Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (later reissued as The Boys from Brooklyn) is a 1952 American comedy horror film directed by William Beaudine. The film stars veteran horror personality Bela Lugosi and introduces the young comedy team of Duke Mitchell and Sammy Petrillo. The film was released in the United Kingdom under the title The Monster Meets the Gorilla.
Natives on a jungle island find two long-haired, bearded men dressed in frayed tuxedos asleep in the jungle and carry them to their chief and his daughter, who insists on protecting them. She mimes instructions that the men are to be dressed, shaven and given haircuts, all while they are still asleep. Upon waking, the men introduce themselves to the chief’s daughter Nona and explain that they had fallen from a plane en route to Guam, deployed their parachutes and have been living on wild berries and raw fish. Nona explains that her father is Chief Rakos, tribal leader.
At a luau, Duke establishes a closer relationship with Nona while Sammy is introduced to Nona’s overly friendly and plump sister Saloma, causing him to join the luau dancers and perform a comedy routine, followed by Duke’s rendition of “‘Deed I Do”. Nona tells Duke that she was educated in an American college to prepare her for ruling the island as its queen.
When Duke inquires about leaving the island, Nona suggests that Dr. Zabor, conducting scientific experiments on the island, might help. Dr. Zabor agrees to help Duke and Sammy leave the island, and offers them the use of his castle and wardrobe. He has designs on Nona and sends his assistant Chula to spy on her with Duke. Back in the laboratory, Dr. Zabor injects the chimpanzee Ramona, transforming her into a small monkey with a tail.
The following morning, as Nona returns to the laboratory, Dr. Zabor realizes that the serum’s effect was only temporary and that Ramona has reverted to a chimp. He injects Duke with the serum and watches him transform into a gorilla.
As Nona and Sammy return to the laboratory in search of Duke, Dr. Zabor claims that the gorilla is actually Ramona. He and Nona travel to the village, leaving Sammy in the laboratory with the gorilla, who pantomimes to Sammy that he is really Duke. Upon reaching the village, Sammy explains to Nona that the gorilla is Duke. She embraces the gorilla as Chula arrives with Dr. Zabor, who aims his rifle at the gorilla. Sammy shields the gorilla with his body and is mortally wounded. As the gorilla kneels over Sammy and pats his face, the scene shifts to Duke and Sammy in the dressing room of a New Jersey nightclub. Nona is in the gorilla-trainer act, with Chief Rakos in a gorilla suit. Chula is a waiter and Dr. Zabor is the manager of the club.
