Kidnapping Gorillas
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Ben Burbridge
Ben Burbridge
Ben Burbridge
James Shelley Hamilton
Alfred Hayes
Richard E. Splaine
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
This film documents the expedition of Ben Burbridge into the Kivu Mountain region of central Africa to capture live gorillas for zoos in America. With his safari of 125 native men and women, Burbridge treks through the dangerous terrain and, along the way, photographs dances and other customs of various tribes, including those of the pygmy. In one scene, a cannibalistic tribe devouring the still quivering flesh of a freshly killed elephant is shown, while in other scenes, battles between animals are featured. After the safari's arrival in "gorilla country," several small gorillas are captured, and one large gorilla is slain. The film's narrative then reveals that the dead gorilla is now residing in the National Museum in Washington, D.C.
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
As noted in the Motion Picture Herald review, this film's "second and interchangeable title" was Life in the Congo. Both titles are listed in all of the reviews. A September 1933 Film Daily news item stated that the film was based on producer Ben Burbridge's story "Gorilla Hunt." No information about the possible publication of this story has been found. In April 1941, Jewel Productions released a film called Kidnapping Gorillas, which May have been a re-edited version of this production. The Variety review for the 1941 film noted that "several scenes and episodes" had been "taken from previous jung'e 'epics'." The Variety review also states, however, that the 1941 film was based on Major Frederick Brown's expedition, not on Burbridge's trip. A description of the 1941 documentary differs considerably from that of the 1934 film. The 1941 production featured a kidnapping of a "jungle belle" by a giant gorilla, according to Variety. The 1950 Film Daily Year Book includes a listing for a 1949 Jewel release called Kidnapping Gorillas. It is not known if this film was a re-issue of either of the above-mentioned pictures.
