Allan Dwan's adaptation of Ralph Spence's play was the first of two efforts with the Ritz Brothers. When wealthy insurance broker Walter Stevens (Bela Lugosi) receives a death threat from a rampaging murderer known only as 'the Gorilla' he hires a trio of private detectives Garrity (Jimmy Ritz), Harrigan (Harry Ritz) and Mulligan (Al Ritz) for protection. When they arrive at the threatened time of murder, the detectives question Stevens' servants, and his niece Norma (Patsy Kelley) and her fiance (Jack Marsden). At midnight, Stevens suddenly disappears, and the trio of shamuses scour the house for him. The gorilla suddenly appears only to quickly vaporize, terrifying the guests even more. One of Stevens' clients, Conway (Paul Harvey) arrives, claiming that the broker cooked up the gorilla ruse to swindle his employer. Adding to the melee, an agent of the Security and Exchange Commission shows up, and seconds Conway's story, saying that Stevens mailed himself the death threat to deflect any suspicion away from himself. He leads the detectives through a series of mazelike hidden corridors where they find Stevens bound and gagged. The loopy Ritz Brothers as detectives must be seen to be believed. Horror movie stalwarts such as Lugosi (DRACULA) and Atwill (THE SON OF FRANKENSTEIN), also have amusing turns.
Theatrical release date: May 26,1939.
The Ritz Brothers apparently considered the original script to be beneath their standards and refused to work until it was rewritten.
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Costume Designer
Gwen Wakeling: Costume Designer
Director of Photography
Edward Cronjager: American Director of Photography
Art Director
Richard Day:
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