Konga (1961)

Dr.Decker comes back from Africa after a year, presumed dead. During that year, he came across a way of growing plants and animals to an enormous size. He brings back a baby chimpanzee to ... See full summary »

Director:

John Lemont

Writers:

Aben Kandel (original story), Herman Cohen (original story),

Stars:

Michael Gough, Margo Johns, Jess Conrad

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Gough	...	Dr. Charles Decker
Margo Johns	...	Margaret
Jess Conrad	...	Bob Kenton
Claire Gordon	...	Sandra Banks
Austin Trevor	...	Dean Foster
Jack Watson	...	Supt. Brown
George Pastell	...	Prof. Tagore
Vanda Godsell	...	Bob's Mother
Stanley Morgan	...	Insp. Lawson
Grace Arnold	...	Miss Barnesdell
Leonard Sachs	...	Bob's Father
Nicholas Bennett	...	Daniel
Kim Tracy	...	Mary
Rupert Osborne	...	Eric Kenton
Waveney Lee	...	Janet Kenton

Storyline

Dr.Decker comes back from Africa after a year, presumed dead. During that year, he came across a way of growing plants and animals to an enormous size. He brings back a baby chimpanzee to test out his theory. As he has many enemies at home, he decides to use his chimp, 'Konga' to 'get rid of them'. Then Konga grows to gigantic proportions and reaks havoc all over the city of London!!

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Plot Keywords:

plant | chimpanzee | giant ape | hypnotism | laboratory | 

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Taglines:

Not since "King Kong"...has the screen exploded with such mighty fury and spectacle!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

March 1961 (UK)

Also Known As:

I Was a Teenage Gorilla

Filming Locations:

Croydon, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Merton Park Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Producer Herman Cohen first considered using "ape" actor Steve Calvert, who had worked with Cohen on Bride of the Gorilla and Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla, but Calvert had retired from performing in his gorilla suit. Cohen turned to another renowned "ape" actor George Barrows, but only hired Barrows' gorilla costume, not Barrows himself. The actor Paul Stockman was instead chosen, based primarily on being a good fit for Barrows' costume. Barrows was annoyed when his gorilla costume was returned from England in bad shape.

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Goofs

Margret, Dr.Decker's assistant is clearly shown as a doll in the wide shots in which Konga takes hold of her. She is only shown as a doll when the camera is not near her face.

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Quotes

Dr. Charles Decker: There's danger in that hungry plant... It thrives on meat!

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Connections

Featured in Terror in the Aisles (1984)

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Soundtracks

"Nocturne Op.15 in G"
(uncredited)
Music by Frédéric Chopin
Arranged by Gerard Schurmann

User Reviews

Poverty Row King Kong

Even though the story is fairly interesting, I can't help but look at this film as a cheap rip off of the classic King Kong. Michael Gough does a decent job playing the crazed Doctor Decker who wants to eliminate everyone who he feels has wronged him. He also is obsessed with one of his young, voluptuous students. His obsessions lead him to the breaking point and this helps to make this a fairly interesting story. Too bad it is undone by the horrible effects, especially the old "man in the cheap gorilla suit" gimmick. I guess the budget didn't allow for decent effects like stop motion animation. However, despite cheapness of it, this film will always remain a guilty pleasure of mine.