The Gorilla Poster

The Gorilla 1930

70 min📅 1930-11-02

"You'll SHAKE with laughter and SHIVER with suspense as a wild gorilla runs loose through a mystery house. New laughs! New surprises! New thrills!"

Step into the eerie halls of an ancient, shadow-laden mansion where laughter and terror collide in Bryan Foy's 1930 mystery-comedy *The Gorilla*. When a string of bizarre murders rocks the estate, suspicion falls on an escaped gorilla lurking in the forgotten corners.

Director: Bryan Foy

Cast

Joe Frisco
Garrity
Harry Gribbon
Harry Gribbon
Mulligan
Walter Pidgeon
Walter Pidgeon
Arthur Marsden
Lila Lee
Lila Lee
Alice Denby
Purnell Pratt
Purnell Pratt
The Stranger
Edwin Maxwell
Edwin Maxwell
Cyrus Stevens
Roscoe Karns
Roscoe Karns
Simmons
William H. Philbrick
Jeff
Landers Stevens
Landers Stevens
Inspector

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Gorilla (1930) about?

A baffling string of murders in a sprawling, decrepit mansion pins the blame on an escaped gorilla, throwing the residents into a frenzy of suspicion and dark humor. As the body count rises, a motley crew of suspects—including a bumbling detective and a flustered butler—race to uncover the truth behind the ape's apparent rampage and the real culprit hiding in plain sight.

Who directed The Gorilla?

The Gorilla was directed by Bryan Foy, a filmmaker known for blending comedy and suspense in the early days of talkies.

Who stars in The Gorilla?

The film features Joe Frisco, Harry Gribbon, Walter Pidgeon, Lila Lee, and Purnell Pratt among its leading cast.

Is The Gorilla (1930) worth watching?

Though it's a 'lost film' with no IMDb rating, *The Gorilla* offers a unique window into 1930s genre-blending cinema—part murder mystery, part slapstick comedy, and all curiosity. Fans of vintage whodunits with a campy twist will find its premise irresistibly absurd, even if its surviving footage is fragmented. It's less a masterpiece and more a fascinating artifact for film buffs and comedy enthusiasts alike.

How long is The Gorilla?

The Gorilla runs for 70 minutes.

About The Gorilla (1930) — Why This Forgotten Mystery-Comedy Still Delivers Laughs and Chills

Step into the eerie halls of an ancient, shadow-laden mansion where laughter and terror collide in Bryan Foy's 1930 mystery-comedy *The Gorilla*. When a string of bizarre murders rocks the estate, suspicion falls on an escaped gorilla lurking in the forgotten corners. Directed with a playful yet suspenseful touch, this lost film blends slapstick humor from stars like Joe Frisco and Harry Gribbon with the chills of a classic whodunit. The atmosphere crackles with dark comedy and old-house dread, as characters tiptoe through secret passages, misplaced identities, and the unsettling possibility of a primate perpetrator. Think Agatha Christie meets a vaudeville stage, with a dash of 1930s oddball charm.

At its heart, *The Gorilla (1930)* is a lighthearted romp disguised as a horror-tinged murder mystery, where the real mystery might just be the sheer audacity of its premise. Walter Pidgeon and Lila Lee bring a touch of glamour to the mayhem, while Edwin Maxwell and Purnell Pratt add layers of comedic suspicion. This forgotten gem invites viewers to laugh at the absurdity of a killer ape while shivering at the thought of what might really be prowling the mansion's dusty halls.