Vibrant Radiance: Man Made Monster (1941)
My dear readers, I apologize allowing myself to descend into unrelated domestic interludes but I simply cannot distance my mind from the troubling state of affairs at home. We have just received word that my sweet Penny Dee’s Aunt Albina has gone missing and as she is considerably advanced in years, hearing that she might be wandering about without an escort can presage worse news to come. It is obviously a most disturbing communique, the blow of which is only slightly dampened by the fact that this is not her first sudden absence. The grand old thing goes missing quite regularly, an event that always seems to coincide with the feast of Lughnasadh and the inexplicable mass slaughter of livestock. So far the local authorities have been most receptive about our requests for updates and their somewhat shrill tone suggests that they are just as eager as we are to pinpoint her whereabouts. At any rate, I must say that despite the trying circumstances, I am most proud of my beloved Penny Dee’s stony resilience in the face of such distressing news.
Dan contains plenty of positive energy even before becoming a test subject
Dan McCormick (Lon Chaney Jr.) is also quite adept when it comes to absorbing a terrible shock. Performing under the name Dynamo Dan, the Electric Man, he is a relentlessly upbeat fellow who tours the carnival circuit, amusing paying customers by absorbing charges from batteries and other such common devices. However, despite his winning stage antics, he claims even greater fame as the sole survivor of an automobile accident that electrocuted all of the other parties involved. This unique resistance to offstage electric shocks leads him to the company of Dr. John Lawrence (Samuel S. Hinds) and his assistant, Dr. Paul Rigas (Lionel Atwill).
Dr. Lawrence asks if Dan will submit to scientific study, seeing in him the potential to prevent deaths by electrocution. Dr. Rigas takes a somewhat less humanitarian view of Dan’s unusual durability, thinking that he might be the ideal test subject for his somewhat outlandish theories on developing a race of electrically empowered super slaves. Knowing his employer might frown on less philanthropic endeavors, Dr. Rigas waits until he is away at conference to test out and is met with resounding success. In addition to a notable reduction in merriment and a considerable increase in strength, Dan also takes on a fine glow, perhaps not the "healthy" variety sunbathers pursue but still a vibrant radiance nevertheless. Unfortunately, things get a tad awkward when Dr. Rigas presents his findings, as Dr. Lawrence does not find any of these qualities particularly impressive and the ensuing disagreement quickly turns murderous.
A death sentence only increases Dan's incandescence
Now, I’m not one of these brainy science chaps who can go on and on about relativism and quarks and whatnot but I remember enough from my days at boarding school to know that electrical impulses are rather tied up in the very process of life itself. When fully charged, Dan is a superhuman whose body is coursing with an excess of electricity but any uninsulated movements he makes sap him of his energy and hastens his demise. I imagine it does not take a great critical mind to unravel the metaphor presented before us -- with each step, Dan, like all of us, is brought closer and closer to the grave. Few of us are fortunate enough to be given a second chance at life, and then a third chance at an entirely subservient kind of life. We must really make the best of our conscious existence, seizing the day and smelling the roses and all that. While movies advocating for a deeper appreciation of life are not entirely unusual, ones that make their point using murderous super slaves are far less common.
Man Made Monster runs 59 minutes and is rated “passed.”
