Fragments of THE GORILLA (1927)

The stage play THE GORILLA proved to be a recyclable property in story hungry Hollywood. The popular spooky house mystery was filmed on three separate occasions over 12 years; first as a silent production in 1927, then, with the advent of sound, in 1930 and one final interpretation was released in 1939. Plot elements varied from film to film though the basic comedic premise of a gorilla, or possibly a man in a a gorilla suit, or both!, stalking victims in a dark house remained. The original adaptation was a significant career point for Charles Gemora. After proving himself a capable sculptor and set design man on the Universal lot, Gemora's talents were sought to create an imposing beast for the title role of 1927 First National feature. Reports conflict on whether or not he played the role himself, but THE GORILLA (1927) marked Charles' first foray into gorilla suit territory. A year later he would appear, in suit, as a circus ape in THE LEOPARD LADY(1928), and would dedicate himself over the next 30 years to the creation of the finest suits to fool and amaze audiences everywhere.

Unfortunately for film buffs and gorilla suit enthusiasts, the entirety of the 1930 version remains lost. However, some exceptional footage, likely trailer material and possibly test shots, remain to tantalize us with what might have been.

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