The Gorilla

Wanted something light and I'd never heard of the Ritz brothers. Bela Lugosi looks great in black and white but unfortunately is wasted here. I lost sense of the plot after the Gorilla supposedly wrote a threatening letter. I'll give the Ritz brothers another try sometime. Fav scene: Gorilla yeeting the woman out the window.

Lionel Atwill makes his usual redoubtable presence felt, and Bela is a lot of fun in this one too (apparently tanked up to the gills, and beaming as all get out). But the one who gets the best lines is Patsy Kelly. Then there's the Ditz Brothers (who come off sorta like Louis Nye in triplicate). Oh yeah, and Calleia does a nice (early) turn as well.

The Ritz Brothers meet Dracula! Well, Bela Lugosi anyway. The Gorilla (1939) can be seen as a 30s version of the Abbott & Costello horror spoofs a decade later. It's a 'old dark house mystery' with strange people and a ape running around. To investigate 3 idiots are hired and the rest is utter nonsense! I've come to like The Ritz Brothers, but sadly this film doesn't generate all that many laughs. And it's not by the lack of effort. With all the wild stupidity this should have been a party!

It has a train wreck kind of charm.

Knowingly inane vehicle for an underwhelming comedy trio.