Jungle Woman

And Also: I liked James Martin's, the Jesuit priest at times seen on The Colbert Report, book on humor and A Jesuit Off-Broadway (he was an adviser to a play on Judas Iscariot) looked promising. But, half-way in, it felt like it rambled too much. His approach is good though.

Saturday night Svengoolie fun is the middle part of a trilogy (two with Acquanetta, the actress, not the hair product) -- a follow-up to Captive Wild Woman. It might have been a surprising one originally since apparently the ape (who was turned into a woman by a mad scientist with the help of some human glandular material and the brain of a nurse) died at the end of the first film.  Since it will be somewhat relevant, let me add too that the first film (already only an hour long) seemed largely made up of stock footage of animal acts with a new actor that looked like the original real life animal trainer. As our host (Svengoolie talks about the movies and does various bits*) noted, the animals were not treated well either.  So, there was an overall unpleasant character to the first film in that respect. 

Turns out, there was still some life to the ape yet, and a conveniently present doctor takes custody of her. Don't think about this too much.  No, the doctor was not a vet though he seems to have a decent amount of money, able to buy the doomed doctor's sanatorium from the first movie. In the original movie, our doomed star reverted to animal form out of jealousy, infatuated with the animal trainer (who unfortunately had a finance). Apparently, this negative effect could wear off, since after a while, the ape changed back to woman form. And, unlike in the last film -- where she basically stood around and stared (mesmerizing lions/ tigers, making the trainer's job much easier), she could talk!

Unfortunately, this time the finance (why must all her men be taken!) of the doctor's daughter, another man drives her to violence yet again.  We find this out right away, since the film starts off with the doctor killing her and the whole film is framed by a coroner's inquest. This allows the introduction (again in a film only an hour long, if a normal length for a "B" film in the 1940s) of a good amount of stock footage from the first film of which includes what appears to be animal stock footage.  Given the whole reversion to animal form by jealousy bit is repetitive now and the new characters appear a level more stupid than their originals (even putting aside the Lenny look-a-like guy that allows for my favorite line -- "go away"), this weakens things.  Still, it is fun to see Paula talk and do a bit more than stare.**

The animal acts half of the first film aside, Captive Wild Woman was a superior film overall, including in the plot department. This film is fun though especially for those familiar with the character.  This allows us to hand-wave various additional logical flaws, including the fact that even if she wasn't you know an ape woman, the doctor would not be guilty if he acted in self defense. There was enough evidence here that she was trouble. The final reveal of her in ape form in the coroner's office sealed the deal at any rate.  The film, more so than the first, had a pretty weak finale before that reveal -- Paula deserves more of a send-off than offered here.

The third film should be on soon, so we will see how another film (The Jungle Captive) continued the story with the apparent death of the character.  Also, we will see how it works without our star actress (honestly, I can see why they didn't want her to talk -- she's better here for atmosphere). 

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* He has been at this for some time and is known for his lame jokes, all in good fun. His charm is suggested by this recent comment:

I just want to thank all of you who sent birthday greetings to me this past week-  that’s so nice of you! I may not be getting any better, but, at least, I’m still getting older!

Each episode ends with a knock at the door of his HQ (the show opens with him in a colorful coffin) and some vaudeville level comedy routine. For instance, someone (always out of view) explained a relative was involved in a raffle of a mule. Got $200, but right before the mule would have to be supplied, he died. Horrible!  Still made $198 -- the winner was okay with it. He got his $2 raffle fee back. 

** Various amusing bits in the film, including the doctor blithely noting how many experiments were done to change animals into people and such. You would think when he was told of that sort of thing it might impress him just a bit. Such insights however didn't help his good judgment overall. Such as him telling his daughter's finance that Paula might need to be kept under careful watch ... while talking, he leaves Paula behind with his daughter.