![]() ![]() Groucho plays a gold digger to a wealthy widow. She invests in an opera where Harpo is the lead tenor's valet, until he gets fired. The lead tenor is in love with the opera's female lead. Chico is the manager of a promising chorus member who is also in love with the opera's leading lady. The opera leads, as well as Groucho, head to America aboard a liner. Chico, his love struck singing client and Harpo stow away in Groucho's trunk. Groucho finds Harpo asleep in a large drawer. He's trying to sleep it off." Chico explains. A few minutes later comes the classic crowded stateroom scene. The one where a dozen or so people crowd into Groucho's tiny stateroom and eventually spill out into the hall when someone opens the door. Once in New York, the three stowaways are still on the lamb. As they hide in the next room the policeman questions Groucho. "I see your table is set for 4?" He asks. Some how, the plot gets back to the opera singers love story, but who cares? This movie is all about the Marx brothers. Their one-liners and comic antics are what make this movie great. ![]() What makes this movie not great is the sheer absence of plot. I know, it's a comedy and it's all about the set up. However, the set ups are far too obvious and they really do not make an even flow. ![]() The Marx Brothers should have done a television show. Their comedy is better suited for a variety show or a half hour sitcom, than a feature film. Groucho, Chico and Harpo with the unflappable Margaret Dumont. The four Marx Brothers made five movies for Paramount between 19. The first four did well at the box office but their fifth movie, Duck Soup, was a financial failure. Ironically it is now considered their masterpiece. Fourth brother Zeppo quit the group at this time as he was tired of playing straight man to his more talented siblings. Anyway just when it seemed the Marx Brothers’ movie career was over, MGM wunderkind Irving Thalberg stepped in. The extravagant sets and hundreds of extras in this movie set it apart from their Paramount work. Also, although I agree with Eric that the plot is pretty slim, it is actually more substantial than in their previous work. This one at least has a somewhat plausible story arc that builds to a zany climax at the opera house and it has fewer of the brothers’ vaudeville routines. Thalberg even got George Kaufman to write the screenplay. I actually prefer their earlier more anarchic movies. Here their rhythm is never allowed to gain full momentum.
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