BELA LUGOSI MEETS A BROOKLYN GORILLA

Cinemavixion Review

William Beaudine's 1952 'Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla' is a curious cinematic artifact, a low-budget jungle romp that attempts to capitalize on the burgeoning popularity of comedy duos. The film stars Duke Mitchell and Sammy Petrillo as a pair of entertainers who find themselves stranded on a remote Pacific island. Their misadventures involve encounters with indigenous tribes, a comely chieftain's daughter, and the requisite mad scientist, Dr. Zabor, portrayed with a certain unhinged flair by the legendary Bela Lugosi. While the premise promises a blend of comedy and horror, the execution is often uneven. Mitchell and Petrillo, clearly channeling the Martin and Lewis formula, deliver a performance that, while energetic, can feel a touch anachronistic. Lugosi, despite his billing, has limited screen time but imbues his character with a palpable sense of menace and desperation, a far cry from his iconic Dracula. Despite its B-movie origins and a reportedly modest box office reception, the film has garnered a cult following over the years, perhaps for its sheer audacity and the peculiar pairing of its leads. Critics at the time, and indeed audiences since, have noted its camp appeal and the sheer oddity of its existence. With a runtime of 74 minutes and a plot that spins a tale of mistaken identity and mad science, 'Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla' remains a fascinating, if flawed, piece of cinematic history, particularly for fans of Lugosi's later work and idiosyncratic genre films.