The Hairy Ape

Released Jul 2, 1944

1h 30m

Drama

List

40%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

17%

Audience Score

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Ship stoker Hank Smith (William Bendix) is a mountain of a man, but he is still very sensitive. So when the beautiful socialite Mildred Douglas (Susan Hayward) insults him with the slur "hairy ape," her words cut deep. At first the brutish Smith wants revenge for the insult, but after he thinks about it, he's more confused than anything else. After his ship docks, he departs into the city to track down the rich woman and find out the meaning behind her harsh words.

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SMH Staff

Sydney Morning Herald

As a whole, the film is most certainly better than average and its ironical ending not without its own value.

Nov 19, 2020

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

The basic character... is particularly well portrayed, both so far as the part itself is concerned and in the interpretation by William Bendix. He imparts to it all the ape-like qualities that could exist in a man in line with the O'Neill play.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Josephine O'Neill

Daily Telegraph (Australia)

Between the lovers of Eugene O'Neill and the lovers of a sexy melodrama, the film just falls with a thud.

Nov 24, 2020

Full Review

Nick Davis

Nick's Flick Picks

One of those films that profits in some tiny but intriguing way from being such a bastardization of the source material.

Rated: C+

Jan 3, 2010

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The dialogue couldn't be cornier.

Rated: C

May 16, 2007

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Audience Member

based on a eugene o'neill play One of those films that profits in some tiny but intriguing way from being such a bastardization of the source material

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

ODDLY APPEALING, RATHER CAMPY AT TIMES. HAYWARD IS GORGEOUS. GOOD COSTUME DESIGN, WELL CAST. DIFFERENT.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

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Alfred Santell

Director

William Bendix

Hank Smith

Susan Hayward

Mildred Douglas

John Loder

Tony Lazar

Dorothy Comingore

Helen Parker

Roman Bohnen

Paddy

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Synopsis

Ship stoker Hank Smith (William Bendix) is a mountain of a man, but he is still very sensitive. So when the beautiful socialite Mildred Douglas (Susan Hayward) insults him with the slur "hairy ape," her words cut deep. At first the brutish Smith wants revenge for the insult, but after he thinks about it, he's more confused than anything else. After his ship docks, he departs into the city to track down the rich woman and find out the meaning behind her harsh words.

Director: Alfred Santell
Screenwriter: Robert Hardy Andrews, Decla Dunning
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Mayfair Productions Inc.
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 2, 1944, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 27, 2016
Runtime: 1h 30m

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