Marx Brothers at Their Best

Rating: 9/10 (28 March 2020)

Without highbrow Margaret Dumont as the unwitting butt of their jokes, the Marx Brothers--Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo--wouldn't have been half as entertaining. As the imperious dowager, she is a striking contrast to their nonsense, totally oblivious to Groucho's puns and sarcasm. "This is a gala day for you," says Dumont. "Well a gal a day is enough for me. I don't think I could handle any more," Groucho snaps. Apropos of nothing, people break into song, and the make-believe country of Freedonia erupts in chaos at the hands of President Rufus T. Firefly, played by Groucho. "Why, a four-year-old child could understand this report," he says. "Run out and find me a four-year-old child; I can't make head or tail of it." This is not a musical in any true sense of the word, but there are plenty of familiar tunes and obscure musical references to satisfy your curiosity about how well these zany comedians have held up over the years. A similar Marx Brothers flick, A Day at the Races (1937) features similar hijinx and musical interludes. ---from Musicals on the Silver Screen