“Béla Lugosi Meets A Brooklyn Gorilla” might just be the worst film of the 1950s. It’s a diabolically bad movie that features the great Béla Lugosi (“Dracula”, “White Zombie”) Lugosi had it bad in the 50s, having starred in several of Ed Wood’s films (including “Plan 9 From Outer Space”) but this makes Ed Wood’s movies look like “Casablanca”.

This film is a rip-off the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis films (such as “At War With The Army”) as we see entertainers Duke Mitchell and Sammy Petrillo (played by themselves) get stuck on a jungle island inhabited by tribespeople. They also encounter mad scientist Dr. Zabor (Lugosi), who sees Duke as romantic competition for the beautiful tribeswoman Nona.

I am not a fan of Martin and Lewis so to see a third-rate imitation of them is painful. Sammy Petrillo gives probably the most obnoxious performance I’ve seen in a film to date. Apparently, Petrillo stole so much from Lewis that Lewis eventually sued him. Poor Lugosi is given very little to do. I have no idea why Lugosi’ name is in the film’s title when he does not even play himself. The gorilla costume is actually not completely awful. It’s about the only thing in the whole movie that isn’t horrendous.

“Béla Lugosi Meets A Brooklyn Gorilla” is annoying, it’s unfunny and it’s boring. It’s mercifully short but that’s as close as I’ll come to praise any aspect of this movie. If you wonder whether Lugosi could sink any lower than “Glen Or Glenda” then just look at this pathetic picture. I would have preferred if the filmmakers had just a made a documentary where Lugosi went to a zoo and met a real gorilla. Also, I will die a happy man if I never see another second of that awful Petrillo chap.