Main Cast: J. Carrol Naish, Ralph Morgan, Tala Birell, Wanda McKay, Terry Frost
Release Year: 1944
Country: US
Run Time: 65 minutes
Plot
The disfiguring disease of acromegaly-which grotesquely extends the bones and distorts one's facial features-was the "gimmick" in the PRC horror opus The Monster Maker. J. Carroll Naish stars as Markoff, a mad doctor who has no qualms about experimenting on human beings. Markoff's unwitting victim is famed concert pianist Lawrence (Ralph Morgan), who is injected with the doctor's acromegaly-inducing serum. It is Markoff's intention to extort a great deal of money from Lawrence before providing an antidote-and also to win the hand of Lawrence's pretty daughter Patricia (Wanda McKay). Though the film is as lumpy and unconvincing as Lawrence's rubbery facial makeup, the flawless performances of those old barnstormers J. Carroll Naish and Ralph Morgan carry the day. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Paul Palmentola - Art Director, Sam Newfield - Director, Holbrook Todd - Editor, Albert Glasser - Composer (Music Score), David Chudnow - Musical Direction/Supervision, Robert C. Cline - Cinematographer, Sigmund Neufeld - Producer, Pierre Gendron - Screenwriter, Martin E. Mooney - Screenwriter, Lawrence Williams - Short Story Author
Dr. Markoff (J. Carrol Naish) has concocted a formula that spreads a hideous disease named acromegaly - which extends bones and distorts facial features. Markoff has no moral dilemma in experimenting on unsuspecting human subjects. His amoral behavior assumes monstrous dimensions when famed concert pianist Lawrence (Ralph Morgan) is injected with the doctor's disease-inducing serum. In return for an antidote, Markoff intends to exact more than his pound of flesh by extorting a fortune from Lawrence and demanding the hand of the musician's pretty daughter Patricia (Wanda McKay).[2]
^Weaver, Tom (2006). Science Fiction Stars and Horror Heroes: Interviews with Actors, Directors, Producers and Writers of the 1940s Through 1960s. McFarland. pp. 98–99. ISBN0786428570.
