Jungle Woman 1944

Jungle Woman 1944 sees Acquanetta return to her gorilla girl role in this sequel to 1943’s Captive Wild Woman!

Release date: 7 July 1944
Director: Regional Le Borg

Cast: Evelyn Ankers, J. Carrol Naish, Acquanetta, Samuel S. Hinds, Lois Collier, Milburn Stone, Douglass Dumbrille, Richard Davis, Edward M. Hyans Jr, Christian Rub, Pierre Watkin, Nana Bryant, Alec Craig, Tom Keene

Studio: Universal Pictures
Country: United States

Jungle Woman 1944 Review

Jungle Woman is a 1944 horror film directed by Reginald Le Borg and starring Acquanetta, J. Carrol Naish, and Richard Davis. The film follows a mad scientist who believes that a woman he has transformed into an ape-like creature holds the secret to immortality.

Acquanetta delivers a standout performance as Paula the ape woman, portraying the character with a sense of otherness and vulnerability. Naish also delivers a strong performance as the obsessed scientist, adding a sense of urgency and madness to the film’s narrative.

The film’s moody atmosphere and jungle setting create a sense of danger and suspense, with the added benefit of featuring several impressive makeup and special effects.

One interesting fact is that Jungle Woman is a sequel to the earlier film Captive Wild Woman, and features several of the same characters.

Overall, Jungle Woman is a well-crafted and entertaining horror film that successfully combines elements of science fiction and jungle adventure. Its standout performances and impressive makeup effects make it a must-see for fans of classic horror cinema.

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Jungle Woman 1944

Jungle Woman 1944 is the only film in the Ape Woman trilogy in which Paula Dupree (played by Acquanetta) speaks.
The film contains footage from 1943’s Captive Wild Woman, which introduced the Ape Woman, and re-tells the story through court proceeding flashbacks.
Originally titled Jungle Queen, the film had issues with its script due to the Breen Office citing the script by Edward Dein as having “unacceptable” bestiality implications.
Changes were made to the script, including toning down the more lurid implications, making the character of the District Attorney more dignified and sympathetic, and making it clear that Paula Dupree was not nude when changing from her animal form to her human form.
Director Reginald LeBorg called the script “atrocious” but felt he had to make the film to avoid being suspended without pay. Acquanetta also stated she did the film because she was “assigned to it” but felt that she was being used as property by Universal.