Zoo in Budapest (1933)

An orphan girl escapes her caregivers to be with a young man raised at the zoo whose only previous friends are the animals.

Director:

Rowland V. Lee

Writers:

Melville Baker (story), Jack Kirkland (story)

Stars:

Loretta Young, Gene Raymond, O.P. Heggie

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Loretta Young	...	Eve
Gene Raymond	...	Zani
O.P. Heggie	...	Dr. Grunbaum
Wally Albright	...	Paul Vandor
Paul Fix	...	Heinie
Murray Kinnell	...	Garbosh
Ruth Warren	...	Katrina
Roy Stewart	...	Karl
Frances Rich	...	Elsie
Niles Welch	...	Mr. Vandor
Lucille Ward	...	Miss Murst
Russ Powell	...	Toski
Dorothy Libaire	...	Rosita

Storyline

Flamboyant Zani grew up and works in the zoo. He loves animals so much that he steals animal furs from the women who wear them. Zani coaxes young beautiful Eve, an orphan, to escape her caretakers while on a group visit to the zoo. Dr. Grunbaum, the zoo director, is forced to organize a search party to capture both Zani and Eve. Zani proves too elusive and harbors Eve in a bear cave. However, when evil zookeeper Heinie discovers them, he draws the authorities' attention to their hideout...

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Plot Keywords:

zoo | orphan | escape | zookeeper | fur | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 April 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Revolta das Feras

Box Office

Budget:

$436,649 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min (FMC Library Print) 94 min (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric System)

Color:

Black and White (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The casting of Loretta Young in this film was officially announced by the studio on December 15, 1932.

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Quotes

Dr. Grunbaum: Last Wednesday, did you steal a woman's fur?
Zani: Yes, sir.
Dr. Grunbaum: What made you do it?
Zani: People shouldn't kill animals... and wear their furs.
Dr. Grunbaum: Unfortunately, there's not a law against that... but there is a law against stealing. What makes you steal things? Did you sell the fur?
Zani: No. I burned it.

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Alternate Versions

In the original release prints a number of scenes were tinted amber or blue.

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Soundtracks

Rhapsodie Hongroise
(uncredited)
Music by Marcel Delannoy
Lyrics by Jacques Brillouin and Serge Plaute

User Reviews

An enjoyable curiosity

This film was transmitted in the early hours on the UK's Channel 4 terrestrial channel. (5 Dec 1998). It was an unusual film set in a zoo in Budapest and concerned the relationship between an enlightened keeper (Gene Raymond) and an escaped orphan (Loretta Young). There was a little too much anthropomorphism as far as the animals were concerned but overall that was forgivable. Some of the shots involving the animals were realistic and I suspect the modern disclaimer about animals not being hurt during the making of the picture could not have been made. There was a dream and fairy-tale air about the film and I wonder if it was regarded as unusual when it was made in 1933. It does not fit easily into any of the usual categories. I would recommend any one having the chance of seeing this film to take that chance. They will be rewarded with a pleasant novelty of a film.