Customer Reviews

Bride of the Gorilla

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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. ;-)

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!"

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.

Jungle plantation foreman Barney Chavez (Raymond Burr) allows a poisonous snake to bite his boss so he can marry the boss's wife Dina (Barbara Payton). This angers the housemaid who wanted Barney for herself so she goes to the wizened old crone who supervises the house and who witnessed the murder. The old woman concocts a hoo-doo potion from a mysterious and illegal shrub and begins slipping it to Barney along with a curse that he will become an animal of the jungle. On Barney's and Dina's wedding day, the curse goes into effect. Barney takes to the jungle at night as a gorilla leaving Dina perplexed at his behavior. Soon animals and humans alike are found ripped to shreds. Police chief Lon Chaney Jr. suspects native superstitions are true about a "beast that walks like a man" and that Barney killed his boss and warns Dina. But she loves Barney no matter what and sets out to confront him herself. This is pure campy hokum and great fun to watch. Eons away from "Bride and the Beast" and played relatively straight, the film introduces Payton as Dina in a strapless cocktail dress and sexy ankle strap shoes dancing to Latin music. So you know right from the start that this is heading for the twilight zone of bad movie heaven. And since you know the title, you wouldn't have it any other way. The acting is just barely above par and Curt Siodmak's direction keeps things moving smoothly despite low budget restrictions. The print from Image is decent enough and the sound is fine. So for a cheesy early 50's flick about a man turning into a gorilla from a jungle curse and the woman who loves him anyway, this ain't bad.

I'm not sure what it was, but when I first saw this film on TV in the early 1960's I was prepared to like it. At that time I was hooked on steamy studio jungle sets & lots of stock footage. All the local TV stations were playing Tarzan, Jungle Jim and Bomba movies in some sort of JUNGLE LARRY(?)THEATER type program. It was great & all the kids loved it!
Now BRIDE OF THE GORILLA comes along with much of the same mix but with a more adult/slanted agenda. Yes, the familar stock footage was there, the fear of a gorilla monster, a witch/voodoo woman, Lon Chaney Jr. and a deadly curse made this absolute viewing, but...this B-horror/thriller had something else going for it: BARBARA PAYTON!
Even as a kid I knew she was much much more.., than Maureen O'Sullivan (Jane/ June Cleaver of Tarzan fame)!
BRIDE OF THE GORILLA is probably Payton's most memorible camp classic, and she's very good in it. She draws sympathy in a role that twists and curves from cheating wife to loving, devoted wife. Raymond Burr (pre Godzilla & Perry Mason), Tom Conway & Lon Jr. are also very good as is Siodmak's pacing & direction. He directed Chaney 10 yrs. eariler in THE WOLFMAN!
Alas, poor Barbara...
Her life tumbled downhill...I won't dwell on all the sleaze, you can look it up.
However, this is just one fun chiller/thriller, a few curses, a monster thrown in, some good acting and even a bit part by a young Woody Strode.
As for the whole gorilla thing...
I believe it was all in Barney's head, always have, always will.
The ALPHA dvd is pretty good. Quite clear with good audio. Very watchable. I was happy with it.
So for a good time in the jungle you really can't go wrong here.
Recommended to all lovers of fake jungle sets!

This Image release is most likely the best available. The print only has minor imperfections throughout, but nothing that is a problem. Includes a trailer.

First off, the guy who becomes the gorilla is hot. Very, very hot. Yummy hot. Second off, this film is really, really funny. The plot is that the cute boy kills a guy and then is cursed so he slowly turns into a monkey and ends up a beast of the jungle. This is so not King Kong. I love the fact that it's a comedy and I've watched it three times and still laugh. He's still cute as the gorilla, by the way.

Klaas Van Gelder plantation owner loves his wife Dina (Barbra Payton). She is also loved from afar by the family doctor, Dr. Viet (Tom Conway). Yes and she is loved by the hired hand, Barney Chavez.

Barney seizes an opportunity to bump off old Klaas and take Dina for him self. In the process he jilts the daughter of a sorceress. Yes, the same sorceress that observed Barney's treachery from the bushes. This is too much so the sorceress cursed Barney and turns him into a gorilla by night.

Will Barney survive?
Does Dina love hairy leading men?

This 1951 movie may have been inspired in part by "The Cat People" (1942), as it is just as much a psychological thriller as a revenge monster movie.

This film has many major actors such as [Raymond Burr as Barney Chavez] (From "Godzilla" 1956); he was not bad looking in his youth. Then there is [Paul Cavanagh as Klaas Van Gelder] (from "The Kennel Murder Case" (1933); he is barley recognizable after 20 years. We even have the master at conversion [Lon Chaney Jr. as Commissioner Taro] (our favorite wolfy); this time he plays a perfectly normal person who is torn between two cultures.

She Gods of Shark Reef

Dude, I love my 1950s bad horror films. The worse they are the more I can laugh a them.

I was freaking rolling on the floor laughing at this. It's the most fun I've had with my DVD player in years. I've seen it about 10 times now and it just gets better and better.

This is exactly what you would expect from a "Bride of Anything" movie. Silly cosutumes, a ridiculous plot and the diologue of the doomed.

Just try to not have fun with this puppy! I bet you can't do it!

This was actually a pretty enjoyable B movie. Lon Chaney is a bit out of place here and not given much to do. Raymond Burr gives a great over the top chauvenistic style performance delivering some super quotable lines. It sports a very nice script and great job on direction by Kurt Siodmak. I always felt he was among the best of the B movie directors of the 50's who always paid great attention to the smaller details that add to the realistic telling of absurd stories. Check out his film Magnetic Monster with Richard Carlson if you can find it. I wish they would have given Kurt larger budgets/projects throughout the 50's.

The Alpha DVD is relatively cheap, has great sound and a nice crisp clear transfer. Also includes the original trailer. Recommended for fans of 50's B grade fun.