Product Details

• Actors: Barbara Payton, Lon Chaney Jr., Raymond Burr, Tom Conway, Paul Cavanagh
• Directors: Curt Siodmak
• Writers: Curt Siodmak
• Producers: Edward Leven, Jack Broder
• Format: Black & White, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: December 10, 2002
• Run Time: 70 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000714AL
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,843 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Bride of the Gorilla" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

From the Actor

Life took Curt Siodmak on an amazingly varied trip, from a film extra in Fritz Lang’s Metropolis in 1926 to newspaper reporter to screenwriter to film director. After some success with German feature films such as Menschen am Sonntag and F.P.1 Antwortet Nicht, he finally came into Hollywood’s limelight with such horror classics as The Invisible Man Returns (1940), Son of Dracula (1942) and I Stalked with a Zombie (1944). He continued to write successful screenplays, of which Black Friday is amongst the most well known. With Bride of the Gorilla (1951) he was clearly in his element, as evidenced by its enthusiastic box-office reaction.

THE PLOT: Police Commissioner Taro (Lon Chaney) tells a nightmarish tale that unfolds at a rubber plantation on the banks of the Amazon River. Klaas Van Gelder (Paul Cavanagh) is murdered by his wife Dina’s (Barbara Payton) handsome lover Barney Chavez (Raymond Burr) . Dr. Viet (Tom Conway) , Van Gelder’s physician and also secret admirer of the ravishingly beautiful Dina, cannot prove foul play. But the heinous deed is witnessed by the witch Al Long (Gisela Werbiseck) who puts a jungle hex on Barney that begins to turn him into a monstrous, rampaging gorilla on the night of his wedding to Dina. Soon, Taro receives news from Mr. Van Heussen (Paul Maxey) that a murderous beast is on the loose on his plantation, approximately 40 kilometers away from the Van Gelder spread. Haunted by his dark secret, Barney first decides to sell the plantation to Van Heussen and leave the jungle with Dina, then changes his mind as the insidious curse takes a stronger hold on him - now the jungle is home and hunting ground. Dr. Viet’s warnings to Dina that her new husband has been poisoned in some way cause her great alarm, as do the inexplicable changes of character she observes in Barney. He is like an animal now...

Product Description

Excitement and suspense abound in this rousing jungle thriller starring legendary Lon Chaney, Jr. (The Wolf Man), Raymond Burr (TV's "Perry Mason"), and tabloid sex goddess Barbara Payton as a seductive blonde bombshell. She marries a wealthy plantation owner in the South American jungle, where strange, hideous experiments are underway using ancient jungle curses and supernatural forces summoned from beyond!

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "The heart is deceitful..., and desperately wicked...", July 5, 2002

By 

Robert S. Clay Jr. (St. Louis, MO., USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bride of the Gorilla [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Infidelity and murder on a jungle plantation lead to supernatural consequences. Veteran writer/director Curt Siodmak weaves a magic spell, and transforms a modest film into good entertainment. In addition, a strong cast is an asset. Raymond Burr suffers jungle hocus-pocus courtesy of a female shaman. His simian urges appear as the brooding night settles in. The initial metamorphosis has a dreamlike quality that transcends typical B movie standards. Lon Chaney, Jr. is the perceptive police commissioner that respects the native superstitions, and believes that Burr is a murderer. For a change, Lon is not the hirsute beast stalking the darkness. Barbara Payton is Burr's treacherously beautiful bride. Unaware of his gorilla alter ego, she is puzzled why he would rather swing through the trees at night instead of swinging with her. Familiar faces in the supporting cast include Tom Conway and Woody Strode. The production values are meager and rely on jungle movie stock-footage. Overall, the movie has a low budget look. Regardless, this is a minor gem. It is better than the sensational title might suggest. Good fare for genre fans. ;-)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must-see for some, a maybe for others, January 29, 2008

By 

James W. Harris - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bride of the Gorilla (DVD)

For a certain kind of person, and I'm one, this is a film you have to see. First there's the lurid title. Second, Lon Chaney Jr. is in it, and for many fans of classic horror films that makes this an automatic must-see. Third, Curt Siodmak is writer and director, and this guy commands respect: after all, he wrote The Wolf Man, Donovan's Brain, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, I Walked With a Zombie, The Beast With Five Fingers...

Unfortunately, though, this movie is pretty pedestrian. It is rather slow-paced, and never fully takes off. Nor is it remotely scary, suspenseful, gory, or lurid. And Lon Chaney's dull role as a native policeman is disappointing.

Understanding that, this movie still has strengths. Tom Conway, brother of the great George Saunders, is very good in his supporting role; I think he really carries the movie. He's onscreen a lot, and always good. Raymond Burr truly gives his best. Barbara Payton is beautiful and sincere. In general, the supporting cast is good-heartedly earnest. And the film does have its moments - some evocative, moody shots and scenes, some strangeness, some surrealistic charm. It is fun, and doesn't drag. It's not painful; it's just ultimately too familiar, too ordinary.

Bottom line: If you love this kind of old, oddball, no-budget horror, there are a lot of titles you should see first. But eventually you will work your way to Bride of the Gorilla, and there is a good chance you will enjoy the 66 minutes and regard it with affection.

Trivia PS: I love these desperately deceptive taglines from the original garish ads (not on this dvd, unfortunately), which have absolutely nothing to do with the film! Indeed, selling a ticket with such promises was downright larcenous. But that's all part of the sideshow-style fun of the world of b-movies and exploitation films, Enjoy.

"Her marriage vows were more than fulfilled!"
"Her clothes torn away in screaming terror!"
"A blonde beauty and a savage beast... ALONE IN THE JUNGLE!"

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Most Enjoyable, May 16, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bride of the Gorilla [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Despite its established (and well-deserved) B-movie status, "Bride of the Gorilla" is a surprisingly effective, entertaining, and well-done movie. I was particularly impressed by the intelligent and original variation on a theme that was tried-and-true (indeed, rather exhausted) even a virtual half-century ago. Oh, to be sure, all the usual B-movie trappings are here -- e.g., the inevitable stock jungle footage. But wouldn't you be disappointed if it weren't?

Recommended.