Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla

Joe3.0

I got so happy when Petrillo got shot.

Will Sloan5.0

What better time than the holidays to revisit one of my favourite movies?The sole feature-film vehicle for legendary Martin & Lewis rip-off act Duke Mitchell & Sammy Petrillo. When Jerry Lewis (who threatened to sue) screened this, he is reputed to have yelled "Thank god!" when Sammy is shot. However I would recommend this over a handful of actual Martin & Lewis movies, including such leaden efforts as At War With the Army and Money from Home.Directed by William Beaudine with unsentimental professionalism. This was the final Lugosi/Beaudine film - a fitting end to a partnership that brought us Ghosts on the Loose, Voodoo Man, and The Ape Man. Shot at the same L.A. soundstage complex as I Love Lucy, and in later years Sammy remembered that Lucy and Desi were among the celebrities who dropped by the set to say hi to Bela.I wish I could take the Midnight in Paris limo back in time to see Mitchell & Petrillo live at one of their club dates. Sammy is only 17 here but already has Krusty the Clown's voice. Duke is really, really bad, but would eventually grow into his screen presence and gift us with such essential late works as Massacre Mafia Style, Gone With the Pope, and of course, Sex in the Comics. Legendary gorilla-suit guy Ray "Crash" Corrigan gives one of his very greatest gorilla-suit performances in this, especially when he sings a few bars of Duke's hit single "Deed I Do" in a gorilla voice.

Joel Haver2.5

My friend’s grandpa is Sammy Petrillo, when he saw this was playing at the New Beverly naturally we had to celebrate his relative’s short lived career as a knock off Jerry Lewis. He really is the star of this movie which is crazy, he’s equal parts charming and obnoxious throughout. The movie is a complete mess, but never boring! The audible groan the audience let out at the final reveal was hilarious. Truly an ending for the books! (bad books)