At least half of the runtime for The Monster and the Girl consists of courtroom drama: the trial of Scot Webster (Phillip Terry), who has been framed for murder by the gangsters who tricked his sister Susan (Ellen Drew) into a life of prostitution. Scot is found guilty and sentenced to execution; as he is led away, he swears that the villains will get what they deserve.
After 35 minutes or so, George Zucco enters the picture, as mad scientist Dr. Parry, who asks Scot if he can have his brain after he is dead, for use in an experiment that will benefit mankind. From hereon in, things get really daft as Parry transplants Scot's brain into a gorilla. Quite how that benefits mankind, I'm not quite sure, but it does serve to make the rest of the film a lot of barmy B-movie fun, as the gorilla escapes and takes revenge on the gangsters, breaking every bone in their bodies.
Director Stuart Heisler handles proceedings with more style than one might expect and wisely glosses over awkward plot points, such as how a huge gorilla makes it way around the city and into hotel rooms without being spotted. Killer gorillas and crazy apes were popular in horror movies of this time, and the 'man in a costume' monster in this film is one of the better examples - you wouldn't ever mistake it for a real ape, but it's not distractingly bad.
6/10.
After 35 minutes or so, George Zucco enters the picture, as mad scientist Dr. Parry, who asks Scot if he can have his brain after he is dead, for use in an experiment that will benefit mankind. From hereon in, things get really daft as Parry transplants Scot's brain into a gorilla. Quite how that benefits mankind, I'm not quite sure, but it does serve to make the rest of the film a lot of barmy B-movie fun, as the gorilla escapes and takes revenge on the gangsters, breaking every bone in their bodies.
Director Stuart Heisler handles proceedings with more style than one might expect and wisely glosses over awkward plot points, such as how a huge gorilla makes it way around the city and into hotel rooms without being spotted. Killer gorillas and crazy apes were popular in horror movies of this time, and the 'man in a costume' monster in this film is one of the better examples - you wouldn't ever mistake it for a real ape, but it's not distractingly bad.
6/10.