1h 23min | Comedy, Musical | 20 June 1941
Director: Charles Reisner (as Charles Riesner)
Stars: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Tony Martin, Margaret Dumont, Douglass Dumbrille.
Arthur Appell ... dance director
Dance Direction by Bobby Connolly (uncredited)?
The last of 6 films for MGM. Only 2 more: A Night in Casablanca ('46, indie, distr. UA), and Love Happy ('49, indie, distr. UA). The Story of Mankind ('57, indie, distr. Warner) also lists all 3 in seemingly disparate roles, but they are billed 3rd, 4th and 5th.
This doesn't really hold my attention, but that could be me today. I was about to tell the cutest gag in the show, but I'd rather forget and have it surprise me again.
Musical stuff:
- Tony Martin is dull, and so are the songs he sings.
- We get some actual ensemble/chorus dancing in a Groucho-sung number. The Soundtracks page lists Dance Direction by Bobby Connolly (uncredited) for that song, but the contributor didn't add him to the crew?
- Chico plays piano WITH Harpo, on the same keyboard. (The tune is Mamae Yo Quiero, which Carmen Miranda sang in a Fox film. Obviously they didn't secure exclusive rights.)
- Harpo gets TWO harp numbers: one where he plays with 2 duplicates of himself in mirrors, but then they morph into playing other instruments.
- Virginia O'Brien does one of her swing songs while holding her face expressionless. (I have no idea why she showed up in the film; was she a clerk in the store?)
Previously rated 6; no reason to change it.
MGM, dir. Reisner; 6
