Cinema Revisited: The Gorilla (1939)
Directed by Allan Dwan. Cast: Harry, Jimmy, and Al Ritz, Lionel Atwill, Bela Lugosi, Patsy Kelly, Anita Louise, Joseph Calleia, Edward Norris, Wally Vernon, Paul Harvey, Art Miles. Released May 26, 1939. 66 minutes.
“The Gorilla” starts off in typical horror movie fashion, with a big dark house, a stormy night, the owner of the house having been threatened, a creepy butler, and stranded house guests. It really has the makings of a vintage spooky melodrama, until the summoned detectives show up at the house. They are the bombastic Ritz Brothers who come crashing onto the scene and immediately make the movie their own.
Not enough comedy buffs are aware of The Ritz Brothers, as their films do not seem to have resonated over time like The Marx Brothers, Abbott and Costello, and The Three Stooges have. This is a shame, because they are delightfully outrageous in a manner that is all their own. “The Gorilla” features them at their hilarious best.
“The Gorilla” was based on a play that was on Broadway in the 1920s. The property was owned by Fox and decided as a good framework for the Ritz Brothers comedy. Production was set to begin in January of 1939 but was delayed when The Ritz Brothers’ father passed away. When they did not report to the set, the studio brought a breach of contract suit against the Ritzes and they were so incensed, they ended their long time relationship with the studio after this film. Peter Lorre had been set to appear as the butler, but when delays ran into another film he was contracted to do, Lorre was replaced by Bela Lugosi, who had just completed his scenes for “Son of Frankenstein” at Universal. Always happy to play in a comedy, Lugosi immediately accepted the role.
Made for the B unit of 20th Century Fox, with what appear to be the old “House of Rotschild” sets, “The Gorilla” gathers horror stalwarts like Lugosi, as well as Lionel Atwill, to offset the comedy from wisecracking Patsy Kelly and the crazy Ritzes. Edward Norris and Anita Louise are the attractive counter-leads who sometimes appear dull due to their normalcy, but are necessary for anchoring the narrative.
Surrounded by gaping sets filled with negative space, The Ritz Brothers have an inimitable comic energy. They command the movement within the frame with their jerky double-takes, they relentlessly spout one-liners that range from hilarious to purposeful groaners, and they effectively respond to the horror element of the narrative and the various characters.
The director of the film is veteran filmmaker Allan Dwan, who claimed he’d directed over 1000 movies from his debut in 1911 until his retirement in 1961. He is best known for his work with Gloria Swanson during the silent era, along with creating such cinematic innovations as the dolly shot and the crane shot. Dwan’s visual use of the atmosphere is where he is most skillful. He will offer quick edits among close-ups, then settleson alternating between long shots and medium shots to best frame the action and contain the sweeping mannerisms of the Ritzes. Dwan responds so effectively to the energy of the comedians within the framework of a horror film, and the result is that “The Gorilla” is probably their best directed film. It is even more effectively helmed than Dwan’s previous movie with The Ritz Brothers, “The Three Musketeers,” which is also considered to be among their best.
It is often stated that Harry Ritz was the entire act, while brothers Al and Jimmy were clearly in support. While this is true to an extent, it sometimes seems to undermine the contributions of the other brothers. Harry is certainly the most galvanizing brother with his blatant comic gestures and energetic performance. But both Al and Jimmy have their own method of maintaining the unit as a trio, with funny lines and rapid delivery.
There are a lot of similarities with “The Gorilla” and other comedies of this type. The Warner Brothers feature “Sh! The Octopus,” the Three Stooges short “Who Done It,” and the classic “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” all offer gags and situations similar to this film.
What keeps this B-level horror comedy from being ordinary is the brazen comedy of The Ritz Brothers. The laughs are so incessant, “The Gorilla” is recommended for vintage comedy fans who love pure silliness.