The Gorilla (Twentieth Century Fox Films, 1939)

One Sheet Poster

Production Company: Twentieth Century Fox Films

Producers: Darryl F. Zanuck

Associate Producer: Harry Joe Brown

Director: Allan Dwan

Assistant Director: Aaron Rosenberg

Screenplay: Rian James and Sid Silvers

Based on the stageplay The Gorilla by Ralph Spence

Cinematography: Edward Cronjager

Musical Director: David Buttolph

Art Director: Richard Day and Lewis Creber

Sound: Roger Heman Sr. and George Leverett

Makeup: Perc Westmore

Editor: Allen McNeil

Set Decoration: Thomas Little

Costume Design: Gwen Wakeling

Running Time: 65 minutes

Cast:

Jimmy Ritz: Garrity

Harry Ritz: Harrigan

Al Ritz: Mulligan

Anit Louise: Norma Denby

Patsy Kelly: Kitty, the maid

Lionel Atwill: Walter Stevens

Bela Lugosi: Peters, the butler

Joseph Callela: Stranger

Edward Norris: Jack Marsden

Wally Vernon: Seaman

Paul Havey: A.P. Conway

Art Miles: Poe the Gorilla

Spokane Daily Chronicle, December 27, 1938

STARDUST

The Ritz brothers are set to star in “The Gorilla” as soon as they return from a personal appearance tour.

Dallas Morning News , February 1. 1939

The Milwaukee Journal, February 1, 1939

The Pitsburgh Press, February 1, 1939

The Pitsburgh Post-Gazette, February 1, 1939

The Spokane Daily Chronicle, February 1, 1939

Omaha World Heralds, February 6, 1939

St. Petersburg Times, February 17, 1939

Spokane Daily Chronicle, February 20, 1938

STARDUST

The Ritz Brothers, who revolted on “The Gorilla” set, will be billed about $15,000 for the resulting two day’s delay.

Canton Repository, February 27, 1939

Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 16, 1939

The Times-Picayune , March 26, 1939

The Pitsburgh Press, April 11, 1939

Marietta Journal, April 19, 1939

Spokane Daily Chronicle, May 3 1939

Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 7, 1939

The Miami News, May 14 1939

The Pitsburgh Post-Gazette, May 17, 1939

Pitsburgh Post-Gazette, May 18

The Miami News, May 19 1939

Daily Illinois State Journal, May 19, 1939

The Reading Eagle, May 20, 1939

Seattle Daily Times , May 23, 1939

Seattle Daily Times , May 24, 1939

Seattle Daily Times , May 27, 1939

Showman’s Trade Review, May 27, 1939

The New York Times, May 28 1939

The Screen

‘The Gorilla,’ With the Ritz Brothers, Patsy Kelly and Lionel Atwill, Opens at the Roxy

Twentieth Century-Fox has not, we regretfully report, enhanced the standing of the comic muse, nor has it contributed much to the enjoyment of patrons of the Roxy this week, through its comedy treatment of the ancient Ralph Spence chiller tersely titled, “The Gorilla.” The Ritz Brothers—Harry, Jimmy and Al—are there to supply a note of hilarity to the supposedly eerie proceedings, but even their antic buffoonery is not equal to the task. The real comedian of the show, strangely enough, is a gentleman named Art Miles (he’s the gorilla) who pops up every so often emitting strange noises and thumping his hairy chest—courtesy of the prop department—in the best Tarzan tradition.

As for the story—well, its the old one about the country gentleman who receives threatening notes from an unknown source signed “the gorilla.” Midnight is the hour of his (Lionel Atwill) doom and the Ritzes arrive at the scene an hour or so before to see that he is properly protected, they, of course, being private detectives. From this point on things begin to happen. People like Anita Louise and Patsy Kelly shriek themselves hoarse; Mr. Atwill disappears, the Ritz brothers disappear (one by one), Bela Lugosi appears out of the nowhere; secret panels in the walls open and close; flashes of lightning illuminate gloomy rooms.

It’s all supposed to be either very funny or shockingly thrilling, depending how you look at it. We couldn’t see it either way.
THE GORILLA, as adapted by Rian James and Sid Silvers from the play by Ralph Spence; directed by Allan Dawn; produced by Darryl F. Zanuck for Twentieth Century-Fox. At the Roxy.
Garrity . . . . . Jimmy Ritz
Harrigan . . . . . Harry Ritz
Mulligan . . . . . Al Ritz
Norma Denby . . . . . Anita Louise
Kitty . . . . . Patsy Kelly
Walter Stevens . . . . . Lionel Atwill
Peters . . . . . Bela Lugosi
Stranger . . . . . Joseph Calleia
Jack Marsden . . . . . Edward Norris
Seaman . . . . . Wally Vernon
Conway . . . . . Paul Harvey
The Gorilla . . . . . Art Miles