J. Carrol Naish, a popular and versatile character actor with 224 IMDb credits, belied his Irish ancestry by playing Arabs, Hindus, Mexicans, Itallians, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, African-Americans, and Orientals -- often in black-hearted villainous roles -- due to his considerable skill at dialects. Time magazine once referred to him as "Hollywood's one-man United Nations." At various times he protrayed such iconic figures as Charlie Chan, Dr. Frankenstein, Siting Bull, Mark Twain, General Santa Ana, and Lt. General Philip Sheridan. His character roles added to such well-known pictures as The Hatchet Man, Elmer, the Great, The Lives of a Bengal Lancer, Captain Blood, Anthony Adverse, Ramona, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Think Fast, Mr. Moto, Beau Geste, Typhoon, Down Argentine Way, Blood and Sand, The Corsican Brothers, The Pied Piper, Batman (1943), Sahara, The Beast with Five Fingers, Humoresque, Annie Get Your Gun, and Clash by Night, He was nominated for an Oscar twice -- for Sahara (1943) and for A Medal for Benny (2945); hw received a Golden Globe Award for A Medal for Benny. On radio, he played the title role in Life with Luigi (1948-1953), while also bringing the role to television for a short-lived series (11 episodes, 1952).
Naish seems tailor-made for the role of Dr. Igor Markoff in The Monster Maker. Markoff is (dare I say iot?) a mad scientist who injects his victims with a megalomy serum that causes bones to grow out of proportion. Patricia Lawrence (Wanda McKay), the daughter of a famed concert pianist, resembles Markoff's dead wife, so natually Markoff must have her. When Patricia spurns him, Markoff injects her father with the serum, causing his hands and face to become distorts. Markoff will five him the antidote only if Patricia agrees to marry him.
Also featuring Ralph Morgan, Tala Burell, Terry Frost, Alexander Pollard, and Sam Flint, with Ace, the Wonder Dog, Glenn Strange (as a giant), and Ray Coorigan in one of his gorilla suits. Written by Pierre Gendron and Martin Mooney from an original story by Larry Williams, with Nell O'Day as an uncomnfirmed co-writer. Directed by Sam Newfield and produced by his brother Sigmund Neufield.
Enjoy this bit of Halloween melodrama.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf11XAw6n5E&list=PL_VwaXbXjhOrQijehU-TgrbAV34NTtBg8&index=3
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