The film “Gorilla at Large” released in 1954, is a crime and film-noir movie. It unveils an intriguing story set within a carnival called the Garden of Evil where a murder takes place. The film was directed by Harmon Jones and boasted a star cast including Cameron Mitchell, Anne Bancroft, and Lee J. Cobb. This article discusses the filming locations, highlights some interesting facts, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the movie.
Where it Filmed?
“Gorilla at Large” was primarily filmed at two locations in California, USA. One was the RKO-Pathé Studios, located at 9336 Washington Blvd., in Culver City. The other location was the Nu Pike Amusement Park in Long Beach. The movie was shot throughout September 1953.
Cast Details
| Cast Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Cameron Mitchell | Joey Matthews |
| Anne Bancroft | Laverne Miller |
| Lee J. Cobb | Detective Sgt. Garrison |
| Raymond Burr | Cy Miller |
| Charlotte Austin | Audrey Baxter |
| Peter Whitney | Kovacs |
| Lee Marvin | Shaughnessy |
| Warren Stevens | Joe |
| Detective | |
| Gordon Armitage | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| George Barrows | Goliath the Gorilla (uncredited) |
| John Beradino | Policeman (uncredited) |
| Gordon Carveth | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| Bing Conley | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| Chuck Couch | Trapeze Act (uncredited) |
| Billy Curtis | Slim (uncredited) |
| Sayre Dearing | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| Kay Garrett | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| Joseph Glick | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| Nancy Kilgas | Trapeze assistant (uncredited) |
| Gustave Lax | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| Maurice Marks | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| Mickey Martin | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| John McKee | Policeman (uncredited) |
| Lee Miller | Ambulance Attendant (uncredited) |
| Frank Mills | Barker (uncredited) |
| Monty O’Grady | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| Charles Perry | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| Joe Ploski | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| Cosmo Sardo | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| Sammy Shack | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| Charles Sherlock | Policeman (uncredited) |
| Jack Stoney | Cage Attendant (uncredited) |
| Charles Sullivan | Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| Charles Tannen | Owens (uncredited) |
| Max Wagner | Policeman (uncredited) |
Trivia and Facts
- In the 1980s, the movie was broadcast on network television with a promotional collaboration from the 7/11 convenience stores, who offered cardboard 3D glasses. These glasses had a banana-scented Scratch-And-Sniff patch. However, the broadcast was deemed a failure as the 3D effect didn’t work well depending on the quality of individual TV manufacturers.
- An obvious production flaw is visible in a scene where the character Kovacs lifts Laverne over his head. There’s a clearly noticeable cable around Laverne’s waist to support her weight, which disappears when he puts her down.
- The film was also known by different names in various countries, like “The Gorilla” in the United States, “Panique sur la ville” in France and Belgium, “El gorila asesino” in Spain, and “La bestia negra” in Argentina.
Geo Location Details
- Location Name: RKO-Pathé Studios – 9336 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
- Latitude: 34.0227687
- Longitude: -118.3908299
- Place ID: ChIJV0OSuoe5woARofdHW3Nx8XM
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: 9336 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232, USA
- Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Location Name: Nu Pike Amusement Park, Long Beach, California, USA
- Latitude: 33.757101
- Longitude: -118.1994577
- Place ID: ChIJR3WcvC4x3YARb9AgdxZGjzQ
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: 700 Queensway Dr, Long Beach, CA 90802, USA
- Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
