Starring Lon Chaney Jr., Casey Adams, Marian Carr, Ross Elliott, Stuart Randall
Directed by Jack Pollexfen
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A condemned convict dies in the gas chamber, but after being restored to life by a scientist, and given great strength and invulnerability, sets out for revenge against the men who betrayed him.
This is far from a good film, but fans of Chaney's monster movies of the 1940s may find some enjoyment in it, as I did, seeing the favored actor again playing a monstrous character, and given more screen time than in most of his other 1950s roles. Chaney becomes mute after scientist Robert Shayne "burns out his vocal chords" in resuscitating him with electricity, but given Chaney's other mute roles during the decade, it's likely his alcoholism played some part in that plot detail. However, an early jailhouse scene comes off well for the actor, and a shot of simmering hatred in his eyes is well utilized. The film is narrated by actor Casey Adams, also known as Max Showalter, playing a police detective who gets chummy with Chaney's girl, and has a surprise for her at film's end that wouldn't play well in any era but the 1950s. Jack Pollexfen directs, and I've been fond of other pictures he's written and produced, but his direction is a bit too pedestrian here, not taking advantage of opportunities to heighten Chaney's menace and build suspense.
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