On this day April 10, 1981, the slapstick comedy Going Ape! premiered in theaters, bringing together a cast led by Tony Danza, Stacey Nelkin, Jessica Walter, and Danny DeVito in one of the more offbeat comedies of the early 80s. The film followed a bizarre premise involving three orangutans and a large inheritance with some strings attached.
Tony Danza played Foster, a man who discovers his late father has left him a $5 million fortune — but only if he agrees to care for the three orangutans his father loved. Of course, chaos follows, with animal hijinks, mobsters, and DeVito’s classic grumpy energy all thrown into the mix. The movie leaned heavily into physical comedy and outrageous situations, aiming to entertain fans of lighthearted, family friendly films. Though it only pulled in 5.5 million at the box office and didn’t make a major splash, it remains a quirky entry in the careers of its cast especially Danny DeVito, who was just on the rise.
Fun fact: Going Ape! was one of the first major film roles for Danny DeVito after gaining popularity on the TV series Taxi.
Trivia question: What actor starred in Going Ape! just as his breakout TV role on Taxi was turning him into a household name?
Tony Danza played Foster, a man who discovers his late father has left him a $5 million fortune — but only if he agrees to care for the three orangutans his father loved. Of course, chaos follows, with animal hijinks, mobsters, and DeVito’s classic grumpy energy all thrown into the mix. The movie leaned heavily into physical comedy and outrageous situations, aiming to entertain fans of lighthearted, family friendly films. Though it only pulled in 5.5 million at the box office and didn’t make a major splash, it remains a quirky entry in the careers of its cast especially Danny DeVito, who was just on the rise.
Fun fact: Going Ape! was one of the first major film roles for Danny DeVito after gaining popularity on the TV series Taxi.
Trivia question: What actor starred in Going Ape! just as his breakout TV role on Taxi was turning him into a household name?
