Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Rene Russo | ... | Trudy Lintz | |
Robbie Coltrane | ... | Dr. Lintz | |
Alan Cumming | ... | Dick | |
Irma P. Hall | ... | Emma | |
Peter Elliott | ... | Buddy | |
Mak Wilson | ... | Buddy | |
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Lynn Robertson Bruce | ... | Buddy |
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Mark Sealey | ... | Buddy |
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Robert Tygner | ... | Buddy (as Rob Tygner) |
Michelan Sisti | ... | Buddy | |
Peter Hurst | ... | Buddy | |
Leif Tilden | ... | Buddy | |
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Star Townsend | ... | Buddy (as Star Townshend) |
Paul Reubens | ... | Professor Spatz | |
John Aylward | ... | Mr. Bowman |
This is a fact based story about a socialite and her husband who live in a mansion with a brood of animals including chimpanzees who are raised as her children. When she discovers an ailing baby gorilla, she decides to care for it as well. Years later, the gorilla is fully grown and its strength is sometimes out of control. However, the gorilla shows love for his mistress and obeys her commands. That all changes when she is invited to display the gorilla and chimps at the Chicago World's Fair. Accidentally freed by one of the chimps, the gorilla terrorizes the Fair. From that point on, he becomes moody and more uncontrollable until he attacks his mistress in a bestial rage. Written by John Sacksteder <jsackste@bellsouth.net>
I enjoyed the innocence of this film and how the characters had to deal with the reality of having a powerful animal in their midst. The gorilla looks just terrific, and the eyes were especially lifelike. It's even a little scary at times and should have children slightly frightened without going over the top. Rene Russo plays her role wonderfully feminine. Usually these type of Hollywood films that take place in the past feel the need to create a straw-man villain but the only adversary is the gorilla. It's an interesting look at how close some animals are to humans, how they feel the same emotions we do, and yet how we really can't treat them just like people because they aren't. Not many films venture into this territory and it's worth seeing if you want to contemplate the human-animal similarity.