Future viewers of "At The Circus" be warned - "Lydia, Oh Lydia (The Tattooed Lady)" is one of those tunes that stays with you long after the movie is over. It happened the first time I watched this film, and it's happening right now as I write this review. That's not necessarily a bad thing, provided you don't drive your family crazy with the lyrics over and over again.
That's one of the bright spots of this Marx Brothers escapade, in a film that spotlights a ten thousand dollar circus heist, an inverted ceiling walker/aerial trapeze artist (Eve Arden), and a club wielding gorilla named Gibraltar. Put all those elements together and you have an amusing and entertaining little number, though not generally credited as one of the Marx Brothers finest.
Perennial wealthy Groucho patron Margaret Dumont makes her appearance rather late in this movie, befuddled as usual about attorney J. Cheever Loophole's intentions, which are actually commendable - he's attempting to negotiate a ten thousand dollar payday to save the Wilson Wonder Circus from the clutches of evil financier Carter (James Burke). Earlier, owner Jeff Wilson (Kenny Baker) fell victim to Carter's strong arm and henchman Goliath (an unrecognizable Nat Pendleton), who in concert with circus midget Little Professor Atom (Jerry Maren), stole the money that would have given Wilson clear ownership. The clichéd theme is rounded out by Wilson's romantic interest Julie Randall (Florence Rice), who probably should have been given more to do than just look pretty.
The movie boasts a rather involved musical number featuring Harpo and a large, young black cast before settling into a standard harp routine. In an amusing sketch, Chico's character Antonio Perelli continually frustrates Groucho's attempt to interrogate the little professor about the stolen money. Later, Chico and Harpo team up to wreak havoc in Goliath's stateroom; the feathers fly (literally) as they try to find the missing stash. Goliath by the way, bears such a striking resemblance to Harpo, that more could probably have been done to capitalize on the similarity.
As in "The Big Store", the movie spirals out of control with a rousing trapeze number featuring the boys, Peerless Pauline and Gibraltar the gorilla. It's vintage Marx Brothers, so swing your way to a good time!
That's one of the bright spots of this Marx Brothers escapade, in a film that spotlights a ten thousand dollar circus heist, an inverted ceiling walker/aerial trapeze artist (Eve Arden), and a club wielding gorilla named Gibraltar. Put all those elements together and you have an amusing and entertaining little number, though not generally credited as one of the Marx Brothers finest.
Perennial wealthy Groucho patron Margaret Dumont makes her appearance rather late in this movie, befuddled as usual about attorney J. Cheever Loophole's intentions, which are actually commendable - he's attempting to negotiate a ten thousand dollar payday to save the Wilson Wonder Circus from the clutches of evil financier Carter (James Burke). Earlier, owner Jeff Wilson (Kenny Baker) fell victim to Carter's strong arm and henchman Goliath (an unrecognizable Nat Pendleton), who in concert with circus midget Little Professor Atom (Jerry Maren), stole the money that would have given Wilson clear ownership. The clichéd theme is rounded out by Wilson's romantic interest Julie Randall (Florence Rice), who probably should have been given more to do than just look pretty.
The movie boasts a rather involved musical number featuring Harpo and a large, young black cast before settling into a standard harp routine. In an amusing sketch, Chico's character Antonio Perelli continually frustrates Groucho's attempt to interrogate the little professor about the stolen money. Later, Chico and Harpo team up to wreak havoc in Goliath's stateroom; the feathers fly (literally) as they try to find the missing stash. Goliath by the way, bears such a striking resemblance to Harpo, that more could probably have been done to capitalize on the similarity.
As in "The Big Store", the movie spirals out of control with a rousing trapeze number featuring the boys, Peerless Pauline and Gibraltar the gorilla. It's vintage Marx Brothers, so swing your way to a good time!