The Concession Stand

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Forbidden Planet: Bela Lugosi Meets A Brooklyn Gorilla




Long before he had to stoop to make Ed Wood films, Bela Lugosi stooped to make a film with a low rent Martin & Lewis knock-off comedy duo. Mitchell & Petrillo were a dollar store version of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, with Sammy Petrillo even aping Jerry Lewis' haircut.



In the film, Bela plays a mad scientist who performs bizarre experiments that result in Duke Mitchell becoming a gorilla. "Hilarious" antics ensue, Bela tries to pronounce scientific technobabble and Martin & Lewis' lawyers gleefully get opportunities to send cease and desist letters.


Spoiler Alert: it was all a dream. For you, however, it might be a nightmare.