The Marx Brothers' comedy "A Night in Casablanca" isn't their one of their best. Nevertheless, this lightweight spoof of "Casablanca" qualifies as one of the better films after "A Day at the Races." Indisputably, "A Night in Casablanca" surpasses "The Big Store." The Marx Brothers had all but concluded their ensemble career as a three man act by the time that they appeared in this above-average opus. Reportedly, Chico was gambling far too much and losing so badly that the Marxs teamed up to make director Archie Mayo's film. As story goes, Jack Warner of Warner Brothers Studio threatened to sue MGM because for copyright infringement, but you cannot copyright a title. Groucho replied that he was going to sue the brothers Warners for stealing the word 'brothers' because the Marxs had been in show business long before Jack and his siblings entered the cinematic area. Like all of their movies after "Duck Soup," "A Night in Casablanca" concerns a couple of love-birds who are experiencing trouble, and the Marx Brother come along and straighten everything out. Joseph Fields and Rolands Kibbee penned the screenplay, while "Petrified Forest" helmer Archie Mayo helmed the film.
This amusing post World War II melodrama has Groucho posing as the manager of the Hotel Casablanca. Before he took over the administration of the hotel, three managers had died. As it turns out, some Nazis have stashed a fortune in the hotel and want to take over the hotel so they can remove their fortune without getting caught. Groucho summoned to run the hotel, and he meets a young French pilot Pierre (Charles Drake of "Harvey") who has vainly been trying to prove that a hidden treasure of war contraband has been concealed somewhere in Casablanca. Moreover, Pierre is trying to clear his name. Pierre happens to be in love with an innocent girl Annette. Sig Ruman plays a dastardly Nazi on the lam named Pfferman who wears a hair piece because the scar on his bald polished head identifies him as a criminal. The best joke in the film occurs at the beginning of when a French policeman catches the mute Marx brother learning against a building. When the cop asks him if Harpo is holding up the building, Harpo nods and the angry cop pulls him away, only to watch as the building collapses.
The Marxs are up to their usual hijinks and their charades are just as funny. Most of the scenes appear to be imitations of earlier Marx brothers' gags. For example, the racetrack window in the earlier movie "A Day at the Races" is revived when Groucho has trouble gathering up an impossible number of objects as he moves from one room to another with a woman while Chico pursues him. Another clever scene shows the brothers unpacking the trunks that Pfferman and his henchmen are packing. Harpo gets to play the harp, too.
This amusing post World War II melodrama has Groucho posing as the manager of the Hotel Casablanca. Before he took over the administration of the hotel, three managers had died. As it turns out, some Nazis have stashed a fortune in the hotel and want to take over the hotel so they can remove their fortune without getting caught. Groucho summoned to run the hotel, and he meets a young French pilot Pierre (Charles Drake of "Harvey") who has vainly been trying to prove that a hidden treasure of war contraband has been concealed somewhere in Casablanca. Moreover, Pierre is trying to clear his name. Pierre happens to be in love with an innocent girl Annette. Sig Ruman plays a dastardly Nazi on the lam named Pfferman who wears a hair piece because the scar on his bald polished head identifies him as a criminal. The best joke in the film occurs at the beginning of when a French policeman catches the mute Marx brother learning against a building. When the cop asks him if Harpo is holding up the building, Harpo nods and the angry cop pulls him away, only to watch as the building collapses.
The Marxs are up to their usual hijinks and their charades are just as funny. Most of the scenes appear to be imitations of earlier Marx brothers' gags. For example, the racetrack window in the earlier movie "A Day at the Races" is revived when Groucho has trouble gathering up an impossible number of objects as he moves from one room to another with a woman while Chico pursues him. Another clever scene shows the brothers unpacking the trunks that Pfferman and his henchmen are packing. Harpo gets to play the harp, too.