rendition of "'Deed I Do". Cast Bela Lugosi as Dr. Zabor Duke Mitchell as Duke Mitchell Sammy Petrillo as Sammy Petrillo Charlita as Nona Muriel Landers as Saloma Al Kikume as Chief Rakos Mickey Simpson as Chula Milton Newberger as Witch Doctor Bongo Martin Garralaga as Pepe Bordo Ramona, the Chimp Steve Calvert as Gorilla (uncredited) Ray Corrigan as Gorilla (uncredited) Songs listed in opening credits "'Deed I Do" by Walter Hirsch & Fred Rose "Too Soon" by Nick Therry Pre-production During the 1950s, comedian Sammy Petrillo had established something of a career imitating comedian Jerry Lewis, who he closely resembled. Petrillo worked for Lewis at one point after an agent set up a meeting with Lewis who then cast him in a sketch on the NBC show The Colgate Comedy Hour. For $60, he played Jerry Lewis as a baby in a crib. Petrillo went on to form a musical comedy team in the style of Martin and Lewis with singer Duke Mitchell. With Mitchell in the Dean Martin role and Petrillo as Jerry Lewis, the team played in various clubs in Las Vegas among other cities. Maurice Duke, who managed the duo, had pitched the idea of Petrillo and Mitchell starring in a movie to several studios. Duke eventually pitched the idea to Realart Pictures Inc. co-owner Jack Broder and his assistant, producer Herman Cohen. Duke then took Broder to see Petrillo and Mitchell perform in Culver City. While Broder thought the duo was hilarious, Herman Cohen (who saw the duo's act later) said he thought Petrillo and Mitchell "stunk". Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla was to be the first in a series of films starring Mitchell and Petrillo, but wound up as their only film together. According to Herman Cohen, Jerry Lewis was furious when he heard that Sammy Petrillo and Duke Mitchell had formed a team that was imitative of his act with Dean Martin, and that they were to appear in a film together. Gary Lewis, Jerry's eldest son was quoted, "When Sammy and the other guy played in that gorilla movie, I remember my dad and Dean saying, ‘We got to sue these guys — this is no good.’" Lewis, who knew Jack Broder through the Friars Club of Beverly Hills, showed up at Jack Broder's office. The two got into a screaming match over the film and Lewis stormed out yelling obscenities.