This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Nice play on the topics of mind control and re animations of the sort that Noel received from the Doctor. Left standing at the end is the paradox of who actually killed the man in the hotel in the film's early scenes. And the depraved acting of the human who abducts the girl contrasts nicely with the animal instincts of Noel. In the 1940's with science advancing quickly on the workings of the mind the dichotomy between man and animal is revealed. Who are the real animals in the movie? Movies of this genre who leave you smiling through the horror of it all are fun fill in for our contemporary modern day culture. (with all of its' incipient horrors...)

"Dr. Renault's Secret" is a remake of "The Wizard" a lost film from 1927 that was in turn based on "Balaoo" a 1912 short story by Gaston Leroux. In "The Wizard" the plot involved a mad doctor (Gustav Von Seyffertitz) using an ape like creature to seek revenge on those he considers responsible for his son's execution. It was more of a comedy horror, with a couple of dumb detectives - a genre that was very much in vogue in the late 20s. "Dr. Renault's Secret" doesn't play it for laughs - in fact it tries to bring a lot of sensitivity to the distasteful subject matter.Dr. Larry Forbes (John Sheppard) arrives in France (the locale of the original Leroux story) to meet his fiancée Madelon Renault (Lynne Roberts), the niece of Dr. Renault (George Zucco) another scientist. He is greeted by Noel (J. Carroll Naish), a zombie like creature who has a strange affection for Madelon. He also meets Rogell (Mike Mazurki), Renault's gardener, who by intimidation keeps the villagers in fear. Next morning one of the guests at the inn is found murdered - he had accidentally fallen asleep in Forbe's room. Suspicion falls on Rogell and he does nothing to show he is innocent. Weird things begin to happen when Forbes arrives at Dr. Renault's. Noel almost has a car accident when he "senses" a dog on the road - the same dog who savagely attacks him before the evening is over.If you watch the original trailer (that is on the DVD I have) it gives almost everything away. Dr. Renault's secret is - he has captured an ape in Java and through experimentation and plastic surgery has tried to make him more human like. J. Carroll Naish engages your sympathy from the start, not only with his plaintive voice which is like a slow motion Peter Lorre but he also carries himself in a hunched fashion with a simian walk. George Zucco is the repellent Dr. Renault, who keeps Noel in a fearful, subservient state with the help of a huge whip. It is interesting that Rogell is part of an experiment as well - a failed experiment because Rogell, coming from a family of criminals, his bad character is ingrained in him and will never change. A spate of murders happen in the village and from the start it is not hard to figure out who it is - with shots of a concerned Noel looking at his hands!!!George Zucco was a British stage actor who earned the nickname at Universal "One Take Zucco". He appeared in so many monster flicks in the 40s ("The Mad Ghoul", "Voodoo Man", "Fog Island") usually for smaller independents that if you look up Mad Doctor or Mad Scientist in the dictionary you will probably find his picture.P.S. The print I viewed was so clear that I could even see strings used as a pulley when Rogell was thrown in the water.Highly Recommended.

Dr. Renault(George Zucco, doing what he can with his limited screen time)has completed the evolutionary task of changing an ape into man. The experiment from Java is Noel(J Carrol Naish, in perhaps his finest screen performance)whose tendencies for reverting back to his animal ways are hindering Renault's plans for exploiting him as a scientific breakthrough. Noel's developed an obsessive fixation for Renault's daughter, Madelon(Lynne Roberts)and when a scientist, Dr. Larry Forbes(Shepperd Strudwick) from America, visits their French château to see her, the ape-man becomes distraught and distracted. And, Noel wishes to return to his past form, tired of Renault and his demands. Renault is quite a driven scientist who doesn't accept failure even when it's staring him right in the face. For instance, Renault believes he has removed the criminal yearnings from ex-convict brute Rogell(Mike Kazurski)through therapy, but couldn't be more wrong. A murder on a poor American tourist unfortunately sleeping in Forbes' hotel room as Rogell strangled him believing it was Larry after seeing how much cash was in his wallet in the bar, just for one example. And, anyone can see that Noel isn't progressing, but regressing against Renault's wishes. Renault, so shaken at the thought that Noel might've killed a pet dog on the grounds, whips him repeatedly with a whip. There's a scene where Noel contemplates out loud to Renault about killing him. After being whipped and locked in a pet cell, Noel decides to deal with Renault. At the village's festival, Renault is insulted by two citizens for dancing like a primate which sends him over the edge to no return. He will become violent leading Forbes to discover that secret of the title, while Rogell plots to kidnap Madelon for a hefty profit. The film climaxes at a mill where Noel and Rogell scuffle to the death after the ape-man finally confronts Renault.I recommend the film for it's striking B&W photography(it does have some pretty good production values for such a little horror B-movie quickie)and Naish's stunning performance as the ape-man. I found him quite convincing and worthy of sympathy. The cast is actually quite good for this kind of genre item that is over before you know it..the ending blazes by pretty quickly. Catch it when you get a chance..I have no idea why it's so obscure.

I watched this movie on a videotape which was rather dark but I enjoyed the film. I have been watching horror films for 45 years and through the miracle of NTSC imports, I'm trying to catch up with those that I have missed. And I'm seeing some stinkers! This however is a reasonable example of the genre, the standouts being Arthur Sheilds, J.Carrol Naish and Mike Mazurki. Unusually, George Zucco hasn't got much to do in the title role. Noel the ape-man is very fortunate and obviously a skilful driver as he handles the Rolls Phantom II very well and can see round corners (when he avoids the dog). Very useful. Not a film for those who are not connoiseurs. Also not much effort given to the cliche creepy bits, but definitely miles better than a Monogram effort.