Murders in the Zoo

source: Murders in the Zoo

Moviecut—Murders in the Zoo

Murders in the Zoo

As is noted by everyone, the decision to soften this horror with extensive scenes of supposed humour from Charlie Ruggles is a shame. Still, this is to take nothing away from Lionel Atwill's fine performance nor the bewitching presence of that strange but beguiling lady, Kathleen Burke. There is a dramatic opening when after it looks as if we are to simply imagine what atrocity has been committed we are confronted with a poor man's sew up mouth in close-up. Nothing is quite as graphic afterwards but there are splendid scenes of the non-PC zoo and a fine, animals let loose scene, towards the end, before a rather splendid denouement even if it involves the wrong sort of snake. Far too much silliness from Ruggles and a rather bloodless alligator pool sequence, without even the hint of a human limb, but overall well worth a watch and pretty bold for the times.

This seldom-seen hidden gem features the sadistic Lionel Atwill at his evil best. As a jealous zoologist, he resorts to drastic measures by using his animals to kill any man who makes a play for his luscious wife (Kathleen Burke, the panther woman from ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, who exudes exotic beauty). There are some pretty "extreme" methods of dealing death for such an early film, utilizing snakes, alligators and one pretty horrific sequence involving "sewing". The only wrench in the works is the maddeningly unfunny comedian, Charlie Ruggles (who even gets top billing!) who's like a consistent thorn in the side of the movie whenever he pops in every now and then. I'm not one for altering original films under any circumstances, but I may make a unique exception in this case to excise all of this idiot's scenes. Luckily, the movie still emerges as an easy and enjoyable 62 minutes if you ignore Ruggles and savor the main plot of a green-eyed husband making people pay. *** out of ****

Despite the casting of comedian, Charlie Ruggles, as the go-getting lead of Murders in the Zoo (1933), it's actually Randolph Scott who saves the day, but not before villainous Lionel Atwill does his stuff! I must admit I'm a sucker for movies set in a zoo, and this one is no exception despite the fact that we know exactly who the killer is right from the very opening shot. Nonetheless, despite the hard task they set themselves by revealing the killer at this incredibly early stage, screenwriters Seton I. Miller and Philip Wylie do contrive at least two or three quite unexpected twists in the plot. Director Eddie Sutherland is not the most stylish of the Hollywood crop, but he sure knows how keep the story moving along at an agreeable and always interesting level.

While not on the creepy level of Edgar Ulmer's "The Black Cat", this film shows that a studio OTHER THAN Universal was trying to make horror films in the early thirties. I will agree that Charlie Ruggles' tipsy clowning tends to diffuse the genuine horror of the situation, but this seems to almost have been a requirement of horror films of thirties, as this same type of character is found in "Mystery of the Wax Museum", and "Doctor X", both films starring Lionel Atwill. Maybe they just wanted to offset Atwill's natural creepiness, eh? At any rate, A big kudos to MCA/Universal for even releasing this film on home video, and for using one of the most beautiful prints I've ever seen! Now, if we can just get them to put out MURDER BY THE CLOCK...

A rather strange movie - because everyone plays it straight except Charlie Ruggles, who acts as if he is in a slapstick comedy! He plays a marketing man for a municipal zoo who is deathly afraid of animals, and he made me chuckle once or twice, but a little of him goes a long way. The film is thinly plotted, but it contains some fascinating animal footage, and Lionel Atwill is perversely pleasurable to watch as the villain; he is murderously mad with jealousy and desire for his unfaithful wife (Kathleen Burke). It's roles like this one that have made him one of the most important predecessors of horror icons such as Vincent Price. **1/2 out of 4.

The opening scene from "Murders in the Zoo" is quite extreme for 1933 audiences . I shalln't say what happens but you can't miss it! Lionel Atwill steals the show once again as the sadistic, cunning and evil proprietor of various dangerous animals that he plans to sell to a zoo. Little does anyone realise that he shall use his animals for other means........ You only have to observe the expression of Lionel Atwill to know he is a somewhat dodgy customer. This gem was unfairly ignored for years but is very good on its own merits.

Opening up in Africa with the murder of a zoologist's wife's lover, this frightening thriller doesn't use monsters, mad scientists or ancient mummy's to provide the chills, but nature itself. Lionel Atwill is his delightfully villianess self as the zoologist who uses the deadly green mamba, a giant anaconda like snake, to do his dirty work, and back in the states, as evidence begins to point to him, more bizarre murders occur. Charlie Ruggles brings the tone down from frights to laughs as a man whose skin crawls anytime he's around anything other than a human being. Even milk-craving baby bears and a friendly chimp have him on edge. There's some truly horrifying moments here, including one clever disposal of a body, and a finale that is up there with the final shot of "Freaks" in the art of the macabre. Kathleen Burke (as Atwill's wife), Randolph Scott and Gail Patrick offer fine support, but this is Atwill's film all the way.