At the Circus (1939)

Director:

Edward Buzzell

Writer:

Irving Brecher (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 October 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

NOT SUITABLE FOR GENERAL EXHIBITION (Australian one-sheet poster)

Plot:

The Marx Brothers try to help the owner of a circus recover some stolen funds before he finds himself out of a job.

Plot Keywords:

Circus | Shyster | Aunt | Marx Brothers | Gorilla

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Groucho Marx	...	Attorney Loophole
Chico Marx	...	Antonio
Harpo Marx	...	'Punchy'
Kenny Baker	...	Jeff Wilson
Florence Rice	...	Julie Randall
Eve Arden	...	Peerless Pauline
Margaret Dumont	...	Mrs. Dukesbury
Nat Pendleton	...	Goliath
Fritz Feld	...	Jardinet
James Burke	...	John Carter
Jerry Maren	...	Little Professor Atom (as Jerry Marenghi)
Barnett Parker	...	Whitcomb

Also Known As:

A Day at the Circus (USA) (working title)
The Marx Brothers at the Circus (USA) (promotional title)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Australia:G | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #5616)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The scene in the midget's trailer was the only time Harpo Marx was even vaguely heard on-screen (when he sneezes).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jeff first gets on the train, his badge keeps changing position on his coat.

Quotes:

J. Cheever Loophole: I bet your father spent the first year of your life throwing rocks at the stork.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year (2009) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Sobre las Olas (Over the Waves)

Too Much Music in This Nearing-The-End MB Film

I love the Marx Brothers, but that doesn't mean all their films are gems. By the end of the 1930s, their best pictures were all behind them. Although still entertaining, they slipped a bit in quality. This is one example, except I would still rate it as "decent" (hence, the '5' rating).

One thing for sure: the comedy was a lot better than the music, although that was usually the case in most of their movies....but more so here. Even though I got my share of laughs, most the gags in this movie come in 5-10-minute "bits" and many of them go on too long. I still Chico provides the best humor among the boys. Except for "Lydia, The Tattooed Lady," the songs in here are weak and there are too many of them.

Silly, but still fun to watch, generally-speaking. I just skip through most of the songs.