The Neanderthal Man is a 78-minute, 1953 American black-and-white science fiction film produced independently by Aubrey Wisberg and Jack Pollexfen, as Global Productions Inc., from their own original screenplay.

[2] It starred Robert Shayne, Richard Crane and Joyce Terry, was directed by E. A. Dupont, and was originally distributed in the United States by United Artists Corp. Beverly Garland, in a supporting role, appears here in her first feature film under her new stage name (previously she went by the name of Beverly Campbell and made her screen debut as a supporting actor in the 1949 film noir classic D.O.A.).

At home in California's High Sierras, Prof. Clifford Groves hears glass breaking and looks up in fear from his book, Neanderthal Man and the Stone Age.

When Harkness stops at Webb's, waitress Nola Mason introduces him to Ruth Marshall, who is on her way to see her fiancé, Groves, but is stranded because her car has broken down.

Dr. Fairchild tells Harkness and Jan that the posse has cornered the Neanderthal Man in a cave, and Ruth is with him.

Alone and unarmed, Harkness walks to the cave and tells Ruth to let the Neanderthal Man run away.

Now at home on his deathbed, the Neanderthal Man changes back to Groves one final time and utters his last words: "Better ... this ...way."

Listed in this order in the opening credits: Uncredited: The film was theatrically released in the United States on 19 June 1953.

One idea was to "make oversize footprint stencil and paint them on sidewalks of street leading to box-office", while another was to "dress up a man in costume to simulate the 'half man-half beast' in the picture ... Use as a ballyhoo stunt in front of your theatre or in your lobby.

The movie had not been reviewed by Variety, Parents' Magazine and The New York Daily News some six weeks after its release.

The reviewer went on to say that it "should qualify for duty as a supporting attraction in most bookings" and that the "picture can be played with an assurance of adequate acceptance.

"[11] Deborah Del Vecchio quotes The Hollywood Reporter review, which calls the film "an overlong, dull conversation piece.

"[12] Many later reviewers called the movie "a variation of the Jekyll and Hyde theme", often adding the words "uninteresting" and "clichéd" to the description.

"[7] Academic Michael Klossner refers to it as a "clichéd, Jekyll/Hyde rip-off", but notes favorably "the beautiful mountain settings, the colorful rustics and [Stanley] Cortez's sharp b&w photography.

"[14] Phil Hardy notes that the mask "didn't flex with [Wally Rose's] facial movements.

"[15] Warren, as well, points out that "the elaborate ... mask doesn't move or flex with the performer's face, and the eyes seem to be painted on."

That, of course, means the movie is like catnip to lovers of Bad Cinema", although adding that it is a "very low-rent production that is indefensible on every level."

Nonetheless, Hanke rated the movie as 3 stars out of 5 and included it in "The Thursday Night Horror Picture Show" series, which he hosted.

The picture is unimaginative, dull and ponderous ...."[7] Similarly, Hardy says that "DuPont, a minor talent in the best of circumstance, could bring no innovation" to the "clichéd" script.

As Nola describes her ordeal after being carried off by the Neanderthal Man, who has just murdered Buck at their picnic, her torn clothing and hysterical demeanor suggests that "the movie is clearly implying rape.