The Neanderthal Man (1953)

In the untouched wilderness of California's High Sierras, a seasoned tourist-hunter named Wheeler stumbles upon an unexpected sight - a live, tusk-bearing tiger. He shares his astonishing tale at Webb's Cafe, only to be met with ridicule. Among the disbelievers is game-warden Oakes, who soon experiences a terrifying encounter with the beast on his ride home. This prompts the skeptical Dr. Harkness, a state university zoologist, to journey to the small town to uncover the truth. Harkness is introduced to the beautiful Ruth, the betrothed of the eccentric Prof. Groves, during his visit to Webb's. Through Ruth, he meets Groves' enigmatic daughter, Jan. Meanwhile, Prof. Groves struggles to persuade the Naturalists' Society in the city about his controversial theory - that skull size and brain capacity are directly proportional to intelligence, implying that Neanderthals might have been intellectually superior to modern humans. His idea is dismissed, leaving him frustrated and seemingly unhinged. Upon his return home, Groves becomes increasingly reclusive, rejecting his fiancée and immersing himself in his secretive lab work. He is engrossed in developing a serum, the purpose of which is shrouded in mystery. Meanwhile, Harkness and Oakes manage to eliminate the sabre-toothed tiger, only to be faced with an even greater enigma when its body vanishes inexplicably. They soon learn about a grotesque, humanoid creature in tattered clothes terrorizing the town, responsible for the death of two locals and an assault on Nola, Webb's waitress. As fear grips the town, Harkness, Oakes, and the local Sheriff join forces to unravel this disturbing mystery. The clues, however, all point towards Groves' clandestine experiments. As they delve deeper, they realize that the strange occurrences in their once peaceful town are far from coincidental. The Neanderthal Man is a chilling tale of science gone awry, blurring the line between man and monster.

The Neanderthal Man is a horror movie featuring Robert Shayne and directed by E.A. Dupont.

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