When wealthy businessman Walter Stevens (Lionel Atwill) receives a death threat from a mysterious killer known as "The Gorilla," he hires the bumbling Ritz Brothers, a team of inept private detectives, to protect him. As a violent storm rolls in and power outages darken his mansion, a real escaped gorilla begins to terrorize the household. Amid the chaos, suspicious characters emerge — including the creepy butler Peters (Bela Lugosi) and a nervous maid (Patsy Kelly) — leaving everyone to wonder whether the threat is a human murderer or something far more beastly. The film combines elements of mystery, horror, and slapstick comedy as the detectives scramble to solve the case before it's too late.
"The Gorilla" has already murdered 5 wealthy citizens--so when rocks with threatening notes and voice cut-ins on your radio happen regularly,you take it seriously. Atwill apparently owes somebody $250,000.00.---and if his niece marries(which she plans to in 2 days),he loses control over half of the family estate. When he disappears during a power blackout,he becomes the chief suspect. The 3 detectives finally become brave enough to investigate the cellar,where a live gorilla has escaped his cage. They lock the beast in the cellar,return in triumph with the entire cast-and open the door to reveal---the family cat.
Three strangers who have no business being out in bad weather show up anyway.Bad tempered Mr.Conway is apparently the man who is owed 250 grand and he says he isn't leaving until he collects. "The Stranger" says he dropped by to use the phone after his car stalled. Last to appear is "The Seaman",who says he and his trained gorilla were hired for an entertainment gig. Only when he arrived he was knocked out and his gorilla stolen. "The Stranger" finally claims to be an investigator for the Securities and Exchange Commission investigating Atwill for fraud.He leads them to a spot behind a wall panel where Atwill is tied up next to a radio broadcasting set. He also reveals a giant "Gorilla Paw Glove". which has been appearing out of doors with regularity.
But as The Stranger prepares to leave with Atwill,the Detectives spot a lot of leftover hair on his hands.They make a swift accusation---which amazingly turns out to be correct. The Stranger gets the drop on the detectives--and t hen The Butler(Lugosi) gets the drop on HIM. Atwill explains that his insurance company had to make huge payments to the families of the 5 murder victims.So he and Conway cooked up a plan to catch the Gorilla and save his company.The 3 Detectives exeunt, taking bows that they don't deserve.
Cast
From left to right: Edward Norris, Bela Lugosi & Anita Louise in The Gorilla
By October 1938, 20th Century-Fox bought the rights to Ralph Spence's play The Gorilla. Fox wanted production on the film to start in January, which would be when The Ritz Brothers finished their tour. The studio wanted Kane Richmond to play a part in the film, but Richmond was replaced by Edward Norris after Richmond signed on for the film Charlie Chan in Reno. Fox signed on Bela Lugosi for the film as the butler. This character was originally meant for Peter Lorre.[4]
The death of the Ritz Brothers' father caused production of the film in January to be delayed. Fox placed a $150,000 suit against the Ritz brothers for a breach of contract as the film was stated to start production on January 30, but was halted when the Ritz Brothers did not show up.[4] They were reluctant to appear in a B picture.[1] By March, the film began shooting again with the Ritz brothers returning to the film. The Gorilla became the last film made for Fox by the Ritz brothers.[4]
Release and reception
The Gorilla premiered on May 26, 1939.[citation needed] A negative review of the film was written in The New York Times stating, "It's all supposed to be either really funny or shockingly thrilling, depending on how you look at it. We couldn't see it either way."[5] Describing the Ritz Brothers performance in the film as "perhaps best appreciated by those who find the antics of The Three Stooges to be of too high an order of wit," critic Craig Butler wrote in AllMovie that "shameless scenery chewing from Patsy Kelly ... can't distract from the baldness of some of the plot machinations or from the fact that many of the comic moments are shoehorned in with little rhyme or reason."[6] Writing for Turner Classic Movies, critic Jeff Stafford described the film as "interesting primarily for Lugosi's tongue-in-cheek performance," but that the Ritz Brothers "come off like a poor man's version of The Marx Brothers," and that "Patsy Kelly's shrill performance as the terrified maid can also grate on your nerves."[7]
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