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BELA LUGOSI MEETS A BROOKLYN
GORILLA
* * (1952, 74 minutes, Unrated)
Old school monkey business.
IN A HURRY? CHECK OUT OUR MINI-REVIEW IN THE UTICA OBSERVER-DISPATCH!
It won’t surprise you to learn that there are a heap of films I want to review based on the title alone.
Death Bed: The Bed That Eats was one; Monster a Go-Go was another. Bela Lugosi Meets a
Brooklyn Gorilla? Absolutely.
GORILLA
* * (1952, 74 minutes, Unrated)
Old school monkey business.
IN A HURRY? CHECK OUT OUR MINI-REVIEW IN THE UTICA OBSERVER-DISPATCH!
It won’t surprise you to learn that there are a heap of films I want to review based on the title alone.
Death Bed: The Bed That Eats was one; Monster a Go-Go was another. Bela Lugosi Meets a
Brooklyn Gorilla? Absolutely.
 |
The title was literally all I knew about the film. Oh, I figured
there’s be some kind of shenanigans with a potion turning
some Brooklyn thug into a murderous ape and only Bela
Lugosi’s Van Helsing-esque figure can stop the crime
spree.
I figured so, so wrong.
The film opens in a cheap studio set of a jungle. “This. Is.
The Jungle!” a narrator over-enunciates, just in case we
weren’t sure of what we were looking at. Turns out it’s a
jungle full of stock footage!
Also in the studio jungle: Two unconscious guys who look
like Hasidic Jews. A bunch of doughy white guys in
animal print pajamas pop up to investigate, and it’s at this
point where I start to wonder if this film is actually a
comedy.
there’s be some kind of shenanigans with a potion turning
some Brooklyn thug into a murderous ape and only Bela
Lugosi’s Van Helsing-esque figure can stop the crime
spree.
I figured so, so wrong.
The film opens in a cheap studio set of a jungle. “This. Is.
The Jungle!” a narrator over-enunciates, just in case we
weren’t sure of what we were looking at. Turns out it’s a
jungle full of stock footage!
Also in the studio jungle: Two unconscious guys who look
like Hasidic Jews. A bunch of doughy white guys in
animal print pajamas pop up to investigate, and it’s at this
point where I start to wonder if this film is actually a
comedy.
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| Chances are, Mr. Lugosi signed on to this project based solely on the title of the film. |
The locals bring the two unconscious maybe Hasidic Jews back to their tribe, where there’s an
extended argument entirely in “tribal language.” Those doing the majority of the booga-boogaing
are the Medicine Man, who is dressed up like a primitive San Diego Chicken, and a woman who
extended argument entirely in “tribal language.” Those doing the majority of the booga-boogaing
are the Medicine Man, who is dressed up like a primitive San Diego Chicken, and a woman who
| The San Deigo Chicken (above) casting an ancient tribal spell. |
turns out to be the chief’s daughter.
Naturally, she looks like a Hollywood
starlet, complete with perfect hair, a
tailored dress and hosiery.
The two now clearly not Hasidic Jews
wander onto the scene, freshly shaved
and outfitted with Hawaiian shirts which
they’ve strangely opted to tie up in front of
their chests. Like tropical farmer’s
daughters. But dudes.
The sensible one, optimistically named
“Duke,” starts asking sensible questions
like “Where are we?” and sensibly flirting
Naturally, she looks like a Hollywood
starlet, complete with perfect hair, a
tailored dress and hosiery.
The two now clearly not Hasidic Jews
wander onto the scene, freshly shaved
and outfitted with Hawaiian shirts which
they’ve strangely opted to tie up in front of
their chests. Like tropical farmer’s
daughters. But dudes.
The sensible one, optimistically named
“Duke,” starts asking sensible questions
like “Where are we?” and sensibly flirting
with the chief’s daughter. The other guy, Sammy, honks and sputters like a dime store Jerry
Lewis.
I'm sure that resemblance between Duke and Sammy to the classic (and still very popular at the
time) comedy team of Martin and Lewis was completely coincidental. Ahem.
Lewis.
I'm sure that resemblance between Duke and Sammy to the classic (and still very popular at the
time) comedy team of Martin and Lewis was completely coincidental. Ahem.
| Martin and Lewis were not amused... particularly Lewis. |
Despite Sammy’s every effort to annoy the tribe’s chief, he
still decides to hold a luau for the two New Yorkers. We’re
then treated to an extended sequence with Sammy being
chased around by the chief’s other daughter, who is
overweight – ho ho! The Luau turns into a real music revue
– Sammy tells jokes, and Duke sings a swing tune.
Duke and Sammy need to get back to their traveling
entertainment group (they were going to “play for the boys
in Guam”) so the chief’s hot daughter takes them to see
the scientist she’s working with (Bela Lugosi). In a big,
creepy castle, naturally. They’re doing “experiments in
evolution,” which leads Bela Lugosi to give a lengthy
explanation of evolutionary theory. Simply hearing Bela
Lugosi say the word “metamorphosis” is nearly worth the
price of admission.
There’s actually some good classic comedy schtick in this
still decides to hold a luau for the two New Yorkers. We’re
then treated to an extended sequence with Sammy being
chased around by the chief’s other daughter, who is
overweight – ho ho! The Luau turns into a real music revue
– Sammy tells jokes, and Duke sings a swing tune.
Duke and Sammy need to get back to their traveling
entertainment group (they were going to “play for the boys
in Guam”) so the chief’s hot daughter takes them to see
the scientist she’s working with (Bela Lugosi). In a big,
creepy castle, naturally. They’re doing “experiments in
evolution,” which leads Bela Lugosi to give a lengthy
explanation of evolutionary theory. Simply hearing Bela
Lugosi say the word “metamorphosis” is nearly worth the
price of admission.
There’s actually some good classic comedy schtick in this
film, particularly between Sammy and the monkey Bela Lugosi is doing experiments on. The film
flip-flops between Sammy’s shenanigans and Duke’s serenading the chief’s daughter with
numerous film-padding songs.
Unfortunately for Duke, Bela Lugosi also has a thing for the chief's daughter. Bela’s solution?
Feed Duke a de-evoluting potion to turn him into a guy in an ape suit. Naturally. Mistaken ape
identity ensues. Naturally.
So, let’s bring it on home… The good news is that if you’re a fan of vintage comedy, you‘ll enjoy
the overall flow and vibe of the film -- particularly once it settles in to the meat of the story. The
bad news is that it takes a very long time to get to the meat of the story, what with all of Duke’s
crooning and Sammy’s hijinks. And the intensely cliché ending. And did I mention that Sammy
is really, really obnoxious?
So, yeah… Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla is a whole lot of bad news.
flip-flops between Sammy’s shenanigans and Duke’s serenading the chief’s daughter with
numerous film-padding songs.
Unfortunately for Duke, Bela Lugosi also has a thing for the chief's daughter. Bela’s solution?
Feed Duke a de-evoluting potion to turn him into a guy in an ape suit. Naturally. Mistaken ape
identity ensues. Naturally.
So, let’s bring it on home… The good news is that if you’re a fan of vintage comedy, you‘ll enjoy
the overall flow and vibe of the film -- particularly once it settles in to the meat of the story. The
bad news is that it takes a very long time to get to the meat of the story, what with all of Duke’s
crooning and Sammy’s hijinks. And the intensely cliché ending. And did I mention that Sammy
is really, really obnoxious?
So, yeah… Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla is a whole lot of bad news.
Looking for a second opinion on this film?
Then may we suggest...
The forum reviews at BadMovies.Org
HellHorror.com
Invasion of the B-Movies
ObscureHorror.com
Episode 9: Great Apes of THE LAIR OF THE
UNWANTED
Then may we suggest...
The forum reviews at BadMovies.Org
HellHorror.com
Invasion of the B-Movies
ObscureHorror.com
Episode 9: Great Apes of THE LAIR OF THE
UNWANTED