The Gorilla (1939)
Directed by Allan Dwan, The Gorilla is a zany blend of comedy, horror, and mystery, starring the Ritz Brothers, Bela Lugosi, and Lionel Atwill. Based on the 1925 stage play by Ralph Spence, the film was part of a wave of “old dark house” comedies popular in the 1930s, where murder, mayhem, and mistaken identities collide in a stormy night setting.
Plot Summary
Wealthy businessman Walter Stevens (Lionel Atwill) receives a death threat from a mysterious killer known only as “The Gorilla,” who has already murdered five prominent citizens. In a panic, Stevens hires the bumbling Ritz Brothers—a trio of inept detectives—to protect him.
As a thunderstorm rolls in and the mansion loses power, chaos erupts: suspicious guests arrive, a creepy butler (Bela Lugosi) lurks in the shadows, and a real gorilla escapes from its cage. The detectives scramble to solve the mystery, but the line between man and beast blurs as the killer’s identity is revealed in a twist involving a giant gorilla paw glove, a hidden radio transmitter, and a very confused cat.
Cast Highlights
- Jimmy, Al, and Harry Ritz as the detectives
- Lionel Atwill as Walter Stevens
- Bela Lugosi as Peters, the sinister butler
- Anita Louise, Patsy Kelly, and Joseph Calleia in supporting roles
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- Filming was delayed nearly a month due to the death of the Ritz Brothers’ father, leading to a $150,000 breach-of-contract lawsuit from 20th Century Fox
- This was the last Ritz Brothers film directed by Allan Dwan and their final project with Fox before moving to Universal
- The gorilla character was likely named “Poe” as a nod to Murders in the Rue Morgue, which also featured a killer ape
