In their earliest movies, the Marx Brothers were at their best and funniest. The scripts were crisp and very witty, the antics were hilarious, and there were very good plots that held it all together. "A Night at the Opera" is one such film, and among my favorites. Groucho plays Otis B. Driftwood, a stage producer and director. Chico plays Florello, a stage handyman, and Harpo plays Tomasso, and friend of Chico's. Kitty Carlisle plays Rosa, and Allan Jones plays Ricardo. They are the romance for the film. Two other roles are excellent. Margaret Dumont plays Mrs. Claypool, and Sig Ruman is over-the-top funny as Gottlieb.
The story is a great one that lends itself perfectly for the type of antics the Marx Brothers excel at. Naturally, the boys get to use their musical talents - and they were very talented on instruments. The movie is funny throughout, and it has a Marx Brothers trademark sequence of grand antics. Chico and Harpo had quite the athletic ability as well - as seen in the hilarious stage antics.
Other reviewers discuss the setting, and I don't want to say more about the plot. It unfolds wonderfully and hilariously. Here are some samples of dialog to when one's appetite for watching "A Night at the Opera."
Fiorello, "Shhh! Don't wake him up. He's got insomnia. He's trying to sleep it off."
Sgt. Henderson (played by Robert O'Connor), "Say, what's that bed doing here?" Otis, "I don't see it doing anything."
Fiorello, "What'' I say?" Otis, "Tell them you're not here." Fiorello, "Suppose they don't believe me." Otis, "They'll believe you when you start talking."
Sgt. Henderson, "I notice the table is set for four." Otis, "That's nothing. My alarm clock is set for eight. That doesn't prove a thing."
Sgt. Henderson, "What's this?" Otis, "Why, it's a fire escape. And, uh, that's a table. And this is a room. And there's the door leading out. I wish you'd use it. I .. 'I vahndt to be alone.'"
This is a movie guaranteed to keep one in stitches. It's a great addition to any film library.
The story is a great one that lends itself perfectly for the type of antics the Marx Brothers excel at. Naturally, the boys get to use their musical talents - and they were very talented on instruments. The movie is funny throughout, and it has a Marx Brothers trademark sequence of grand antics. Chico and Harpo had quite the athletic ability as well - as seen in the hilarious stage antics.
Other reviewers discuss the setting, and I don't want to say more about the plot. It unfolds wonderfully and hilariously. Here are some samples of dialog to when one's appetite for watching "A Night at the Opera."
Fiorello, "Shhh! Don't wake him up. He's got insomnia. He's trying to sleep it off."
Sgt. Henderson (played by Robert O'Connor), "Say, what's that bed doing here?" Otis, "I don't see it doing anything."
Fiorello, "What'' I say?" Otis, "Tell them you're not here." Fiorello, "Suppose they don't believe me." Otis, "They'll believe you when you start talking."
Sgt. Henderson, "I notice the table is set for four." Otis, "That's nothing. My alarm clock is set for eight. That doesn't prove a thing."
Sgt. Henderson, "What's this?" Otis, "Why, it's a fire escape. And, uh, that's a table. And this is a room. And there's the door leading out. I wish you'd use it. I .. 'I vahndt to be alone.'"
This is a movie guaranteed to keep one in stitches. It's a great addition to any film library.