Cheap Captive Wild Woman (Video) (Edward Dmytryk) Price

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Customer Reviews of Captive Wild Woman

Remember: Never turn a killer orangutan into a woman
Okay, so Dr. Sigmund Walters (John Carradine) steals a killer orangutan brought back from the jungle who happens to be unusually intelligent and uses gland transplants, bizarre chemical injections and plastic surgery to turn the ape into a beautiful woman he names Paula Dupree (Acquanetta, "Tarzan and the Leopard Women"). Not that there is anything wrong with that. But, of course, Paula remains a beast at heart and all it takes is one emotional trauma and she is going to go back to her primal self and go on a rampage. So jilting her was probably not a good idea, you think? This movie is just a real Leonard Pith Carnel special, I can tell you that for sure. Believe it or not, "Captive Wild Woman" (1943) is the first in the Paul Dupree Ape Woman trilogy, followed by "Jungle Woman" (1944) and "Jungle Captive" (1945). What is interesting is that not only does Acquanetta never get anything remotely close to top billing in any of these films, she is replaced by Vicki Lane in the third one. I am horrified at the thought that these movies, produced during the Second World War, were shown to our troops in Pacific, since I seem to recall that orangutans are native to that part of the globe. Oh, that would just be so wrong on so many levels.

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The Eternal Savage
A curious attempt to combine a horror movie and a circus adventure flick. A sinister doctor (John Carradine) surgically transforms a female gorilla into a mysterious woman named Paula Dupree (Acquanetta). She is attracted to animal trainer Fred Mason (Milburn Stone). Due to plot developments beyond our control, the surgery wears off and Paula undergoes an "ape-woman" transformation that is typical of the trademark horror movies of Universal Studio.

This film is both too much and too little. The running time is only 61 minutes. The scriptwriters made a noble effort to combine diverse plot elements within the time constraints, but the results are mixed. The convoluted plot goes off in different directions that don't always make sense. There seems to be an inordinate amount of time showing Clyde Beatty doubling for Fred as he whips the ferocious big cats into shape. Paula's emotions eventually trigger a response that tips her delicate glandular balance over the edge. Her devolution back to a gorilla is gradual and she initially changes into a murderous ape-woman creature, enhanced by Jack Pierce's makeup. This quasi-werewolf is the best part of this little movie, but the screen time given to this aspect of the story is too little. Perhaps one metamorphosis scene was all the budget could sustain. This reviewer was left wishing for more horror movie elements and less of the "let's train the big cats" segments. The climax of the movie is rushed and abrupt, as if the director was conscious of the clock ticking. The final fade-out pontificating on the danger of not reckoning on God is disjointed from the rest of the action.

This movie is described elsewhere as "camp" entertainment. Well, perhaps. As a modest budgeted suspense flick, it's okay, but it could be better. In the hierarchy of Universal's classic horror films, this one is in the minor leagues. To insure compliance with our "oath of office," dedicated collectors of classic horror films need this movie to complete one's video library. Other viewers should adjust their expectations accordingly. ;-)

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Ankers/Acquanetta Fun!
For once, I agree with Leonard Maltin. This is a fun, campy masterpiece from the early 40s. We're introduced to young starlet, Acquanetta, who doesn't speak one line of dialogue. Her trim torso does all the acting, especially when she transforms from Cheela the Ape into Paul DuPree, the Ape Woman. Evelyn Ankers is, as usual, terrific and looks great in her fur hat and fur coat during the climax when the mad doctor, John Carradine, wants Cheela to kill Ankers and her sister. Carradine is unusually good as the sensual, intense doctor. Equally as good is underrated B-Actress, Fay Helm (who played Jenny in The Wolf Man and Margaret in the spooky Night Monster). She hasn't that many lines but as usual, Helm makes them sizzle. An off-beat, eerie chiller that any Ankers and Carradine fans should have on their video shelf.