Main Cast: Michael Gough, Jeanne Cooper, Rod Lauren, Virginia Grey, Jerome Cowan
Release Year: 1963
Country: US
Run Time: 88 minutes
Plot
This violent, gore-filled, effective horror tale by director Robert Gordon is about a totally wacko private zoo keeper, Michael Conrad (Michael Gough) whose literal worship of the animals he tends -- especially the cat species -- starkly contrasts with his cold-blooded disregard for human life. Conrad has a mute son Carl (Rod Lauren) with a simmering Oedipal hatred, and a wife who should have left him eons ago. Whenever Conrad gets miffed with anyone coming a little too close to his private affairs he simply feeds the hapless victim to the animals. It seems inevitable that if the animals do not get him, then the human species will. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Elisha Cook, Jr. - Joe; Warrene Ott - Mary Hogan; Marianna Hill - Audrey; Eilene Janssen - Bride; Eric Stone - Groom; Dani Lynn - Art Student; Edward Platt - Detective Rivers; Douglas Henderson - Lt. Duggan; Jerry Douglas - Lab Technician; Claudia Brack - Carl's Mother; Byron Morrow - Officer Donovan; Oren Curtis - Radu; Susan Slavin - Art Student
Michael Conrad is a private zookeeper who owns Conrad's Animal Kingdom. He leads a cult group who literally worship the animals he tends — especially the big cats: a lion, a lioness, a pair of cheetahs, a tiger, and a black panther; as well as a gorilla. Conrad plays organ music to the animals in his living room, and uses them to kill anyone who gets in his way. Conrad is married to Edna and forces his mute son Carl to assist him.
The animals were provided by Ralph Helfer. The zoo was built at Raleigh Studio (formerly Producers Studio) on North Bronson in Hollywood, California. The entire zoo seen in the picture was an interior set.[1]
