Movie Review: The Gorilla (1939) directed by Allan Dwan
The partners in the Acme Detective Agency, Garrity (Jimmy Ritz), Harrigan (Harry Ritz), and Mulligan (Al Ritz) have not been particularly successful so far, but somehow they’ve landed a big case. It seems that insurance company executive Walter Stevens (Lionel Atwill) has received a death threat from the mysterious killer known as the Gorilla. It’s not known whether the Gorilla kills for vengeance, money, or the thrill, but he (due to his strength for strangulation they’re pretty sure it’s a guy) has never failed to kill a target he’s announced.
Also in the large and complex house tonight are sarcastic but easily spooked housekeeper Kitty (Patsy Kelly), disturbingly familiar butler Peters (Bela Lugosi), Mr. Steven’s niece Norma Denby (Anita Louise) who will inherit a fortune currently controlled by Walter once she’s married, and Jack Marsden (Edward Norris), her fiancé. And that’s just the people who are supposed to be there! There are a few strangers as well, and what appears to be a genuine gorilla (Art Miles) which may or may not be the killer. Can the Acme detectives protect Stevens, expose the Gorilla, and save the day, all while not being murdered themselves?
This 1939 Ritz Brothers comedy manages to look like a straight thriller movie for the first ten minutes as the various main characters and red herrings are introduced. Kitty could be seen as comic relief, but as soon as the defective detectives arrive, it’s clear what kind of movie this is and slapstick takes the fore.
I hope you find screaming women hilarious, because Kitty screams a lot. (In fairness, so do the Ritz Brothers.) She does get some of the better lines, like wishing the events were happening tomorrow as that’s her day off.
Bela Lugosi is good as Peters, keeping a straight face and proper butler manners while seeming to walk through walls (secret passages) and apparently being invisible at one point. The movie doesn’t overdo the “hey folks, it’s Bela Lugosi from Dracula!” angle like some of his other roles. He’s just sinister enough to keep the detectives and audience guessing.
Most of the individual gags hit, but they do get repetitious, even in a movie that’s just over an hour long. And the ending is convoluted enough that I’m not sure all the plot details were actually tied up. And of course, the ape costume is not one that stands up to modern eyes.
This is a pleasant enough comedy movie for a family night; young ones may need to be reassured during the early bits that make it look scarier than it will actually be.
