Animal Crackers (1930)

The Marx Brothers return to the big screen with the same formula seen in their previous comedy hit The Cocoanuts, this time adapting their musical stage success Animal Crackers. The former family musical act turned comedy troop, the brothers Marx were falling right into place in the world of talking comedy films with their mix of sharp wit and physical humor. This kind of comedy was displacing the comedies of the silent era, of the likes of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. Unlike their silent counterparts, who were known to create their movies on the spot causing issues with film schedules and budgets, the Marx Brothers gags were honed acts performed over and over on stage until perfected. With that in mind Paramount Productions knew exactly what they were getting into and simply had to recreate the stage hit for the screen.

The plot of the film would simply be a set up for the many acts, gags, one-liners, and sketches that the brothers were known for. The story is of a party being put together by the wealthy Mrs. Rittenhouse (Margret Dumont) to honor the notable explorer of one Captain Geoffrey T. Spaulding (Groucho Marx) in which a valuable painting is stolen. The mad mix up includes the party's many guests. Of them are the notible antics of the musician Signor Ravelli (Chico Marx) and a man known simply as the Professor (Harpo Marx). The painting would also be mixed up in with the actions of the daughter of the host, Arabella Rittenhouse (Lillian Roth) as she tries to help her lover gain notoriety for recreating the lost painting. The film includes the banter of Groucho and Chico, with some help of the straight man played by the lesser known brother Zeppo. And not to be forgotten are the entertaining gags of the muted, woman chasing, and dopey Harpo. All in all the story is all over the place that doesn't call for any real significance other then to carry from one set up to the next. Ultimately everything leads to a crazy conclusion where the original painting is returned with no real idea of what really happened other than Harpo stealing multiple copies of the painting for his own child-like enjoyment. The film is wall to wall gags.

As previously mentioned, the picture is a direct adaption of the hit musical play performed by the Marx Brothers on Broadway. It was a perfect fit for the screen audiences of the time. As the brothers perfected their crafts on the stage and planned to continually perform there the film was shot in Paramount's studios in Queens, New York not far from Broadway. It would be the last picture the brothers would film there as they would be a hit on screen and move to Hollywood soon after the film came out. With each brother having their own unique act to bring to the group and the picture the film goes by as a variety show of sorts. Groucho has his one-liners, as well as shares bit banter with Chico. Chico has his misunderstood moments with the various cast members misunderstanding his Italian accent. Harpo does his woman chasing and slight of the hand. Zeppo is Groucho's straight man. Then there is the playful back and forth of Groucho and the Margret Dumont who would be known for her roles opposite of Groucho as an older love interest. And not to be forgotten are the brothers' musical talents as Groucho does some singing, Chico playfully tickles the ivory keys, and Harpo displays his mastery of the harp. Each segment is very entertaining as we have the joy of seeing these acts be performed to perfection.

Overall the film falls very much in line with what they had done in The Cocoanuts just with slightly different material. The film would have some memorable moments like Groucho's joke: "One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know." The picture though depicting a higher social class enjoying a richer lifestyle was being shown to audiences consisting mainly of those hit hard by the depression that had just hit the country and with that poked fun and the higher class in its own way. This would be just one of the films that would help those struggling with the hardships of the world, allowing them to forget their cares for 90 minutes and simply laugh. Really that is all you can ask for at that time, and it still performs well today and an enjoyable comedy.