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IMDb > At the Circus (1939)

At the Circus (1939) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   2,038 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Irving Brecher (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for At the Circus on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
20 October 1939 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
NOT SUITABLE FOR GENERAL EXHIBITION (Australian one-sheet poster) more
Plot:
The Marx Brothers try to help the owner of a circus recover some stolen funds before he finds himself out of a job. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
Too Much Music in This Nearing-The-End MB Film more (36 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Irving Bacon ... Telegraph Clerk (uncredited)
Willie Best ... Redcap (uncredited)
John Binns ... Old Man (uncredited)
Henry Blair ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
James Conaty ... Party Guest (uncredited)
Frank Darien ... Telegrapher (uncredited)
Dudley Dickerson ... 'Swingali' Singer / Dancer with White Cap and Checkered Shirt (uncredited)
Betsy Gay ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Charles Gemora ... Gibraltar (uncredited)
Harry Hayden ... Conductor (uncredited)
Payne B. Johnson ... Boy at Circus (uncredited)
Buck Mack ... Checkers Player (uncredited)
Murdock MacQuarrie ... Attendant (uncredited)
Matt McHugh ... Cab Driver (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer ... Governor - Party Guest (uncredited)
Forbes Murray ... Captain (uncredited)
Frank Orth ... Chef in Diner (uncredited)
Emory Parnell ... Ringmaster (uncredited)
Amanda Randolph ... Black Woman in 'Swingali' Number (uncredited)
Larry Steers ... Party Guest (uncredited)
Fred Walburn ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Robert Winkler ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Directed by
Edward Buzzell 
 
Writing credits
Irving Brecher (writer)

Produced by
Mervyn LeRoy .... produced by
 
Cinematography by
Leonard Smith (director of photography) (as Leonard M. Smith)
 
Film Editing by
William H. Terhune (film editor)
 
Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons 
 
Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis (set decorations)
 
Costume Design by
Dolly Tree (costumes: women's)
Valles (costumes: men's)
 
Production Management
Charles Stallings .... unit manager (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sandy Roth .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Stan Rogers .... associate art director
 
Sound Department
Douglas Shearer .... recording director
G.A. Burns .... sound recordist (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Harold Arlen .... music by
George Bassman .... music arranger: vocal and orchestral arrangements
Murray Cutter .... music arranger: vocal and orchestral arrangements
Ken Darby .... music arranger: vocal and orchestral arrangements
E.Y. Harburg .... lyrics by
Evelyn Jurs .... performer: "Two Blind Loves"
Franz Waxman .... musical direction
 
Other crew
Bobby Connolly .... dance direction
A.J. Cantu .... technical advisor (uncredited)
S.L. Cronin .... technical advisor (uncredited)
Buster Keaton .... gag consultant (uncredited)
Anna Merkel .... technical advisor (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
A Day at the Circus (USA) (working title)
The Marx Brothers at the Circus (USA) (promotional title)
more
Runtime:
87 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
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)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The scene in the midget's trailer was the only time Harpo Marx was even vaguely heard on-screen (when he sneezes). more
Goofs:
Continuity: Multiple different-sized actors, in noticeably different gorilla costumes, were used to play Gibraltar the gorilla. more
Quotes:
Peerless Pauline: But it's so easy. The bottom of your shoe creates a suction that holds you up in the ceiling.
J. Cheever Loophole: No, no, I'd rather not. I have an agreement with the houseflies. The flies don't practice law and I don't walk on the ceiling.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Tannhäuser Overture more

FAQ

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16 out of 21 people found the following review useful.
Too Much Music in This Nearing-The-End MB Film, 23 February 2007
5/10
Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

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.

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more (36 total)

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