This is one of those movies that Bela Lugosi made at the end of his career, and certainly it isn't one I suspect he'd have made if he were financially able to say no.
It's tepid little movie with some jokers doing painful imitations of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. Now I adore Dean Martin's easy cool, and I can take Jerry Lewis in very small doses when he's at his antic best, but to endure these pale imitations is difficult to swallow. According to one story, Lewis actually sued his imitator after this flick, and I can see why. The Petrillo guy does a very close imitation of Jerry's act, but minus the funny. The other dude Mitchell is less annoying but not a very good singer actually.
Bela is the draw here, and the movie is only any good when he's around. He plays an old mad scientist on a distant island who is in love with his native girl assistant who doesn't return that affection but falls for the Martin-clone instead. The jealousy causes Bela to use his potions to transform his rival into a gorilla and the show picks up a bit. This doesn't happen though until the last third of the movie and by then most folks have nodded off.
I love Bela, he's always fun and he's pretty malevolent here even in a comedy. Bela always comes across as irritated in these cheapies and that adds to the villainy. I read all the time how he overacts, but I find his style refreshing in these vehicles that demand someone trying to really entertain the audience. Heaven knows the singing and dancing don't do it in this one.
Rip Off
No comments:
Post a Comment