Back in the 80s, somebody had the novel idea of repurposing old 1950s Sci-Fi and Horror flicks and airing them in their original 3-D on broadcast television. It must not have proven cost-effective for them because only a couple of movies ever aired, REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, the sequel to CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, and GORILLA AT LARGE. You had to get your 3-D glasses (with vintage red and blue lenses) from certain restaurants or convenience stores, and then when the movie aired you had to adjust the color settings on your TV to get the 3-D effect working. It was nothing less than magical. And there was nothing, nothing at all corny about GORILLA AT LARGE when I, as a little boy, put on those cheap glasses an settled in on the couch in our living room to enjoy it. Like I said, magical.
This past week I re-watched GORILLA AT LARGE for the first time since its broadcast on TV in the summer of 1982. It’s still got that same pizazz for me. I was surprised by how much of it I remembered, and you know what? The plot still works. It’s a nifty little mystery, albeit one fairly easy to figure out, and even watching it without the 3-D effects it’s still a fun ride, apropos considering the movie is set in an amusement park. And considering the cast features players like Lee J. Cobb, Raymond Burr, Lee Marvin, and Anne Bancroft, the acting is solid.
