☆ ☆ ☆ ½
Monkey
Business (1931) – N. Macleod
The Marx Brothers allow their fluid chaos
to infect a cruise ship (upon which they have stowed away). Unlike later features, there are no definable
characters to speak of (no Rufus T. Firefly etc.) but instead Groucho, Harpo,
Chico, and Zeppo running amok. They are
chased everywhere by the Captain and First Officer (after being discovered in
barrels, singing). They run into two mobsters having a feud and conveniently
become bodyguards for both sides. Zeppo romances one mobster’s daughter while
Groucho has a playful relationship with the other mobster’s wife (Thelma
Todd). There are musical interludes
(piano and harp, naturally). There is a
Punch and Judy show that Harpo takes over.
No real famous bits (that I was previously aware of) seem to have come
from this film, their first written for the screen rather than adapted from a
stage play. But their greatest hits were
just about to happen (next up: Horse Feathers).
Still, well worth a look!
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