Ann Forester (Amelita Ward) and Don Young (Phil Brown) work for Mr. Stendahl (Otto Kruger) at the Stendahl Biological Laboratory, a research facility that works on analyzing body fluids such as blood and hormone secretions to diagnose diseases. In addition Stendahl is attempting, by the use of electric current and blood transfusions, to restore a dead rabbit back to life. Finally he is successful.
In the meantime a large distorted man named Moloch (Rondo Hatton) walks into the morgue with an authorization to take the dead body of an ape woman named Paula Dupree (Vicky Lane). When the morgue attendant goes to verify the order Moloch kills him and takes off with Dupree’s corpse in a stolen morgue ambulance. Moloch takes the body to a house in the country. The house belongs to Mr. Stendahl. He has been continuing his experiments in his private lab at his country home. Moloch is his henchman and assistant.
Detective Harrigan (Jerome Cowan) is in charge of investigating the murder of the morgue attendant. He learns that the only thing missing from the morgue is Paula the ape woman. The only clue Harrigan finds is a torn lab smock. The smock is traced to Stendahl’s lab and it fits Don. Harrigan decides to keep an eye on Don.
Stendahl tells Ann that there is an emergency and he needs her to go with him. Stendahl is really taking Ann to his country lab. Stendahl plans to use Ann in his experiments with the ape woman. Part of the procedure to bring Paula back to life is a blood transfusion. Stendahl plans on using Ann’s blood. Moloch becomes smitten with the pretty Ann and is concerned that Stendahl will hurt her. Stendahl assures him she will be fine. Stendahl manages to revive the ape woman but takes more blood than he should. Ann is very weak and unable to resist.
Paula may be alive but she is still an ape creature. Stendahl needs the notes of the doctor that created her in order to convert her back to human form. The notes were created by Dr. Walters but are now in the possession of Dr. Fletcher. Moloch goes to Dr. Fletcher’s office, kills him, and gets the notes for Stendahl. Stendahl uses the notes to harvest Ann’s glandular secretions to change the ape woman back into Paula. Unfortunately Paula is brain damaged. Now Stendahl plans on doing a brain transplant using Ann’s brain.
“Jungle Captive” was released in 1945 and was directed by Harold Young. It is an American horror movie produced by Universal Pictures. It is the third in what’s known as the Paula Dupree trilogy. The other two films were “Captive Wild Woman” 1943 and “Jungle Woman” 1944. “Jungle Captive” is a direct sequel to “Jungle Woman”. In the first two films Paula Dupree was played by Aquanetta. In the third film the ape-woman is played by Vicky Lane.
As far as Paula the ape woman is concerned, don’t expect to see a lot of her. On the other hand, I was happy to see Rondo Hatton with a decent sized role for a change. As for Mr. Dr. Stendahl, he is the most laid back mad scientist I’ve ever seen. He’s congratulating Ann on her engagement and then hours later sucking all her blood out to reanimate a dead ape creature. Moloch is far more human and emotional than he is. Stendahl is a sociopath.
In general the movie was alright. It’s one of Universal’s “B” movies so it’s like a lot of the “B” movies out there from low budget producers only with a better picture quality. As with the Dracula, Wolf Man and Mummy series from Universal, the more they make the more they run out of plot ideas.
An Australian actress named Betty Bryant was originally cast in the role of Ann Forester but she became ill. Reportedly, the studio brought in a doctor for her; however, the doctor became obsessed with her and began stalking her. The studio had to replace her.