Captive Wild Woman (1943)

An animal trainer Fred Mason (Milburn Stone) returns from his
latest safari with a horde of animals for his employer John
Whipple (Lloyd Corrigan), owner of the Whipple Circus. Among them
is Cheela (Ray Corrigan), a gorilla with remarkably human
characteristics. Mason's fiancée Beth Colman (Evelyn Ankers) is
present at the dock for his return. She tells him of the recent
health problems encountered by her sister Dorothy (Martha
MacVicar). Beth reflects on taking her sibling to see Dr. Sigmund
Walters (John Carradine), an endocrinologist of some standing.
Dorothy is staying at Walters’ Crestview Sanatorium for
treatment. Fred and Beth arrive at the winter quarters, and Dr.
Walters pays a visit. He is extremely interested in Cheela, and
inquires about purchasing her. Whipple tells him that she is not
for sale. Upon returning to his lab, Walters finds that his
latest experiment has resulted in the lab animal's death. He
becomes convinced he needs larger animals that possess the “will
to live.” Walters enlists the aid of a disgruntled former circus
employee to steal Cheela. After the ape is loaded onto his truck,
the scientist callously pushes the man into the gorilla's grasp
and stolidly watches as the beast wrings his neck.


Back at his lab, Walters and his assistant Miss Strand (Fay Helm)
transplant glandular material from Dorothy into Cheela. There was
discussion by Miss Strand that Walters has previously grafted the
glands of different animals like placing a guinea pig's glands
into a rabbit and a frog's glands into a mouse. To the horror of
the nurse, the ape transforms into human form (Acquanetta).
Telling the doctor that she cannot allow him to continue, Miss
Strand informs him that at best he will have “a human form, with
animal instincts.” Dr. Walters reaches the conclusion that he
will need to place a human brain into his creation to
successfully complete his experiment. While watching Mason
practice his animal act, an accident occurs. Paula rushes into
the cage and saves him from the ferocious felines, who display an
unnatural fear of her and retreat from her presence. Mason is
dumbfounded and offers the girl a job in his act.


Beth receives a frantic telephone call from her sister who
expresses her fear of Dr. Walters and the forthcoming operation.
Arriving at the Sanatorium to aid her sister, Beth is pegged by
the good doctor as the next brain donor for Cheela. However, she
proves resourceful in a pinch, releasing the ape from its cage.
Cheela does Walters in and departs the lab, leaving Beth and
Dorothy unharmed. Performing his animal act solo, Mason finds
himself trapped inside the cage with his unruly subjects. A
powerful storm interrupts the performance and the beasts attack
the trainer. Cheela comes to his rescue once again and carries
him to safety. Unfortunately, a nearby police officer mistakes
her intentions and kills Cheela.