# At the Circus

At the Circus is a 1939 film about three men who help the owner of a circus recover some stolen funds.
    Directed by Edward Buzzell. Written by Irving Brecher.

## J. Cheever Loophole

* I bet your father spent the first year of your life throwing rocks at the stork.
* No thanks. Bad luck. Three on a midget.
* You're like a beautiful chandelier. I'd like to be around when you get lit up.
* It's the biggest dope ring in years. And Jardinet is the head dope!"
* I have an agreement with the houseflies. They don't practice law and I don't walk on the ceiling.
* [to Mrs.Dukesbury] Write me a check for ten thousand dollars and everybody will be happy,including the gorilla. And I DO mean you!
* The last time I was on the ceiling was at a lodge meeting. The Chairman had the floor.

## Antonio Pirelli

* You know what I say. Whenever you got business trouble the best thing to do is to get a lawyer. Then you got more trouble, but at least you got a lawyer.
* I ain't got nothing, but you can always have half!

## Dialogue

    Peerless Pauline: I've waited so long to find someone like you.
    J. Cheever Loophole: Oh, someone like me, I'm not good enough for you, eh?
    Peerless Pauline: You're the man I've been dreaming of!
    J. Cheever Loophole: What do you eat before you go to bed?
    Peerless Pauline: Oh, but, you don't have to go right now, do you?
    J. Cheever Loophole: Well, there's nothing to keep me here that I can see, from this angle.
    Peerless Pauline: But, we, we hardly know each other. I can be very entertaining if I want to be.
    J. Cheever Loophole: [Speaking directly to the camera] There must be some way of getting that money without getting in trouble with the Hays Office. [to Pauline] Will you walk on your hands?
    Goliath the Strongman: How you like I should break you in two?!
    J. Cheever Loophole: Could I file separate income taxes?
    Mrs. Susanna Dukesbury: Well! What is the meaning of this?
    J. Cheever Loophole: Keep your sheet on, I'm looking for old lady Dukesbury.
    Mrs. Susanna Dukesbury: I am Mrs. Dukesbury.
    J. Cheever Loophole: Snook'ems! [Rushes to her arms]
    Mrs. Susanna Dukesbury: Oh, good gracious! I don't know you.
    J. Cheever Loophole: You mean you've, you've forgotten?
    Mrs. Susanna Dukesbury: Well, I...
    J. Cheever Loophole: I know, you have forgotten. Those June nights on the Riviera, where we sat 'neath the shimmering skies! Moonlight bathing in the Mediterranean! We were young, gay, reckless! The night I drank champagne from your slipper - two quarts. It would have held more, but you were wearing inner soles! Oh, Hildegarde!
    Mrs. Susanna Dukesbury: My name is Susanna!
    J. Cheever Loophole: Let's not quibble!
    Mrs. Susanna Dukesbury: Judge Chanock will sit on my left hand and you will sit on my right hand.
    J. Cheever Loophole: How will you eat, through a tube?
    Mrs. Susanna Dukesbury: We must have regard for certain conventions.
    J. Cheever Loophole: One guy isn't enough. She's gotta have a convention.
    J. Cheever Loophole: You know, if you hadn't sent for me I'd be home now, in a nice, warm bedroom, in a comfortable bed with a hot toddy.
    Antonio Pirelli: Huh?
    J. Cheever Loophole: That's a drink!
    Antonio Pirelli: That'sa too bad!
    Antonio Pirelli: Folks, I wanna you should meet my pal! My best friend! What's your name again?
    J. Cheever Loophole: [annoyed] Loophole.
    Antonio Pirelli: [shaking his hand] Glad to know ya!
    J. Cheever Loophole: It's your pleasure.
    Antonio Pirelli: You know what I think? The guy who hit Jeff on the head and knocked him out didn't like him.
    J. Cheever Loophole: Now let's not jump to concussions.
    Mrs. Susanna Dukesbury: You, monster. You're responsible for this disgrace!
    J. Cheever Loophole: That's gratitude for you. Most men get their sweethearts one ring for an engagement. I got you three rings!
    Mrs. Susanna Dukesbury: A circus! I'll be a laughing stock.
    Mrs. Susanna Dukesbury: My Goodness! What about Jardinet?
    J. Cheever Loophole: He's probably on his way back to Paris.

## Taglines

* Keep the world laughing!

## Cast

* Groucho Marx — J. Cheever Loophole
* Harpo Marx — Punchy
* Chico Marx — Antonio 'Tony' Pirelli
* Florence Rice — Julie Randall
* Kenny Baker — Jeff Wilson
* Margaret Dumont — Mrs. Susanna Dukesbury
* Eve Arden — Peerless Pauline
* James Burke — John Carter
* Nat Pendleton — Goliath the Strongman
* Jerry Marenghi — Little Professor Atom
* Fritz Feld — Jardinet
* Barnett Parker — Whitcomb
* Charles Gemora — Gibraltar the Gorilla

## External links

* At the Circus quotes at the Internet Movie Database
* At the Circus at Allmovie