HorrorScience Fiction

Man-Made Monster

- The most amazing monster the world has ever known.

Mad scientist turns a man into an electrically-controlled monster to do his bidding.

Release Date : 1941-03-28

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Universal Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Man-Made MonsterThe Atomic Monster

Cast

Character Name : Dan McCormick

Original Name : Lon Chaney Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Paul Rigas

Original Name : Lionel Atwill

Gender : Male

Character Name : June Lawrence

Original Name : Anne Nagel

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mark Adams

Original Name : Frank Albertson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. John Lawrence

Original Name : Samuel S. Hinds

Gender : Male

Character Name : District Attorney Ralph B. Stanley

Original Name : William B. Davidson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective Sergeant Regan

Original Name : Ben Taggart

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nurse

Original Name : Constance Bergen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Ivan Miller

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chinese Boy, Wong

Original Name : Chester Gan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Bruno

Original Name : George Meader

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective

Original Name : Frank O'Connor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Medical Examiner

Original Name : John Dilson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alienist #2

Original Name : Byron Foulger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Frank Davis (uncredited)

Original Name : Jessie Arnold

Gender : Female

Character Name : Charlie, Prison Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : James Blaine

Gender : Male

Character Name : Radio Announcer (uncredited)

Original Name : Gary Breckner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jury Foreman (uncredited)

Original Name : Lowell Drew

Gender : Male

Character Name : Assistant District Attorney (uncredited)

Original Name : John Ellis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Police Radio Announcer (uncredited)

Original Name : Douglas Evans

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Gardner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mike - Dynamo Operator (uncredited)

Original Name : William Hall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Warden Harris (uncredited)

Original Name : Russell Hicks

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judge (uncredited)

Original Name : Wright Kramer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Quinn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prison Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Bob Reeves

Gender : Male

Character Name : Defense Attorney (uncredited)

Original Name : Mel Ruick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frank Davis (uncredited)

Original Name : Francis Sayles

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prison Chaplain (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Scott

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hay Wagon Passenger (uncredited)

Original Name : David Sharpe

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dynamo Operator #2 (uncredited)

Original Name : Victor Zimmerman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Corky the Dog (uncredited)

Original Name : Corky

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Dynamo Dan: The Electric Man. Man Made Monster is directed by George Waggner and stars Lionel Atwill, Lon Chaney Jr & Anne Nagel. It's adapted from an original story titled "The Electric Man" which is co-written by H.J. Essex, Sid Schwartz & Len Golos. It is notable for being the first horror venture for Chaney Jr who would make his signature horror movie "The Wolf Man" the same year. Plot sees Chaney as "Big Dan" McCormick, the sole survivor of an electric train wreck. That all the other passengers were killed by electrocution fascinates the sci-fi boffins, particularly diabolic Dr. Paul Rigas (Atwill), who coerces Dan into a series of tests. The outcome of which will spell disaster as Dan absorbs huge levels of electricity and becomes immune to it. Soon Dan will become the unstoppable Electric Man. Universal's "Man Made Monster" has no pretence what so ever, it is what it is, a short sharp shock shocker that plugs itself into the mains and lights up the screen for the 1 hour running time. Which in the case of the excellent Chaney Jr is actually the case, as he is transformed into a hulking, walking light bulb head that garners sympathy in the way that Universal's other man made monster did. The photography (Elwood Bredell) is moody and atmospheric, Hans J. Salter's musical score delightfully oozes familiar Universal values, while Waggner and his team, when one considers the short running time, do very good work on the characterisations - with Atwill given full license to be bonkers - real bonkers... It's all very conventional in the grand scheme of Universal horror. Monster elicits sympathy, a foxy lady in the mix (Nagel), mad scientist, dashing hero type (Frank Albertson) and here we even have the intelligent pet. There's some smarts in the writing as the makers observe capital punishment and note man messing with things he probably shouldn't be. But really just don't go too deep with it and enjoy a solid little chiller that's boosted by John Fulton's first rate special effects. 7/10