BELA LUGOSI MEETS A BROOKLYN GORILLA

Cinemavixion Review

William Beaudine's 1952 offering, "Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla," is a curious cinematic artifact that leans heavily into the comedic stylings of its era, attempting to blend slapstick with a touch of the exotic. The film stars the legendary Bela Lugosi alongside the comedic duo of Duke Mitchell and Sammy Petrillo, who were often noted for their Martin and Lewis-esque routines. The plot follows Mitchell and Petrillo as they find themselves stranded on a Pacific island, encountering primitive tribes, a local chief's daughter, and the undoubtedly mad scientist, Dr. Zabor. While the premise promises a wild adventure, the film's execution, as reflected in its modest critical reception with an IMDb rating of 3.7/10 and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 29%, suggests it leans more towards unintentional camp than genuine comedic brilliance. Despite its shortcomings, the film remains an interesting, albeit often bewildering, watch for those curious about the B-movie landscape of the early 1950s and the peculiar collaborations it sometimes produced.