Black Zoo (1963)

Michael Gough (Michael Conrad)......................................... ................................................Jean Cooper (Edna Conrad)
Rod Lauren (Carl).............................................................. .........................................................Virginia Grey (Jenny)
Jerome Cowan (Jeffrey Stengel).......................................... ..............................................................Elisha Cook (Joe)
Warrene Ott (Mary Hogan).................................................. .........................................................Mariana Hill (Audrey)
Oren Curtis (Radu)............................................................. ........................................................Eilene Janssen (bride)
Eric Stone (Groom)............................................................ ................................Dani Lynn, Susan Slavin (Art Students)
Edward Platt (Detective Rivers)........................................... ...............................Douglas Henderson (Lieutnant Duggan)
Jerry Douglas (Lab Technician)............................................. ..............................................Claudia Brack (Carl's mother)
Daniel Kurlick (Carl as a child)............................................ .....................................................Byron Morrow (Coroner)
Michael St. Angel (Officer Donovan)..................................... ......................................................................Joseph Mell

Melodrama. Los Angeles zoo-owner Michael Conrad, insanely devoted to his animals, stops at nothing to eliminate obstacles to his work. While the police investigate two deaths by wild-animal maulings. Michael commands one of his lions to kill Jeffrey Stengel because of Stengel's insistence that Michael sell his zoo terrain for a housing developement. Michael's wife, Edna is suspicious of his actions and also resents his harsh treatment of the mute keeper, Carl. After an argument, she decides to leave Michael and resume her circus career. Her agent, Jenny, is killed by a gorilla after Michael overhears her make a tempting job to offer his wife. Meanwhile, Edna and Carl prepare to run away but are discovered by Michael; in a rage, he beats Edna and reveals that Carl is his own son, mute since childhood when he watched a lioness kill his mother on Michael's command. Michael commands a lion to kill Edna; Carl goes to her aid and is forced to kill his father in self-defense. The dying Michael calls in vain for his beloved beasts to save him.
Note: Also know as "Horrors of the Black Zoo". Herman Cohen Productions. Dist Allied Artists. 15 May 1963 [New York opening: c20 May 1963; LP24880]. Sd; col (Eastman Color). 35mm (Panavision). 88 min. Prod Herman Cohen. Dir Robert Gordon. Orig Story-Screenplay Aben Kandel, Herman Cohen. Dir Photog Floyd Crosby. Camera Op Harry Underwood. Asst Camera Op Al Baerthlein. 2nd Asst Camera Op David McEwen. Art Dir William Glasgow. Set Dresser Budd S. Friend. Film Ed Michael Luciano. Mus Comp & Cond Paul Dunlap. Titl Song Robert Marucci, Russel Faith. Perf by Russel Faith Orch. Sd John Bury. Sd Eff Ed Harold McGhan. Sd Rec Brad Trask. Mus Ed Charles Brown. Boom Op Richard Overton. Asst Dir William McGarry, Arthur Broidy. Prod Mgr Edward Morey, Jr. Script Supv Mary Gibsone. Prod Sec Rita Calmanson. Wardrobe Jack Master, Norah Sharpe. Makeup Philip Scheer. Hairstyles Peggy Shannon. Sp Eff Pat Dinga. Optical Eff Howard A. Anderson. Animal Supv Ralph Helfer. Prop Master Arthur Friedrich. Constr Supv James West. Still Photog Ed Jones. Grip Charles Hannawalt. Gaffer Harry Sundby.