The Gorilla

Released May 26, 1939

1h 6m

Comedy

List

Reviews

21%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

When a wealthy gentleman receives threatening notes signed by a gorilla, he hires the Ritz Brothers to protect him.

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Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

A short and sweet horror comedy that garners a few laughs, and some fun horror tropes.

Nov 1, 2014

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Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Unusual adaptation of a play, with remarkable camera technique.

Aug 8, 2008

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The Ritz Brothers are a low-rent version of the Marx Brothers.

Rated: C

Apr 23, 2005

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dave s

The Gorilla is a disaster from the start, thanks, for the most part, to the bug-eyed Ritz Brothers, never to be confused with the far superior Marx Brothers and Three Stooges. The plot is incomprehensible, the acting is ridiculous, the intended scares fall flat, and none of the jokes work. Clearly, not funny and not scary is a deadly combination for a film that is presumably meant to be a horror comedy. After watching, it is hard to believe that the running time on this was only 66 minutes.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

I Love this movie...campy horror ...well is it really a horror...more suspense! The Ritz Brothers are a HoOT...very popular at the time ...Please remember this movie was released in 1939... Ahhh what a time that must of been...lastly...the Real Dracula stars also...well not as Dracula .... ??

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

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Audience Member

A wealthy man hires three cowardly detectives (the Ritz Brothers) to protect him from a killer known as the Gorilla (who may be an actual gorilla). The Ritz Brothers are a second-rate comedy team, but this old dark house comedy is light and busy enough to provide some small entertainment.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

Enjoyable Enough Romp--A great little slapstick knock about!!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

A wealthy insurance broker is threatened and hires a trio of whacky private detectives to protect him. A weak early spoof with some curious casting choices but some elements that qualify The Gorilla as an early guilty pleasure. However, the comedy of The Ritz Brothers remains highly outdated and dull.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

The Ritz Brothers are comedic and you can't help but compare them to the 3 Stooges! Bela Lugosi also stars in a small role as the butler!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Allan Dwan

Director

Jimmy Ritz

Garrity

Harry Ritz

Harrigan

Al Ritz

Mulligan

Anita Louise

Norma Denby

Lionel Atwill

Walter Stevens

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Synopsis

When a wealthy gentleman receives threatening notes signed by a gorilla, he hires the Ritz Brothers to protect him.

Director: Allan Dwan
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 26, 1939, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 24, 2016
Runtime: 1h 6m

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