 1339 Gordon Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
Production companies Action Pictures

Box office

Tech specs

Runtime 1h 3m
Color Black and White
Sound mix Mono
Aspect ratio 1.37 : 1

Synopsis

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