Animal Crackers (1930)

Mayhem and zaniness ensue when a valuable painting goes missing during a party in honor of famed African explorer Captain Spaulding.

Director:

Victor Heerman

Writers:

George S. Kaufman (based on the musical play by), Morrie Ryskind (based on the musical play by)

Stars:

Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx

2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
The Marx Brothers
Groucho Marx	...	Captain Geoffrey T. Spaulding
Harpo Marx	...	The Professor
Chico Marx	...	Signor Emanuel Ravelli
Zeppo Marx	...	Horatio Jamison
Lillian Roth	...	Arabella Rittenhouse
Margaret Dumont	...	Mrs. Rittenhouse
Louis Sorin	...	Roscoe W. Chandler
Hal Thompson	...	John Parker
Margaret Irving	...	Mrs. Whitehead
Kathryn Reece	...	Grace Carpenter
Robert Greig	...	Hives -the butler
Edward Metcalfe	...	Police Inspector Hennessey
The Music Masters	...	Six Footmen

Storyline

Captain Spaulding, the noted explorer, returns from Africa and attends a gala party held by Mrs. Rittenhouse. A painting displayed at that party is stolen, and the Marxes help recover it. Well, maybe 'help' isn't quite the word I was looking for--this is the Marx Brothers, after all...

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Plot Keywords:

party | painting | theft | singing | police | 

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Taglines:

TEN TIMES FUNNIER THAN "THE COCOANUTS"! (print ad - Lubbock Evening Journal - Lindsey Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - November 2, 1930 - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

At least two dialogue sequences appear to have been shot with two cameras, in the style of a later multicamera video or filmed sitcom series. As the audio and framing appear to have the vibe of capturing a live performance, almost as a documentary, this gives the film a "dangerous, anything could happen" live show energy.

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Goofs

Around 00:06:57, Captain Jeffrey Spaulding rises up. On the next shot, he rises up again.

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Quotes

Capt. Spaulding: Something has been throbbing within me. Oh, it's been beating like the incessant tom-tom in the primitive jungle. Something that I must ask you.
Mrs. Rittenhouse: What is it, Capt.?
Capt. Spaulding: Would you wash out a pair of socks for me?

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Alternate Versions

Censored for a 1936 reissue to meet Production Code requirements; this censored version was the only one available for television showings and subsequent VHS/DVD releases. A surviving complete and uncensored print was found in England, and is the source being used for the 2016 blu-ray release.

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Connections

Referenced in Toto Lost in New York (1996)

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Soundtracks

Sextet
from "'Lucia di Lammermoor'"
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Played when Emmanuel Ravelli (Chico Marx) makes his entrance

User Reviews

Entertaining - Of Course, But I Wouldn't Rank It Their Best

Once again, this Marx Brothers film is different from most comedies in that is features a mile-a-minute gags, either verbal or sight, constant silliness and some music thrown in the mix. All of it runs the gamut from very clever to stupid. However, if it gets stupid hang around another minute or so and you'll find something to laugh at.

One problem, especially with this film, is that some of the humor is dated and/or topical, meaning what was funny back then isn't necessarily now or the subject Groucho or Chico is talking about was big news back then but unknown now.

Nonetheless, I still enjoyed this and found a lot of funny material. I enjoy the Marx Brothers clever stuff and their slapstick. I particularly appreciated Groucho apparently ad-libbing one scene. In a few others he acted like he was ad- libbing, turning his head and talking to the camera. You don't see much of that stuff, and it's funny.

Two of the three songs were instrumentals, and they seemed to take away from the pace of the story. Groucho's song, "Hooray For Captain Spaulding," is a classic.

Some consider this to be the best Marx Brothers movie but I found several others I liked a lot more, such as "Horse Feathers" and "Duck Soup," just to name two.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 September 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

Animal Crackers

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1