Bananas, Bullets, and Bela Lugosi

In this episode of The Introverted Obelisk, we dive into The Gorilla (1939), a film that can’t decide if it wants to be a horror, mystery, or a comedy routine — so it stumbles into being neither. Starring the Ritz Brothers, who spend most of the runtime mugging for the camera, and poor Bela Lugosi, who looks like he’d rather be anywhere else, the movie offers a killer gorilla that spends less time on screen than the family butler.

I take you through the paper-thin plot: a wealthy man threatened by a mysterious murderer, a creepy mansion crawling with suspects, and a supposed gorilla lurking in the shadows. The result is a jumble of slapstick gags, wandering comic detours, and the occasional attempt at suspense that dies faster than a punchline at open mic night.

We’ll talk about why Poverty Row studios thought “ape in a suit” was a foolproof horror formula, how Lugosi ended up playing second fiddle to comedians who seem allergic to timing, and why the gorilla deserved top billing for sheer persistence.

It’s a horror comedy without the horror or comedy, but plenty of awkward chuckles along the way.