“They have primitive emotions. They love, they hate, they kill.”
Dr. Eric Gorman (Lionel Atwill) is a millionaire, an adventurer, a big game hunter, a zoologist and quite psychopathic. He travels gathering animals for the New York City Zoo. His beautiful, younger wife Evelyn Gorman (Kathleen Burke) is an adulterer. Eric is insanely jealous of any man that pays attention to her. The last man who kissed her was tied up, held down and his mouth was sewn shut. He was then released into the jungle, still with his hands tied behind him, where he was killed by a tiger.
Evelyn’s latest toy is a man named Roger Hewitt (John Lodge). They met on the boat coming back to America. Gorman is aware of the relationship that is developing between his wife and Roger. Once they are back in the United States Gorman begins to plot a way to eliminate the amorous Mr. Hewitt.
Peter Yates (Charles Ruggles) is the new press agent for the zoo. Due to budget issues the zoo is low on funds. He suggests sponsoring a fund-raising dinner at the zoo to bring in donations. Gorman sees it as a way to kill the latest rival for his wife’s affections. He poisons Roger. When Evelyn finds out how he poisoned Roger she takes her evidence to the zoo. She plans on giving it to Dr. Jack Woodford (Randolph Scott). He is an expert on snakes and their poisons. Eric catches up with Evelyn on the grounds of the zoo. When she begins to scream, he throws her in the Alligator pit. Gorman is just getting started.
“Murders in the Zoo” was released in 1933 and was directed by Edward Sutherland. It is a pre-code movie. The Motion Picture Production Code was published in 1930. The purpose of the code was to establish a censoring system for the movies. It was a list of moral guidelines for the motion picture industry. Enforcement of the code did not go into full force until 1934. As a result, many movies between 1930 and 1934 were not in compliance with the code but were still released. “Murders in the Zoo” was one of those movies. There are a lot of things in this movie that are actually against the code.
Brutal killings are not to be presented in detail: One man had his mouth sewn shut. He was then sent into the jungle with his hands tied behind his back. Gorman throws his wife into a pit of alligators. Gorman’s demise was graphic as well. Adultery should not be justified: Gorman is a vicious psychopath who murders anyone he sees as a threat. He thinks nothing of raping his wife. Sounds like justification to me. Rape: Gorman expects his wife to comply whenever he wants sex, even if it’s just after he killed one of her lovers. I’m not sure if at the time the law recognized the rape of a spouse, but I do. Repellent subjects: “Brutality and possible gruesomeness” and “Apparent cruelty to animals”. Gorman is nothing if not inventive when it comes to getting rid of his wife’s suitors. His wife too as a matter of fact. The zoo is full of visuals of animal cruelty. Bears chained to walls. Lions and tigers fighting.
The movie is rather dark and brutal, especially for the time. There’s a lot of stuff going on that a censor would have a field day with. Fortunately, it’s in black and white and CGI was not available yet.