Marx Brothers Circus

 

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AT THE CIRCUS-1939-Jeff Wilson (Kenny Baker),owns a circus where his girlfriend Julie (Florence Rice) does a musical number with a horse. He owes a guy named Carter (James Burke) 10 thousand dollars but he plans on paying off. His assistant/buddy Tony (Chico Marx) thinks Jeff's in trouble, so he sends for lawyer J. Cheever Loophole (Guess Who?). Carter conspires with trapeze artist Peerless Pauline (Eve Arden) to ruin Jeff. Carter sends strongman Goliath (Nat Pendelton; also in HORSE FEATHERS) and midget, the professor (Jerry Maren) to steal Jeff's money. Tony and the strongman's former assistant Punchy (Harpo Marx) investigate. Groucho sings “Lydia,The Tattooed Lady”. Loophole goes to Newport to romance the wealthy Mrs. Dukesbury (Margaret Dumont), Jeff's aunt. Later, Loophole plots to have Jeff's circus replace an orchestra lead by famous French conductor Jardinet (Fritz Feld).

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The wild finale includes an escaped gorilla (Charles Gemora), Dukesbury shot from a cannon and half the cast on a trapeze! Director Edward Buzzell does a fairly good job and would direct the brothers' next feature GO WEST.

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On Yer Marx

 

 (imdb)

A DAY AT THE RACES-1937-Judy (Maureen O'Sullivan) is having trouble running her sanitarium because it's in debt. Her chauffeur is Tony (Chico Marx). She gets really mad when her radio singer boyfriend Gil Stewart (Alan Jones) buys a racehorse. His jockey is Stuffy (Harpo Marx). Hypochondriac Mrs. Upjohn (Margaret Dumont) agrees to help out when she hears Dr. Hackenbush (Groucho Marx) is coming (he's actually a veterinarian). Mr. Morgan (Douglas Dumbrille; later in THE BIG STORE with the brothers) wants her place and has a corrupt business Mgr. Whitmore (Leonard Ceeley) try and get it. Later Hackenbush is pursued by floozy Flo (Esther Muir) who tries to get Hackenbush in trouble with Mrs. Upjohn but Tony & Stuffy save him with a hilarious wallpaper act. There's more outrageous comedy when Morgan brings in a specialist (Sig Ruman) to examine Upjohn. 

This seventh madcap Marx Brothers comedy was directed by Sam Wood who had already worked with the brothers on the classic A NIGHT AT THE OPERA in 1935 (which also featured Jones, Dumont and Ruman). He went on to direct many more films including GOODBYE MR. CHIPS (1939), KITTY FOYLE (1940) and THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (1942). Executive producer (and Marx Brothers supporter) Irving Thalberg died during production. Groucho (who didn't care much for director Wood) later said that with Thalberg's death he lost interest in making movies. 

DAY is also the only Marx Bros. film to get an Oscar nomination (for choreography!). 37 years later Groucho received a honorary Oscar. Despite having a lot of music, several songs were cut including Groucho's “Dr. Hackenbush”!

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More Marx

 

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HORSE FEATHERS-1932-Fourth zany Marx Brothers comedy takes place in Huxley college where Professor Wagstaff (Groucho) has just become president. (“I'm against it”) He's concerned because his son (Zeppo!) is hanging out with a college widow (Thelma Todd in her second Marx outing) and Huxley hasn't won a losing football team. From the urging of his son, he tries to recruit 2 football players (Nat Pendelton & James Pierce) from a speakeasy and winds up with Harpo and Chico. Uproarious, hysterical football game is the highlight.

 Also with Richard Landau,Bobby Barber, Vince Barnett and Syd Saylor but unfortunately no Margaret Dumont. 

This is director Norman Z. McLeod follow up to the Marx Brothers last film, the equally hilarious MONKEY BUSINESS. Writers on his included Harry Ruby, Bert Kalmar and SJ Perelman.

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Harpo, Groucho, Chico and Zeppo

 

MONKEY BUSINESS-1931-This, the third Marx brothers movie is a hilarious chaotic comedy set partially aboard a steamship. The 4 brothers are stowaways (first seen in barrels singing “Sweet Adeline”) trying to avoid the captain (Eddie Baker), his first mate (Tom Kennedy) & crew while crossing paths with 2 feuding gangsters Alky Briggs (Harry Wood) and Joe Helton (Rockcliffe Fellowes). Zeppo hooks up with  Helton’s daughter, Mary (Ruth Hall). Groucho tries romancing Briggs’ wife (Thelma Todd) several times. Somehow Briggs winds up using Groucho and Zeppo as part of his gang! And then Helton hires Harpo and Chico as bodyguards! After they get off the boat, Helton throws a huge party where Briggs has Mary kidnapped and the brothers go into action! Bess Flowers, Bobby Barber and Billy Barty (as a kid) all have uncredited roles. 

Norman Z. McLeod also directed the brothers in HORSE FEATHERS the next year. He later directed many other comedy stars like WC Fields, Bob Hope, Harold Lloyd, Danny Kaye and did the “Topper” series.

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Never Got To Be Unsold

DEPUTY SERAPH-1959-This little tragedy was supposed to reunite The 3 Marx Brothers for a TV pilot but it was never finished as Chico became ill. It does consist of a few scenes but is mostly raw footage of reaction shots, close ups and flubs. Clapboards and the director are also present. The premise seems to be that two angels (Chico & Harpo) are sent to Earth to help people. Groucho is their motorcycle riding boss. Harpo and Chico play their well known instruments but that's about it. Neither Harpo or Groucho mention it in their autobiographies. I first learned of it from an article in FILMFAX.

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The Marx Brothers On TV

GE ELECTRIC THEATER "THE INCREDIBLE JEWEL ROBBERY"-1959-Hosted by future ex-president Ronald Reagan, the story is told with no dialogue and is about two guys (Harpo & Chico Marx) planning to rob a jewelry store. They "visit" various places at night to get their equipment which includes a policeman's uniform. They paint their car to look like a police patrol car. Later Harpo holds up the jewelry store owner (Benny Rubin) while wearing "Groucho" eyebrows and mustache! Chico arrives dressed as a cop and arrests him. They get away but are sidelined by a woman having a baby. It ends in a police lineup where the real Groucho makes an appearance uttering the show's only line. 

Chico seems very old but Harpo still makes his usual faces which are a highlight. Director Mitchell Leisen directed episodes of THE TWILIGHT ZONE and THRILLER soon after this.

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