Stormy nights, slapstick sleuths, and a killer gorilla converge in a genre-bending mansion mystery.
THE GORILLA
A Ritz is afraid of nothing ... but ... THIS ... IS ... SOMETHING!
When a wealthy man (Lionel Atwill) is threatened by a killer known as The Gorilla, he hires the Ritz Brothers to investigate. A real escaped gorilla shows up at the mansion just as the investigators arrive. Patsy Kelly portrays a newly hired maid who wants to quit because the butler, played by Bela Lugosi, scares her.
Quick Answer
The Gorilla is a 1939 American adventure comedy horror thriller film directed by Allan Dwan about bumbling detectives hired to protect a wealthy man from a killer known as 'The Gorilla,' only for an actual gorilla to run amok in his storm-battered mansion.
Programmer's Pick
The Gorilla is what happens when a classic old-dark-house chiller collides headfirst with vaudeville slapstick—courtesy of the Ritz Brothers. Throw in Bela Lugosi looming in the shadows, a real gorilla on the loose, and enough red herrings to stock a fish market, and you've got a stormy night worth staying up for.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Why This Matters
This comedy horror film adapts Ralph Spence's 1925 play and features a notable cast including the Ritz Brothers and Bela Lugosi. Its public domain status has contributed to its continued accessibility.
Cast & Crew
View all →
Why Cult
The famously bumbling Ritz Brothers bring their chaotic comedic style to private detective work, specializing in pratfalls and confusion.
Bela Lugosi plays the creepy butler, adding classic horror gravitas and suspicion to every flicker of candlelight.
A real gorilla prowls the mansion, blurring the line between supernatural menace and physical comedy.
This film cleverly mixes horror, comedy, thriller, and adventure tropes, creating an unpredictable mansion mystery.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Death threat from 'The Gorilla'
'The Gorilla' killer and an escaped gorilla
Fear, chaos, and violence in the mansion
Storm-isolated mansion
Questions from the Vault
When was The Gorilla released? +
The Gorilla was released in 1939.
Who directed The Gorilla? +
The Gorilla was directed by Allan Dwan.
How long is The Gorilla? +
The Gorilla has a runtime of 68 minutes.
What genre is The Gorilla? +
The Gorilla is an adventure, comedy, horror, and thriller film.
