Movie Review: A Night at the Opera (1935)

A Night at the Opera (1935) directed by Sam Wood

Otis B. Driftwood (Groucho Marx) has attached himself to Mrs. Claypool (Margaret Dumont), a widowed millionaire who wants to get into high society. Driftwood's plan is for her to donate to the opera. He knows Gottlieb (Sig Ruman), an opera producer who wants to hire a star to go to New York. He has his ey on Rudolfo Lassparri (Walter King), an arrogant star who is abusive to his dresser (Harpo Marx) and romantically pursues young singer Rosa (Kitty Carlisle). Rosa actually likes the young tenor Barone (Allan Jones) who does not have enough reputation to be a star. Driftwood goes to the opera house to hire the best singer. He runs into Fiorello (Chico Marx), who is pals with Barone. Driftwood makes a contract to hire Fiorello's guy, not realizing the tenor is not Lassparri. Everyone gets on a boat for America, including stowaways Fiorello, Barone, and the dresser. Antics ensue on the boat and in New York as the young couple tries to be a success and the Marx Brothers try to stay out of jail.

This movie is a small departure for the Marx Brothers in that the plot is a lot stronger and ties in better to the routines. The contract signing scene is the classic "Sanity Clause" routine. Other famous routines are the overpacked stateroom on the boat (Groucho has a small room and too many people squeeze in) and an apartment-switching scene. Chico and Harpo get to perform musical numbers on piano and harp. The movie has some opera numbers too, giving some respect to the art while skewering the pomposity found in opera. Groucho goes through his standard wooing and mocking of Dumont that is less funny ninety years later. She handles it so well. Overall, the movie is a delightful, madcap time.

Highly recommended. This and Duck Soup are their best films.