Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla
| Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | William Beaudine |
| Produced by | Maurice Duke |
| Written by | Tim Ryan |
| Starring |
Bela Lugosi Duke Mitchell Sammy Petrillo |
| Music by | Richard Hazard |
| Cinematography | Charles Van Enger |
| Edited by | Philip Cahn |
| Distributed by | Realart Pictures Inc. |
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Release date
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Running time
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74 min |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $12,000 |
Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (also known as The Boys from Brooklyn) is a 1952 American comedy horror science fiction film directed by William Beaudine and starring horror veteran Bela Lugosi and nightclub comedians Duke Mitchell and Sammy Petrillo in roles approximating the then popular duo of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
On their way to perform in Guam for the troops, 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.
During the 1950s, comedian Sammy Petrillo had established something of a career imitating comedian Jerry Lewis, whom he closely resembled. Petrillo worked for Lewis at one point after an agent set up a meeting with Lewis who then cast him in a sketch on the NBC show The Colgate Comedy Hour. For $60, he played Jerry Lewis as a baby in a crib. Petrillo went on to form a musical comedy team in the style of Martin and Lewis with singer Duke Mitchell. With Mitchell in the Dean Martin role and Petrillo as Jerry Lewis, the team played in various clubs in Las Vegas among other cities. Maurice Duke, who managed the duo, had pitched the idea of Petrillo and Mitchell starring in a movie to several studios. Duke eventually pitched the idea to Realart Pictures Inc. co-owner Jack Broder and his assistant, producer Herman Cohen. Duke then took Broder to see Petrillo and Duke perform in Culver City. While Broder thought the duo was hilarious, Herman Cohen (who saw the duo's act later) said he thought Petrillo and Mitchell "stunk".Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla was to be the first in a series of films starring Mitchell and Petrillo, but wound up as their only film together.
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