Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

Unlimitedia Sick Product of a Sick System

Mjeteconer Just perfect...

Limerculer A waste of 90 minutes of my life

Leofwine_draca THE MONKEY'S PAW, one of many versions of the classic horror story by W. W. Jacobs, is a rare foray into the horror genre for that notoriously cheap film studio, Butcher's Films. It's a slow-moving potboiler that feels endlessly dragged out even though it runs for little over an hour, and is perhaps of note today for featuring some location photography in Maida Vale.The storyline is a straightforward one about a mummified monkey's paw that has the power to grant the owner three wishes. However, the wishes come true in an unforeseen way. The problem with this tale is that it's brief indeed, and to adapt it would take little more than 20 minutes or so. And that's exactly what happens here: all of the story proper is packed into the last 20 minutes, and before then the viewer must sit through 40 minutes of stodge and non-events. It's a non-starter.It's hard to criticise the film too much, because the film-makers were obviously on a tight budget, and the actors try their best. Director Norman Lee also helmed THE CASE OF CHARLES PEACE and THE DOOR WITH SEVEN LOCKS, and there are bit parts from future stars Alfie Bass and Sydney Tafler.

Spikeopath Based on the famous story written by W.W. Jacobs, The Monkey's Paw is directed by Norman Lee who also co-adapts the screenplay with Barbara Toy. It stars Milton Rosmer, Megs Jenkins, Michael Martin Harvey, Eric Micklewood and Brenda Hogan. Filmed out of Kay Carlton Studio, music is by Stanley Black and cinematography by Bryan Langley.Story finds the Trelawne family purchasing a fabled Monkey's Paw from a peddler, it is said to be an item that can grant three wishes, but many believe that those wishes come at a cost. The Trelawne family is about to find out if the tale of The Monkey's Paw is fact or fiction...It's such a strong premise in story it has been mined many a time over the decades, in film, radio and television. Here we go back to a time of British cinema of minimal budgets, straight backed delivery of scripts and economical running times of just an hour. Norman Lee's film is a splendid piece of atmospheric unease that makes the most of some sparse but effective sets, however, that is on proviso you can allow for its obvious limitations. It's safe to say this will not terrify anybody, but it has the capacity to tingle the spine as the story builds to a finale played out in the flashes and bangs of a thunder storm. Right there, before a cheeky coda, suggestion is everything, proof once more that quite often what you don't see is more frightening...It's no must see lost British Chiller Classic, and the best available print from Renown Pictures Ltd (paired with The House in Marsh Road) is still scratchy and has the odd reel jump and unintentional patches of blackness, but it's still a watchable print and of interest to those with a bent for really old British chillers. 6.5/10

mail-671 Mike-764's summation is obviously that of an updated US presentation & not that of the original short story originally set in the '20s by one of Britain's most popular & prolific spinner of yarns with a twist,W W Jacobs.Through the 30s-50s it was a popular choice for Rep groups and BBC Radio and rates with the best - the famed "Sorry,Wrong No!" as a suspencer for the imagination. Small wonder it was a popular choice for the US "Suspense" series. Adaptations from the 50s for film & TV have altered the "McGuffin" but not always for the best. I probably saw this particular version but not recently, so I can't properly rate it. I have,however,read the play & it is that with which I am familiar. Listen to this in the dark in the original version with the original finish which is the real clincher. Who - or what was knocking at the door after that final wish? Would you have opened it?

Michael_Elliott Monkey's Paw, The (1948) ** (out of 4) British version of the famous story has two elderly folks getting the monkey's paw, which will grant three wishes but usually follows those wishes with tragedy. The father wishes for riches and gets them but his son is killed at the same time. Then, the couple wish for their son to return to life. The horror elements of this thing are discussed and talked about for the first sixty minutes and then finally happen during the last three. I see there are many other versions of this out there and I'm sure one has to be better than this rather disappointing film.