Man Made Monster
Encyclopedia
Man-Made Monster is a science fiction
horror film
released by Universal Pictures
. The film stars Lon Chaney Jr. in his horror debut. Man-Made Monster was re-released under various titles including Electric Man and The Mysterious Dr. R. In 1953, it was re-released by Realart Pictures under the title The Atomic Monster on a double bill with The Flying Saucer
(1950).
exhibit as Dynamo Dan, the Electric Man is taken in by good Dr. John Lawrence (Samuel S. Hinds
), who wants to study him. However his colleague, mad scientist
Dr. Paul Rigas (Lionel Atwill
) wants to create an army of electrobiologically
-driven zombies. He gives McCormick progressively higher doses of electricity until his mind is ruined, and he is addicted to the charge. This temporarily gives McCormick the touch of death, making him capable of killing anyone he touched by electrocution
. After accidentally killing Lawrence, Rigas insures McCormick's conviction to see what will happen if he is sent to the electric chair
. McCormick survives, and with a super charge in his glowing body he kills several people, including Rigas, before running out of electricity and dying.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
released by Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
. The film stars Lon Chaney Jr. in his horror debut. Man-Made Monster was re-released under various titles including Electric Man and The Mysterious Dr. R. In 1953, it was re-released by Realart Pictures under the title The Atomic Monster on a double bill with The Flying Saucer
The Flying Saucer
The Flying Saucer is an American, black-and-white science fiction feature film, produced independently by Colonial Productions Inc. and distributed in the USA by Film Classics Inc.. The film script was written by Howard Irving Young from an original story by Mikel Conrad, who also produced,...
(1950).
Plot
A tragic accident when a bus hit a high power line has claimed the lives of all of the passengers on board, except for gentle Dan McCormick (Lon Chaney Jr.), who survived the accident because he was virtually immune to electricity. McCormick, who does a sideshowSideshow
In America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, carnival, fair or other such attraction.- Types of attractions :There are four main types of classic sideshow attractions:...
exhibit as Dynamo Dan, the Electric Man is taken in by good Dr. John Lawrence (Samuel S. Hinds
Samuel S. Hinds
Samuel Southey Hinds was an American actor who is perhaps best remembered for playing Peter Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life and for his part in You Can't Take It With You , both films by Frank Capra...
), who wants to study him. However his colleague, mad scientist
Mad scientist
A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
Dr. Paul Rigas (Lionel Atwill
Lionel Atwill
Lionel Atwill was an English stage and film actor born in Croydon, London, England.He studied architecture before his stage debut at the Garrick Theatre, London in 1904. He become a star in Broadway theatre by 1918, and made his screen debut in 1919. He acted on the stage in Australia but was most...
) wants to create an army of electrobiologically
Electrophysiology
Electrophysiology is the study of the electrical properties of biological cells and tissues. It involves measurements of voltage change or electric current on a wide variety of scales from single ion channel proteins to whole organs like the heart...
-driven zombies. He gives McCormick progressively higher doses of electricity until his mind is ruined, and he is addicted to the charge. This temporarily gives McCormick the touch of death, making him capable of killing anyone he touched by electrocution
Electric shock
Electric Shock of a body with any source of electricity that causes a sufficient current through the skin, muscles or hair. Typically, the expression is used to denote an unwanted exposure to electricity, hence the effects are considered undesirable....
. After accidentally killing Lawrence, Rigas insures McCormick's conviction to see what will happen if he is sent to the electric chair
Electric chair
Execution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
. McCormick survives, and with a super charge in his glowing body he kills several people, including Rigas, before running out of electricity and dying.
Cast
- Lionel AtwillLionel AtwillLionel Atwill was an English stage and film actor born in Croydon, London, England.He studied architecture before his stage debut at the Garrick Theatre, London in 1904. He become a star in Broadway theatre by 1918, and made his screen debut in 1919. He acted on the stage in Australia but was most...
(Dr. Paul Rigas) - Lon Chaney Jr. (Dan McCormick)
- Anne NagelAnne NagelAnne Nagel was an American actress. She played in adventures, mysteries, and comedies for twenty-five years. She also appeared in television series in the 1950s.-Career:...
(June Lawrence) - Frank AlbertsonFrank AlbertsonFrank Albertson was an American character actor who made his debut in a minor part in Hollywood at age 13....
(Mark Adams) - Samuel S. HindsSamuel S. HindsSamuel Southey Hinds was an American actor who is perhaps best remembered for playing Peter Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life and for his part in You Can't Take It With You , both films by Frank Capra...
(Dr. John Lawrence) - William B. Davidson (Ralph Stanley, the district attorney)
- Ben TaggartBen TaggartBen Taggart was an American actor.His first movie was The Woman Next Door in 1915; from 1931 to 1945 he appeared in a number of minor roles, listed as "uncredited" on IMDB. Credited roles include The House That Shadows Built as Mr...
(Detective sergeant) - Constance Bergen (Nurse)
- Ivan Miller (Doctor)
- Chester Gan (Wong)
- George MeaderGeorge MeaderGeorge Meader was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Meader was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan and attended the public schools of various cities in Michigan. He was a student at Ohio Wesleyan University from 1923 to 1925 and graduated from the University of Michigan, A.B. in 1927 and...
(Dr. Bruno) - Frank O'Connor (Detective)
- John Dilson (Medical examiner)
- Byron Foulger (Alienist)
- Russell Hicks (Warden Harris)
- Jessie Arnold (Mrs. Davis)
- James Blaine (Charlie the prison guard)
- Gary Breckner (Radio announcer)
- Lowell Drew (Jury foreman)
- John EllisJohn Ellis-Politics:* Sir John Ellis, 1st Baronet , British Member of Parliament for Mid Surrey 1884–1885, Kingston 1885–1892* John Ellis , Irish Fianna Fáil politician...
(Assistant D.A) - Douglas Evans (Police radio announcer)
- Jack GardnerJack GardnerJack Gardner may refer to:*Jack Gardner , 1948 ABA Heavyweight Champion*Jack Gardner , college basketball coach*Jack Gardner , general in the United States Army*Jack Gardner , American jazz musician...
(Reporter) - William HallWilliam HallWilliam Nelson Hall VC was the first black person, first Nova Scotian, and third Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross...
(Mike) - Wright Cramer (Judge)
- Tom Quinn (Detective)
- Bob Reeves (Prison guard)
- Mel Ruick (Defense attorney)
- Francis Sayles (Frank Davis)
- Paul ScottPaul ScottPaul Mark Scott was a British novelist, playwright, and poet, best known for his monumental tetralogy the Raj Quartet. His novel Staying On won the Booker Prize for 1977.-Early life:...
(Prison chaplain) - David Sharpe (Passenger on hay wagon)
- Victor Zinneman (Dynamo operator)
Production
- The film was shot in three weeks and was the cheapest film made by Universal in 1941 alone.
- Boris Karloff was originally selected to play the role of Dr. Rigas but the studio scrapped the idea.
- When Realart rereleased the film under the title Atomic Monster, Alex GordonAlex Gordon (writer-producer)Alex Gordon was a British writer and film producer.He produced eighteen films, including the American International Pictures films Day the World Ended and The She Creature...
had titled one of his films with the same title. He sent his attorney Samuel Z. ArkoffSamuel Z. ArkoffSamuel Zachary Arkoff was an American producer of B movies.-Life and career:Born in Fort Dodge, Iowa to a Russian Jewish family, Arkoff first studied to be a lawyer. Along with business partner James H. Nicholson and producer-director Roger Corman, he produced eighteen films...
to meet the Realart representative James H. NicholsonJames H. NicholsonJames Harvey Nicholson was an American film producer. He is best known as the co-founder, with Samuel Z. Arkoff, of American International Pictures.-Biography:...
to discuss the matter. The three men started their own film company that became American International PicturesAmerican International PicturesAmerican International Pictures was a film production company formed in April 1956 from American Releasing Corporation by James H. Nicholson, former Sales Manager of Realart Pictures, and Samuel Z. Arkoff, an entertainment lawyer...
.