The Brute Man [DVD] [1946]

The tragic Rondo Hatton, whose acromegaly-disfigured face secured him meaty screen roles in Universal's horror films, had died of a heart attack some eight months before the release of his final film, The Brute Man. Hatton plays former college student Hal Moffat, who when his face is destroyed in a chemical lab mishap vows to get even with those he holds responsible. After murdering several of his former classmates, Moffat, known to the police as "The Creeper", takes refuge in the home of blind piano teacher Helen (Jane Adams). Unable to see Moffat's hideous facial features, Helen falls in love with him. Momentarily softened by her affections, Moffat determines to raise enough money to pay for a sight-restoring operation, and to that end steals a cache of valuable jewels from his ex-classmates Clifford and Virginia Scott (Tom Neal and Jan Wiley), killing Clifford in the process. A diligent police detective (Peter Whitney), also in love with Helen, dedicates himself to capturing the elusive Creeper. Originally produced by Universal, The Brute Man was ultimately sold to PRC Pictures.~Hal Erickson