Review of A Night at the Opera (1935) by Clay B — 27 Sep 2011
It's not as pure or anarchic as The Marx. Brothers' efforts before it (as it's the first in the MGM stranglehold that would cause their downfall) but it still comes across as fast and funny entertainment.
This was the film made following their 1933 box office bomb 'Duck Soup' (which is ironically, but not surprisingly, their masterpiece) and it really feels as though, despite an onslaught of ridiculous studio musical numbers, the Brothers are pulling all the punches to try to regain their following- and it doesn't come across as desperate, it comes across as something magical.
Most remembered for bits and pieces, the film contains some of the trio's most memorable gags. My favorite is the famous stateroom scene, where Groucho beckons far more people into his room than can fit, while inside Harpo molests and Chico orchestrates a small circus out of the victims.
It's mad genius and recalls the frantic comedy of their earlier films; it helps us forget that there is a rather dull romantic plot we're supposed to be preoccupied with and lets us wallow in escapist chaos.
This review of A Night at the Opera (1935) was written by Clay B on 27 Sep 2011.
A Night at the Opera has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
