Horror Classics #6: The Gorilla/ Nabonga

Break out the bananas. Because here's a simian double bill to go ape over: THE GORILLA AND NABONGA.

THE GORILLA (1939)

Has everything a film buff could ask for. It's got the Ritz Brothers as detectives poking around in a creepy old house. It's got a guy in a gorilla outfit. It's got both Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill ! And, amazingly, it was made by 20th Centrury - Fox. Director Allan Dwan, who also gave us FRONTIER MARSHALL '39 and SANDS OF IWO JIMA '49 keeps the silly proceedings moving as quickly as possible.

Sam Newfield, who could crank out a B Western in two days , directed NABONGA '44 for PRC. For the most part, it's KING KONG with a little SHEENA, QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE AND TARZAN thrown in for good measure. Singer Julie London plays a woman raised in the jungle by apes, Tarzan - style. The great B-movie cast includes Buster Crabbe and Barton MacLane.

Interstingly, NABONGA

Was also under the titles JUNGLE WOMAN and GORILLA. The GORILLAhowever, was never called NABONGA.