The Big Store (1941)

A detective is hired to protect the life of a singer, who has recently inherited a department store, from the store's crooked manager.

Director:

Charles Reisner

Writers:

Sid Kuller (screenplay), Hal Fimberg (screenplay),

Stars:

Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Groucho Marx	...	Wolf J. Flywheel
Chico Marx	...	Ravelli
Harpo Marx	...	Wacky
Tony Martin	...	Tommy Rogers
Virginia Grey	...	Joan Sutton
Margaret Dumont	...	Martha Phelps
Douglass Dumbrille	...	Mr. Grover
William Tannen	...	Fred Sutton
Marion Martin	...	Peggy Arden
Virginia O'Brien	...	Kitty
Henry Armetta	...	Guiseppi
Anna Demetrio	...	Maria
Paul Stanton	...	George Hastings
Russell Hicks	...	Arthur Hastings
Bradley Page	...	Duke

Storyline

The Phelps Department Store is about to be sold by its new part owner, Tommy Rogers with the permission of Martha Phelps, the dowager co-owner. The current manager doesn't want this as the irregularities in the books will show up. When an attempt is made on Tommy's life, Martha enlists the worst private eye in the world to protect him, Wolf J. Flywheel.

---

Plot Keywords:

department store | singer | male punches male | cello | money scheme | 

---

Taglines:

Gorgeous Girls! Uproarious Fun! The Big Musical Show!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Musical

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 June 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Grande Loja

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Loew's

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tony Martin's "Tenement Symphony" was later razzed by Groucho Marx as "the most godawful thing I'd ever heard."

---

Goofs

When the brothers are barricading themselves in the electrical supply room, as the light bulbs are falling (and sounding like gunshots), the close-up clearly shows a white string pulling the rear of the shelf up and some of the mechanism lever is visibly moving at the top-right of the shelf.

---

Quotes

Woman Shopper: [to Flywheel lying on a bed] Can you tell me the price of this bed?
Wolf J. Flywheel: $8000
Shopper: Why that's preposterous! I can get the same bed anywhere in town for $25.
Wolf J. Flywheel: Yes, but not with me in it!

---

Connections

References Strike Up the Band (1940)

---

Soundtracks

"Rock-a-Bye Baby"
(pub. 1765) (uncredited)
Traditional
Sung in the "Sing While You Sell" number

User Reviews

Not the best

By 1941, Groucho didn't want to make any more movies. The Brothers continued to do so just to keep oldest Brother Chico afloat, due to his gambling habits.

Someone commented earlier about Virginia O'Brien, the deadpan singer in the "rockabye" sequence. The deadpan delivery was her "shtick", and predated a similar approach taken by Keely Smith some years later. Legend has it that the first time a spotlight fell on Ms. O'Brien for an on-stage solo, she froze, an delivered her song with a pre-Botox facial paralysis. The audience thought it was part of the act and roared approvingly with laughter. From then on, Ms. O'Brien sang no other way. (She also sings a few bars of the Jerome Kern song, "A Fine Romance" in the semi-bio, "'Til The Clouds Roll By".) The big store is best remembered (and viewed) for the rousing "Sing While You Sell" piece about 38 minutes into the movie.