(77 mins.) Released 1931-09-17
Director: Norman McLeod
Stars: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, The Marx Brothers, Chico Marx
comedy, musical
originally posted 1 Oct 2017 18:45
3rd MB movie. Let's take inventory: Harpo plays the harp, chases girls for no reason, but doesn't unload a bunch of silverware from his clothing. Chico plays piano, but I don't remember a negotiation scene with Groucho. Zeppo gets the girl (I guess they saved a salary for a juvenile, and gave him more to do.)
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But we're missing Margaret Dumont. (She's only in 3 of the 5 Paramount films, and 4 of the 6 MGMs.) On the other hand, we have Thelma Todd, tangoing up a storm with Groucho. She had a beautiful, but memorable, face. She'll be back in the next one, Horse Feathers (1932). But in 1936 she dies a suspicious death at age 29, with 56 features and 63 shorts to her credits, in virtually every genre, but primarily comedy.
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As for plot: the MB are stowaways on an ocean liner, and while fleeing ship's authorities, get involved with some passengers who happen to be gangsters. That involvement continues on land, and is resolved in a barn (sic) fight. Ain't no monkeys in dis film nohow.
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I see that I was generous in rating this one too. Oh, well, all MB films are worth watching.
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Paramount, dir. McLeod; 7-
