MICHAEL GOUGH CONTROLS 'KONGA' FEATURING CLAIRE GORDON

Title: KONGA Year: 1961 Rating: ***1/2

A movie that finally proves dumb things can sound smart when spoken in an English accent as Michael Gough explains his growth serum, starting out on neat looking Venus Flytraps and then pet chimp KONGA, who eventually grows to the size of KING KONG. By that point, when the superimposed giant ape reaches half as tall as the Big Ben Clock Tower, no one's speaking in any accent so everything falls apart slowly, and stupidly...

But most of the film has a tall man in a tall gorilla suit, taking out particular strategic enemies of Gough's mad scientist/professor named Dr. Charles Decker in a body count fashion both intriguing and fun. From the snippy dean of the college he works for, after having returned from Africa with a wealth of expository knowledge taking up the first five minutes via media interview, to a handsome male student rightfully smitten with young voluptuous Claire Gordon (as cute Kim Tracy waits in the wings), this movie's bombshell blonde Fay Wray, bitterly jealous of the time and attention teacher spends on his teacher's pet, especially on an outdoor field trip...

Michael Gough and Claire Gordon in KONGA

As an audience member you'll root for each and every murder, before, during and after they occur, since each victim threatens to end our mad doctor's climb... that almost reaches somewhere...

It's a shame they had to inevitably shadow KING KONG at all. As the human-sized ape, KONGA made a perfect killer backed by a menacing yet polite, sophisticated doctor, who, along with his clingy, intellectual female assistant (Margo Johns), blackmailing him into a future engagement, seem part of a semi-decent Hammer Film, which is Gough's usual forte and why he's absolutely perfect in an infamously bad movie that's shockingly worthwhile... for a while, anyway. 

Michael Gough and Paul Stockman as KONGA

Kim Tracy, Michael Gough, Jess Conrad in KONGA with Claire Gordon

Bob's hopeful second choice for girlfriend Kim Tracy and Jess Conrad as Bob in KONGA

Tim Tracy, Claire Gordon, Michael Gough and Jess Gordon in KONGA

Bob's little bro and sis Rupert Osborne and Waveney Lee in KONGA

Claire Gordon, Michael Gough in KONGA with Margo Johns

Michael Gough and Claire Gordon taking time out to study in KONGA

Michael Gough and Claire Gordon "driving that train" in KONGA

Good acting on the part of Margo Johns seething with jealousy in KONGA

Poor Konga suddenly grows past his own home in KONGA

Closeup of a Big Ben dwelling KONGA in KONGA i.e. I WAS A TEENAGE GORILLA

Konga attacks his first victim in KONGA which was produced by Valley of Gwangi director Jim O'Connolly

Jess Conrad and Kim Tracy in KONGA aka Konga, o akatanikitos gorilanthropos

Kim Tracy in another big hairy scary ape movie The Girl Hunters with Mickey Spillane

Jess Conrad and a cutie pie Kim Tracy in King Kongin paluu aka KONGA

KONGA attacks jealous boyfriend Jess Conrad as Bob

Three's a crowd with Jess Conrad, Claire Gordon and Michael Gough in KONGA

Claire Gordon and Michael Gough in KORGA

George Pastell in KONGA

Steven Berkoff in KONGA

Kim Tracy, Michael Gough, Jess Conrad and Claire Gordon in KONGA

Steven Berkoff in KONGA

Steven Berkoff in KONGA

Michael Gough and Margo Johns in KONGA

Jess Conrad in KONGA

Jess Conrad in KONGA with Claire Gordon, Michael Gough & Kim Tracy

Jess Conrad in KONGA with Vanda Godsell

Paul Stockman as Konga in KONGA

Paul Stockman in KONGA with Michael Gough

Michael Gough and Claire Gordon in KONGA