The Ritz Brothers in the Gorilla (1939)

The Gorilla (1939) is a comedy-mystery “B” film starring the Ritz Brothers, Joseph Calleia, Bela Lugosi and Lionell Atwill. The film was produced by Twentieth-Century Fox before they quit making “B” films, the first film on a double bill.

The Ritz Brothers were active between 1925 and the 1960s, when Al Ritz the oldest brother passed away. The brothers made 16 films, all pretty much “B” films, in the 1930s and early 1940s. After they quit making films, the brothers continued performing on stage and television. Al had a heart attack in 1965. While the remaining two brothers continued performing occasionally, it was said they never recovered from Al’s death.

In this film, the Ritz Brothers play detectives, who have been called into protect a businessman threatened by “The Gorilla”. The gorilla is a mysterious criminal, who may or may not be controlling an actual ape. “B” film staples Lionel Atwill plays the businessman, Bela Lugosi plays the butler and Joseph Calleia portrays an insurance investigator. The film runs about 65 minutes.

My favorite Ritz Brothers film is Kentucky Moonshine (1938). In that film, the Ritz Brothers play performers trying to get on the radio by imitating hillbillies on a country program. The Gorilla is the only Ritz Brothers offering that I have found so far.

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