At the Circus
Director: Edward Buzzell
Writer: Irving Brecher
Cast: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Kenny Baker, Florence Rice, Eve Arden, Margaret Dumont

Plot:
Jeff Wilson (Kenny Baker) recently bought a circus, mostly out of love for Julie (Florence Rice). Unfortunately, he had to borrow money for it and before he can pay it back, it gets stolen. That’s when circus worker Antonio (Chico Marx) tries to help. He hires the Attorney Loophole (Groucho Marx) and together with the clown Punchy (Harpo Marx) they try to figure out what’s happening.

This was the first Marx Brothers film I saw. While I didn’t immediately become the greatest fan of them, I did like it a lot, especially the dialogues were amazing.

I was fully prepared that I would adore Groucho Marx – after all there are so many quotes flying around attributed to him that if he only ever said half the stuff, and only half of that on film, it would still be amazing. And I was not disappointed there. Plus, I was quite surprised that I also liked the other two brothers. Even Harpo, who never says a word.

But the dialogues and puns were definitely the best thing about it – after the wonderful absurdity of the completely random sing and dance scenes. And that brilliant walk on the ceiling.

What I could have done completely without though, was the ever so casual misogyny. Julie was an incredibly vapid character and when in the end she takes over the horse’s role (where she was the trainer before) and Jeff becomes her trainer, I just wanted to cringe my way to the center of the earth.

Fortunately up until the end it never gets too bad and I could nevertheless enjoy the film. Maybe also because I was warned that the Marx Brothers tend not to be in the most feminist of films.

Summarising: It definitely won’t be the last Marx Brothers film I see, but I won’t drop everything to see more.