The Gorilla
(1939)
review by Catwalk

Based on a play by Jack Spence, the Gorilla is the story of Walter Stevens (Atwill), who hires an inept group of detectives (The Ritz Brothers) to keep him safe from the maniac killer known as The Gorilla.  Whether the Gorilla is a man or a real gorilla, no one knows, and in fact, it’s both before the end of the film.

Stevens and his staff receive a threat from the killer called the gorilla, and quickly he decides he needs protection.  Viewers also get some insight into some of the seedier parts of Stevens’ financial dealings.

Enter the Ritz brothers; as heavy-handed with their dialogue as the Three Stooges were with mallets and fists. 

Example:
“Gorillas don’t wear coats.” 
“Sure they do, fur coats!”

It’s like Scooby Doo if the characters had no character.  The film’s supporting cast is steady, but the film is essentially a vehicle for the Ritz Brothers.  Unfortunately, they’re the least funny members of the cast.

Intended as a spoof, the film uses every tired gadget in the book, from thunderstorms and lightning crashes, to power outages.  There’s even a scene with a mannequin chasing one of the detectives, reminiscent of Buckwheat in the Little Rascals.  Lugosi is used as a red herring throughout, keying on his reputation and frightful disposition.

The Gorilla’s origin as a play is evident from the beginning, with Kitty, the maid (Kelly) opening with an overacting performance for the ages.  Her loud and boisterous manner is a perfect contrast to the stark command of Lugosi as Peters, the butler.  No one’s performance can overcome the overly clunky Ritz Brothers.  Overall, it’s about as effective as the gorilla costume is believable.

The Gorilla is part of the nine-movie collection titled Horror Classics, featuring Lugosi in all of them.  Others in the collection include The Devil Bat, The Black Cat and Invisible Ghost.