Amazon.com Essentials:
This second Marx Brothers classic has Groucho playing Captain Spaulding
(an
inside joke pertaining to a renowned Hollywood drug pusher), whose song
"Hooray for Captain Spaulding" became his signature anthem. Despite its
staginess, it has some hilarious gags as the boys try to solve the mystery
of a stolen painting among the high-society crowd. Some of the highlights
include Groucho's African lecture about shooting an elephant in his
pajamas, and a wacky card game between Harpo, Chico, and the
always-gullible Margaret Dumont. The musical interludes here don't seem as
awkward
as in later films. It's really quite charming watching Chico and Harpo show
off their graceful talents. --Bill Desowitz
