A detective trio, a mansion in peril, and a gorilla on the loose—comedy and chills collide.
THE GORILLA
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.
The Gorilla is a 1939 American adventure, comedy, horror, and thriller film directed by Allan Dwan about a detective trio investigating a series of threats at a mansion, where an escaped circus gorilla is suspected of murder.
Synopsis
Why Cult
Comedy trio the Ritz Brothers bring their signature antics to a spooky mansion crawling with suspects and confusion.
Bela Lugosi adds a layer of menace as the unnerving butler, keeping both the maid and the audience on edge.
Is the escaped circus gorilla the true killer, or just a hairy distraction? The film keeps you guessing—and giggling.
Themes & Keywords
Questions from the Vault
What is The Gorilla about? +
The Gorilla follows a detective trio hired to protect a wealthy man from a killer known as The Gorilla, only to encounter a real escaped gorilla and a suspicious cast of characters in a spooky mansion.
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.
