Superbeast
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
George Schenck
Antoinette Bower
Craig Littler
Harry Lauter
Vic Diaz
Jose Romulo
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
At a plantation on a remote jungle island in the Philippines, American expatriot Dr. Bill Fleming conducts experiments in the hope of discovering a serum that will cure criminals of their psychopathic inclinations. One day, after several murders are committed in Manila by a man with animal-like features, Dr. Alix Pardee, a renowned pathologist, begins an investigation. As she travels through the islands to find the jungle from which the man-beast emerged, her boat plunges over a waterfall. Some time later, she awakens from unconsciousness to find herself at Bill's clinic. Although he tells Alix that he has been successful in his quest for the serum, he also admits that, occasionally, the criminals turn into hideous man-beasts. Some time later, Alix learns that, although Bill is sincere, his experiments are being financed by Stewart Victor, an oil tycoon who finds amusement in setting loose the man-beasts in the jungle and hunting them for sport. When Victor discovers that Alix knows his secret, he decides to kill her, but in the meantime, Bill accidentally takes some of his own serum and turns into an apeman. Before Victor can kill Alix, he is confronted by Bill, who kills him. Later, at the plantation, Alix discovers that the latest batch of Bill's serum is a complete success and decides to take it back to civilization, leaving the mutated Bill to wander the jungles alone.
Cast
Antoinette Bower
Craig Littler
Harry Lauter
Vic Diaz
Jose Romulo
John Garwood
Manny Oheda
Bruno Punzalan
Alex Flores
Roderick Paulate
Ricardo Santos
Nanita
Crew
Hernando Balon
Teodor Benavides
Fred C. Blau Jr.
Jeffrey Bushelman
Vincente Cabrera
Mario Carmona
John Chambers
Tony Di Marco
Richard La Salle
Vincente Nayve
Levy Principe
Nonong Rasca
Aubrey Schenck
George Schenck
George Schenck
Carmelita Sioson
Jose Velasco
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of the film was Evil Eye. As noted in Hollywood Reporter production charts and reviews for this unviewed U.S.-Philippines co-production, it was shot on location in Manila. The picture was the first of two films shot back-to-back in Manila by A & S Productions, Inc., a company owned by veteran American producer Aubrey Schenck. The other film, Daughters of Satan, was shot immediately after Superbeast and shared many of the same crew. Actor Vic Diaz appeared in both films, although in different roles. According to the Variety and New York Times reviews, both films were released together on a double bill.
Although Hollywood Reporter production charts list Allen Miner as the film's director, only George Schenck is credited in reviews, and the extent of Miner's work on Superbeast is unknown. The film was the only feature directed by George Schenck, son of Aubrey Schenck. George has written a number of screenplays for both feature films and television programs, as well as producing many episodes of various television series. Reviewers pointed out the similarity of some of the film's plot points to the novel The Island of Dr. Moreau, which was made into the 1932 Paramount production Island of Lost Souls and the 1932 RKO production The Most Dangerous Game, based on the short story of the same name (see entries above for information on those and other film adaptations of the stories).
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 1972
Released in United States 1972
