Going Ape! (1981)

When his father - who owned a circus - dies, Foster inherits 5 million dollars - and 3 orangutans. However there's a condition connected to the money: if he gives away the orangutans or ... See full summary »

Director:

Jeremy Joe Kronsberg

Writer:

Jeremy Joe Kronsberg

Stars:

Tony Danza, Jessica Walter, Stacey Nelkin

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Danza	...	Foster
Jessica Walter	...	Fiona
Stacey Nelkin	...	Cynthia (as Stacey Nelkin)
Danny DeVito	...	Lazlo
Art Metrano	...	Joey
Frank Sivero	...	Bad Habit
Rick Hurst	...	Brandon
Howard Mann	...	Jules Cohen
Joseph Maher	...	Gridley
Leon Askin	...	Zebrewski
Jacquelyn Hyde	...	Zaida
Ted White	...	Goon #1
Bob Terhune	...	Goon #2
Jaye Durkus	...	Goon #3 (as Jay Durkus)
Angus Duncan	...	Farley

Storyline

When his father - who owned a circus - dies, Foster inherits 5 million dollars - and 3 orangutans. However there's a condition connected to the money: if he gives away the orangutans or just one gets sick or dies during the next 3 years, the zoological society will get all the money. So he not only has to deal with 3 apes and an annoyed girlfriend, but also with Laszlo, a kooky new roommate who came from the circus to help with the apes, a greedy zoological society's president, 3 bumbling henchmen and a cranky landlord.

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Plot Keywords:

simian fiction | pie in the face | orangutan | monkey actor | 

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Taglines:

There were 3 conditions to the 5 million dollar inheritance, and they had to be bathed once a week.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Family | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 April 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Affen, Gangster und Millionen

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

City Films, Hemdale, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Glen Glenn Sound)

Color:

Color (Movielab)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During a scene involving Frank Sivero's character and his mobster buddies, The Godfather theme is playing... Frank played Genco in The Godfather Part II.

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Goofs

Poppy finds Rusty's shorts on the hospital floor, but he's seen wearing them in the next scene.

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #22.191 (2006)

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Soundtracks

BITTER SWEET
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Lyrics by Jeremy Joe Kronsberg

User Reviews

Clumsy "Ape"....

Someone must have talked with Clyde's manager.

Whoever gave the green light for "Going Ape!" deserves to have to spend a few months in the company of orangutangs themselves. I mean, the ones who don't cut movie deals.

Danza plays a loser who has to babysit a trio of the orange apes and his cousin Lazlo (DeVito) in order to gain a hefty inheritance. Of course, there are forces conspiring against him.

Basically, this is just an excuse for seeing orangutangs do their stuff, and they indeed do stuff. Unfortunately, they have to involve humans in the act, too. Everyone looks pretty much embarrassed to be in this flick and who can blame them? I'm embarrassed to admit that I've seen it.

But, is "Going Ape!" worth seeing? Sure, if it's a slow night at the zoo.

But for those of us on the other side of the monkey bars....

One star. You want to see funny monkeys, watch C-SPAN.