dave_hillman

Typical 50s B-movie, originally in 3D, combines a bit of horror, circus intrigue, vivid color, threadbare sets, and an opportunity to see a game cast full of familiar faces at the beginning of their long careers, among them Cameron Mitchell, Raymond Burr, Lee J. Cobb, Lee Marvin, and an alluring, beautiful Anne Bancroft giving her best sultry. She plays a beautiful trapeze artist who isn't "what she seems" if you know what I mean. Anne gives this programmer most of its punch and it is easy to see, at this very early stage of her long career, why she became such a big star and a well respected one at that. The Anne Bancroft of just a few years after this probably laughed herself silly recalling this shoot, but you won't know it from her performance. She gives this her all. The 3D effects must have been kinda cool back then, but the movie doesn't really need them. "Gorilla at Large" is best viewed as a quaint 50s time capsule. Marvin shows comic chops later immortalized in his Oscar-winning turn in "Cat Ballou", Burr is properly menacing, and Cobb chews a bit of scenery playing a detective as only he can. (Think "The Exorcist" only with an unruly gorilla instead of a possessed little girl.) Released by 20th Century Fox. A nice little time killer on a rainy afternoon, which is exactly how I saw this on YouTube. But Anne is top-notch if only for her many trapeze scenes, intercut with a not too obvious double. Also, she looks great in her skimpy outfits. Mel Brooks probably teased her mercilessly about this movie.

Boring early slasher about killings in a creepy old house overlooking a California beach. A waste of genre vets Yvonne De Carlo, Cameron Mitchell and especially Barbara Steele (in a rare late 70s screen appearance). The house is an asset, but the script is tired and cliched, shocks are minimal, and there is not enough gore. Direction is sluggish when not outright indifferent. Look elsewhere; there are plenty of better shockers. Released in 1979 although better known as a 1980 drive-in sleeper. You can take that last part literally, but devotees of 80s cheese will be more tolerant if they're a little high.

Gloria Grahame is your "hag" here, and she's still a pro, giving this cheap trash a little oomph, but this semi-legendary 70s drive-in staple has not aged well. Zero atmosphere, dreadful sound and tinny library music scoring sink this low budget horror flick almost instantly. Gory enough, but it feels twice as long as it's running time. See it for Gloria; thankfully this was not her final film. There is a sick little twist at the very end, though. Also of note: Vic Tayback and Dennis Christopher in very early, fairly prominent roles. Released by American International and not one of their unsung gems.