I have been vocal before about my love for The Marx Brothers, but while I liked At the Circus on the whole it is also a little disappointing and lacks the exuberance evident in an outing like A Night at the Opera and Duck Soup.
My main problem with At the Circus is a similar problem to that I had with A Day at the Races- too many musical interludes. Don't get me wrong I like musical interludes but not when there are too many and cause the film to drag, which was the problem here. Some of them are nice and memorable, but others feel like filler and serve no real purpose. My next problem is to do with this somewhat, the exuberance is missing, not entirely but it is missing and consequently the film becomes rather sluggish. And the story isn't really anything special and seems restricted.
However, it is striking visually, the incidental scoring is very nice and the dialogue is humorous and quotable. Also the gags are great, the end scene is quite violent but it is good enough, but acquitting themselves even better are Groucho's elephantine flirtations with Margaret Dumont(in another sterling supporting performance!) and his charming rendition of "Lydia the Tattooed Lady". The trio are still splendid, even if some of the humour is less playful than usual, and their personalities come through loud and clear.
All in all, it is good and very entertaining, but I don't think it is the Marx Brothers' best. 7/10 Bethany Cox
My main problem with At the Circus is a similar problem to that I had with A Day at the Races- too many musical interludes. Don't get me wrong I like musical interludes but not when there are too many and cause the film to drag, which was the problem here. Some of them are nice and memorable, but others feel like filler and serve no real purpose. My next problem is to do with this somewhat, the exuberance is missing, not entirely but it is missing and consequently the film becomes rather sluggish. And the story isn't really anything special and seems restricted.
However, it is striking visually, the incidental scoring is very nice and the dialogue is humorous and quotable. Also the gags are great, the end scene is quite violent but it is good enough, but acquitting themselves even better are Groucho's elephantine flirtations with Margaret Dumont(in another sterling supporting performance!) and his charming rendition of "Lydia the Tattooed Lady". The trio are still splendid, even if some of the humour is less playful than usual, and their personalities come through loud and clear.
All in all, it is good and very entertaining, but I don't think it is the Marx Brothers' best. 7/10 Bethany Cox