The first character is Zani (Gene Raymond), who was born and raised in the zoo by his parents - now deceased - who worked there. Zani's entire life is the zoo - he knows every inch of the place, and knows all the animals by name. His big problem is that he loves animals like a PETA activist and steals fur jackets off of old ladies. After the police are called on him, he's on the run, and hides out in the zoo, planning his escape. The second character is played by Loretta Young, a beautiful young orphan girl who escapes her field trip group into the fields of the zoo, dreaming of life of freedom outside the orphanage. Needless to say, Zani falls in love with her. Finally, there's a little 7-year old boy who runs away from his parents - actually, he runs back into the zoo after closing time...he's so obsessed with the animals.
A search party forms for Zani, Loretta, and the boy. We also have another enemy: a sleazy zookeeper, appropriately named "Heinie". Worst of all, he tries to rape Loretta Young. Then, the exciting climax features an elephant, lions and tigers and a firey blaze that will keep you on the edge of your seat.Spoiler alert: Zani saves the boy's life and the boy's parents reward him and Loretta with a life on the farm. It's an awesome film. I saw it on two different occasions at a Chicago revival house; lots of people loved it. Some didn't like the action at the end, that it was too intense. As the title says, the movie takes place in Budapest, but it could easily have taken place at any zoo.
Released into theaters April 28, 1933 by Twentieth Century Fox.