Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla
Encyclopedia
Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla is a 1952 comedy film
directed by William Beaudine
and starring horror veteran Béla Lugosi
and nightclub comedians Duke Mitchell
and Sammy Petrillo
in roles approximating Martin and Lewis
.
, nightclub performers Duke Mitchell
and Sammy Petrillo
find themselves stranded on a seemingly treacherous island, known by the natives as "Kola Kola". The natives are quite friendly, especially Nona, the tribal chief's daughter, who tries to help the two get off the island. Though Paradise
has been found, for the time being, the duo soon discovers that a mad scientist named Dr. Zabor (Bela Lugosi
), lives on the other side of the island. Seeing a chance to get help, the two visit the strange doctor. Tension mounts as Duke falls in love with Nona. Seeing Duke as a threat, a jealous Dr. Zabor plans to literally make a monkey out of Duke, for he too loves Nona. Sammy tries to help his pal, with unexpected results.
Sammy Petrillo had established something of a career imitating Jerry Lewis
, whom he resembled closely. Petrillo and Duke Mitchell - who took on the Dean Martin
role - played in various clubs in Las Vegas
among other cities. Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla was to be the first in a series of films starring Mitchell and Petrillo, but this wound up as their only movie. Once Jerry Lewis heard about the film he turned up at the studio offices threatening legal action against the producer and Petrillo for copying his act so closely. Petrillo continued to perform in night clubs through the years, keeping his Jerry Lewis impersonation as one part of his act. Years later, after Martin and Lewis
had split up, Dean Martin almost surreptitiously arranged the production of a Mitchell and Petrillo television series until it fell through.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by William Beaudine
William Beaudine
William Beaudine was an American film actor and director. He was one of Hollywood's most prolific directors, turning out films in remarkable numbers and in a wide variety of genres.-Early life and career:...
and starring horror veteran Béla Lugosi
Béla Lugosi
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó , commonly known as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian actor of stage and screen. He was best known for having played Count Dracula in the Broadway play and subsequent film version, as well as having starred in several of Ed Wood's low budget films in the last years of his...
and nightclub comedians Duke Mitchell
Duke Mitchell
Duke Mitchell was an American film actor, slapstick comedian, crooner and independent film director. Mitchell often performed his nightclub act in and around Palm Springs, California and anointed himself the "King of Palm Springs."-Early life and career:Mitchell was born Dominic Miceli in Farrell,...
and Sammy Petrillo
Sammy Petrillo
Sammy Petrillo was an American nightclub and movie comedian best known as a Jerry Lewis lookalike.-Early life:...
in roles approximating Martin and Lewis
Martin and Lewis
Martin and Lewis were an American comedy team, comprising singer Dean Martin and comedian Jerry Lewis as the comedic "foil". The pair first met in 1945; their debut as a duo occurred at Atlantic City's 500 Club on July 24/25, 1946....
.
Plot
On their way to perform in GuamGuam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, nightclub performers Duke Mitchell
Duke Mitchell
Duke Mitchell was an American film actor, slapstick comedian, crooner and independent film director. Mitchell often performed his nightclub act in and around Palm Springs, California and anointed himself the "King of Palm Springs."-Early life and career:Mitchell was born Dominic Miceli in Farrell,...
and Sammy Petrillo
Sammy Petrillo
Sammy Petrillo was an American nightclub and movie comedian best known as a Jerry Lewis lookalike.-Early life:...
find themselves stranded on a seemingly treacherous island, known by the natives as "Kola Kola". The natives are quite friendly, especially Nona, the tribal chief's daughter, who tries to help the two get off the island. Though Paradise
Paradise
Paradise is a place in which existence is positive, harmonious and timeless. It is conceptually a counter-image of the miseries of human civilization, and in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. Paradise is a place of contentment, but it is not necessarily a land of luxury and...
has been found, for the time being, the duo soon discovers that a mad scientist named Dr. Zabor (Bela Lugosi
Béla Lugosi
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó , commonly known as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian actor of stage and screen. He was best known for having played Count Dracula in the Broadway play and subsequent film version, as well as having starred in several of Ed Wood's low budget films in the last years of his...
), lives on the other side of the island. Seeing a chance to get help, the two visit the strange doctor. Tension mounts as Duke falls in love with Nona. Seeing Duke as a threat, a jealous Dr. Zabor plans to literally make a monkey out of Duke, for he too loves Nona. Sammy tries to help his pal, with unexpected results.
Production
The film was originally to have been titled White Woman of the Lost Jungle. The Gorilla title was thought up by Broder's ten year old son. Producer Herman Cohen decided it would be foolish not to exploit Bela Lugosi's appearance in the film.Sammy Petrillo had established something of a career imitating Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
, whom he resembled closely. Petrillo and Duke Mitchell - who took on the Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
role - played in various clubs in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
among other cities. Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla was to be the first in a series of films starring Mitchell and Petrillo, but this wound up as their only movie. Once Jerry Lewis heard about the film he turned up at the studio offices threatening legal action against the producer and Petrillo for copying his act so closely. Petrillo continued to perform in night clubs through the years, keeping his Jerry Lewis impersonation as one part of his act. Years later, after Martin and Lewis
Martin and Lewis
Martin and Lewis were an American comedy team, comprising singer Dean Martin and comedian Jerry Lewis as the comedic "foil". The pair first met in 1945; their debut as a duo occurred at Atlantic City's 500 Club on July 24/25, 1946....
had split up, Dean Martin almost surreptitiously arranged the production of a Mitchell and Petrillo television series until it fell through.
Cast
- Bela LugosiBéla LugosiBéla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó , commonly known as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian actor of stage and screen. He was best known for having played Count Dracula in the Broadway play and subsequent film version, as well as having starred in several of Ed Wood's low budget films in the last years of his...
(Dr. Zabor) - Duke MitchellDuke MitchellDuke Mitchell was an American film actor, slapstick comedian, crooner and independent film director. Mitchell often performed his nightclub act in and around Palm Springs, California and anointed himself the "King of Palm Springs."-Early life and career:Mitchell was born Dominic Miceli in Farrell,...
(Himself) - Sammy PetrilloSammy PetrilloSammy Petrillo was an American nightclub and movie comedian best known as a Jerry Lewis lookalike.-Early life:...
(Himself) - CharlitaCharlitaCharlita is a Greek Orthodox village in Koura District of Lebanon....
(Nona) - Muriel LandersMuriel LandersMuriel Landers was an American actress, singer and dancer. She made over 30 film and television appearances between 1950 and 1971.-Career:...
(Saloma) - Al KikumeAl KikumeAl Kikume , born Elmer Kikume Gozier, was an American actor and stuntman of Hawaiian descent. He was born in either Honolulu or Kansas and died in Los Angeles...
(Chief Rakos) - Mickey SimpsonMickey SimpsonMickey Simpson was an American supporting actor of burly roles, probably most familiar as Sarge, the racist diner, who beats up Rock Hudson near the end of Giant.-Career:...
(Chula, manservant) - Milton Newberger (Bongo the witch doctor)
- Martin GarralagaMartin GarralagaMartin Garralaga was a Spanish-born film and television actor who portrayed more than 200 roles in film and television....
(Pepe Bordo, waiter) - CheetaCheetaCheeta is a chimpanzee character appearing in numerous Hollywood Tarzan movies of the 1930s–1960s as well as the 1966–1968 television series, as the ape sidekick of the title character, Tarzan...
(Ramona the Chimp) - Steve CalvertSteve CalvertSteve Calvert born Steven Stevens 28 June 1916 died 5 March 1991 in Los Angeles was a prolific gorilla suit performer in many Hollywood films and television shows. He took the name Calvert from Calvert Whisky.-Biography:...
(Gorilla #1, uncredited)