Starring The Ritz Brothers, Anita Louise, Patsy Kelly, Lionel Atwill, Bela Lugosi
Directed by Allan Dwan
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
After being targeted for death by the unknown killer called The Gorilla, a wealthy man hires three bumbling detectives to protect his life.
This mystery-comedy vehicle for The Ritz Brothers has its charms, and features a talented supporting cast, including horror stars Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill. The film trades on their sinister personas and they are memorably photographed although neither have a particularly large role in the production. Nonetheless there is a funny moment that made me chuckle where Lugosi holds up a coat as if he's going to strangle someone with it, as he later did in Invisible Ghost, but then lays it down on the lead actress's lap. The Ritz Brothers' routines are for the most part not very amusing, and I found it rather surprising that supporting player Patsy Kelly, who excels as the mansion's easily perturbed maid, is given most of the movie's funniest lines, nearly stealing the movie from its featured stars. While not among the best old dark house chillers, there's still enough of those elements to recommend it, including secret passages, a stormy night, and the fearsome titular ape who has a backstory right out of Edgar Allan Poe.
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