Richard Chatten 1944 was the year in which a hitherto obscure glandular disorder called acromegaly hit the Hollywood mainstream. In the Sherlock Holmes adventure 'The Pearl of Death' a crowd player named Rondo Hatton (1894-1946) who suffered the affliction was promoted to featured billing as the backbreaking Hoxton Creeper and achieved transitory stardom as the only movie monster who didn't require makeup. And it was also a central plot element in 'The Monster Maker'; stored in a bottle in the drugs cabinet of Dr.Markoff bearing a professionally printed label reading "Acromegaly A.5.B2", as if he'd bought it at his local branch of Boots.It was probably tasteless for a mere horror movie to use the authentic condition which in reality afflicted poor Hatton (a picture of whom will show you what a genuine sufferer actually looks like); but the film is nowhere near as sleazy as authorities like Leonard Maltin and the late Denis Gifford made it sound (and that it's provenance as a production of 'Z' budget studio PRC might lead one to expect). J.Carroll Naish and Ralph Morgan are both urbanely professional as the oily Dr Markoff and the concert pianist whose daughter he covets. The acromegalic makeup by Maurice Seiderman (who worked on 'Citizen Kane') is actually not bad (although is wisely not lingered on for too long by director Sam Newfield); and is more convincing than that later worn by Leo G. Carroll when afflicted with the same condition in 'Tarantula'. Oddly enough, cinematographer Robert Cline's name isn't in the credits (at least in the prints posted on YouTube), but he does a fluid and elegant job; as does editor Holbrook N. Todd.Previous IMDb reviewers have pointed up similarities to 'The Raven' (1935); and schlockmeister Herman Cohen in turn probably drew upon youthful memories of this when he produced the laugh-out-loud funny 'Konga' (1961), with which it shares in common a very mad scientist (hilariously overacted in 'Konga' by Michael Gough) with a fondness for injecting serums, a besotted female assistant frustrated by her boss's infatuation with a younger, cuter and blonder girl on whom he forces his creepy attentions to a predictably unenthusiastic response, and a pet gorilla in a cage (who looks as if he's even wearing the same gorilla suit) who he occasionally lets out at night to deal with people who are making a nuisance of themselves.One of the most improbable elements in the film is also one of its strengths. As played by Tala Birell, Markoff's assistant Maxine is a smart, handsome woman who knows her way around a laboratory. But, knowing what he did to the real Markoff and his wife, why is she so besotted with this jerk in the first place? Happily she avoids the fate suffered by lab assistants in most horror movies and survives until the end, seems to take Markoff's death in her stride and hopefully went on to settle down with someone more worthy of her.

Rainey Dawn This is a fairly good entertaining film concerning a conceited mad scientist named Dr. Igor Markoff.Dr. Igor falls for a woman named Patricia who resembles his dead wife. Patricia rejects the doctor's advances and enlists her father (Anthony) to help stop the doctor from coming on so strong to her. Dr. Igor insists that Patricia marries him and will stop at nothing for her to become his new bride. Surprisingly, the doctor is actually well respected in the medical community and hides his wicked ways well from others. Dr. Igor hides the fact he will inject his enemies with Acromegaly to get what he wants.The movie is fun, a bit corny and has some fairly good horror moments in it. This is a good afternoon film - it's not the really good creepy horror film that is good for a late night viewing but it's fun to watch.5/10

amosduncan_2000 For fans of the odd, PRC delivers again. In a sort of a preview of his Al Adamson days, Naish plays an obsessed Dr. Markoff (if you want good care, mark him off) with one thing and one thing only on his mind. Actually, what's interesting about this movie is how the low budget forces the filmmakers to boil all the plot down to it's absolute basics. Why does the not bad looking nurse go for Markoff? Well, nobody ever said human beings made sense. If your looking to get silly, as Bob Dylan once sang, you could hardly do better. Speaking of Dylan, the plot is not unlike his song, "Seven Curses." And what did happen to Steve once the movie was over? He was only trying to be a good employee, which is about the closest to a decent instinct anyone character has in this movie.

Prichards12345 The Monster Maker is a PRC movie that is certainly better than most of their other efforts in the horror genre. For once it doesn't look too cheap, has a convincing "monster" make-up job and decent performances to boot.The plot concerns the barking mad Igor Markoff (J. Carrol Naish), a research scientist who falls for the daughter of famous concert pianist Anthony Lawrence(Ralph Morgan) Seeing a strong resemblance to his late wife in her, he begins to shower her with unwanted attentions. A specialist in Acromegaly, he later injects Lawerence with the disease to force her to his will.The film is slightly over-talky but never boring; heavily criticised upon it's original release for excessive nastiness (Morgan's disfigured appearance is certainly effective even today) time has been quite kind to it. There's a largely redundant sub-plot involving a gorilla (why does every mad scientist have one?)and much of the story appears derived from The Raven and Mad Love. Naish is suitably seedy in the title role and there's a good performance from Tala Birell as his assistant Maxine. The movie lacks atmosphere but the director keeps things ticking over nicely.The Monster Maker is certainly worth a look.