weezeralfalfa Typical Marx Brothers slapstick, one liners, and general mayhem. Although this film is generally ranked as the best of their MGM-produced pictures, I prefer "A Day at the Races". But, in general, I don't like to play the ranking game. They all have their unique pluses and minuses, as well as general pluses and minuses, which vary according to the individual viewer. If you like their style of comedy and music, this is worth a look and listen.As with most topnotch comedy teams, the brothers thrived on being very different from each other in looks and stage personality. Yet, they had enough liking for and understanding of each other to work together toward some goal. In being silent(except for his horn and whistle), Harpo mimics the traditional circus clown, and, to a lesser extent, a few of the clowns of silent films. Thus, the brothers incorporate the full potential of silent film comedy into an otherwise talkie comedy. I'm not familiar with any other comedy team of that era that utilized this formula. The basic plot is very simple. Chorister Ricardo(Allan Jones) of the New York Opera Company wants an opportunity to show he is even better than established lead Rodolfo(Walter Woolf King). But the director won't give him a chance. Thus, the brothers try to arrange a situation where Rodolfo can't perform, thus the director is forced to substitute Ricardo. The competition between these two singers extends to courting the lead female singer Rosa(Kitty Carlisle), who clearly favors Ricardo. Groucho, the business manager for wealthy widow Mrs. Claypool(Margaret Dumont), convinces her to invest $200,000. in the opera company, despite his insults to her. The troupe is returning to NYC from a European tour. Chico, Harpo, and Ricardo are stowaways who got on the boat from squeezing in Groucho's monstrous trunk. There follows the much remembered scene in Groucho's state room where many people squeeze together, along with the huge trunk, in a tiny room. Later, the stowaways somehow get through immigration with no passport nor travel pass. They decide to sabotage the opera performance and kidnap Rodolfo, hopefully forcing the director to substitute with Ricardo.My impression is that Rodolfo is as good as Ricardo, although the film audience doesn't agree. He is typecast as the bad guy, because he isn't the young struggling opponent. But, he doesn't seem like a bad guy....Margaret Dumont, Groucho's frequent foil in their films, could have had a bigger role in the film. Musicwise all 4 acts of Il Trovatore(the troubadour)are sung or played by the orchestra, to some extent. In addition, several new or recently composed songs are included. "Alone" is sung by Rosa, then by Ricardo, as Rosa is on the ship bound for NYC, and Ricardo is on shore. Harpo also plays it on the harp. Chico plays the familiar "All I do is Dream of You", later revisited in "Singing in the Rain". Ricardo, along with an informal chorus, sings Cosi-Cosa. I find Jones an excellent singer. The next year, he would take the lead role in "Showboat". Some people want to know if Chico could really play the piano that well, and whether Harpo could really play the harp, or were they dubbed. No, they were not dubbed, although their performances may have been sometimes prerecorded. As boys, the brothers used to get jobs playing the piano.

Ross622 Sam Wood's A Night at the Opera is one of the best comedic movies that I have seen in recent years. This the first movie that I saw that the Marx brothers starred in and for me it was worth my time, the movie tells the story of a business manager named Otis B. Driftwood (played by Groucho Marx) who is trying to get money from Mrs. Claypool (played by Margaret Dumont) in order to get her in high society and as well as trying to get her money, and comes up with an idea that opera is the best way of business and teams up with Fiorello (played by Chico Marx), and Tomasso (played by Harpo Marx) and as well as two rising opera stars Rosa Castaldi (played by Kitty Carlisle) and Ricardo Baroni (played by Allan Jones) and both don't like a selfish opera singer named Rodolfo Lassparri (played by Walter Woolf King). Sam Wood (1883-1949) was the perfect choice to direct this film and had he declined the offer the film wouldn't have been as perfect a film as it still is considered today. This movie is one of 1935s best films as well as one of the best comedy movies ever made.

SimonJack 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."Florello, "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."Florello, "What'' I say?" Otis, "Tell them you're not here." Florello, "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.

SnoopyStyle Otis B. Driftwood (Groucho Marx) is the business manager for wealthy Mrs. Claypool (Margaret Dumont) investing $200k with Herman Gottlieb (Sig Ruman) of the New York Opera Company. Chorus man Ricardo Baroni (Alan Jones) is love with Rosa Castaldi (Kitty Carlisle) who is pursued by the arrogant Rodolfo Lassparri (Walter Woolf King). Ricardo's illiterate friend Fiorello (Chico Marx) takes on the task of managing him. Tomasso (Harpo Marx) is Lassparri's abused silent whistling dresser. Gottlieb hires the great tenor Lassparri for $1000 a night. The opera company is traveling to NYC on a ship. Ricardo, Tomasso and Fiorello sneak on board as stowaways.I'm not a fan of the song and dance routines. It doesn't help that I really dislike opera. It stops the movie for me every time. Chico playing the piano for the kids is kinda cute and Harpo too. However there is nothing like Groucho's rapid fire jokes and Harpo's silent charm. I love their slapstick and they don't get better than the crowded room scene. This is a comedy classic.