The Marx Brothers try to help the owner of a circus recover some stolen funds before he finds himself out of a job.
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Title: At the Circus (1939)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Groucho Marx | ... | Attorney Loophole | |
| Chico Marx | ... | Antonio | |
| Harpo Marx | ... | 'Punchy' | |
| Kenny Baker | ... | Jeff Wilson | |
| Florence Rice | ... | Julie Randall | |
| Eve Arden | ... | Peerless Pauline | |
| Margaret Dumont | ... | Mrs. Dukesbury | |
| Nat Pendleton | ... | Goliath | |
| Fritz Feld | ... | Jardinet | |
| James Burke | ... | John Carter | |
| Jerry Maren | ... | Little Professor Atom (as Jerry Marenghi) | |
| Barnett Parker | ... | Whitcomb | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Jeff Wilson, the owner of a small circus, owes his partner Carter $10000. Before Jeff can pay, Carter lets his accomplices steal the money, so he can take over the circus. Antonio Pirelli and Punchy, who work at the circus, together with lawyer Loophole try to find the thief and get the money back. Written by Michael Zolk <mzolk@ix.urz.uni-heidelberg.de>
Taglines:
NOT SUITABLE FOR GENERAL EXHIBITION (Australian one-sheet poster) See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
20 October 1939 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
A Day at the Circus See more »Filming Locations:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USACompany Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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(1792) (uncredited)
Written by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
Briefly played in the score when Jardinet enters
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
This film has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 9 critic reviews. See more »Goofs
Multiple different-sized actors, in noticeably different gorilla costumes, were used to play Gibraltar the gorilla. See more »Quotes
Antonio Pirelli: [Talking to 'Punchy' in the train's sleeper car] How can you fall asleep? Oh, you count-a sheep, heh? How many sheep you have to count before you fall asleep? One! Eh, you're an insta-maniac.See more »
Soundtracks
La Marseillaise(1792) (uncredited)
Written by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
Briefly played in the score when Jardinet enters
See more »
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This was my third time watching AT THE CIRCUS and, the characteristically anaemic leads (who somehow always seem to be able to carry a tune) notwithstanding, I've always been kind of partial to this one (even if the end result is, decidedly, a notch or two below their finest work). Plot and setting provide several opportunities for the Marxes to shine, both as a team and individually: Groucho (as always) is the film's trump card, however, especially in his rendition of 'Lydia, the Tattooed Lady' and the separate scenes he shares with befuddled aristocrat Margaret Dumont and scheming circus performer Eve Arden; other highlights include Groucho and Chico's interrogation of the suspicious-looking dwarf, Chico and Harpo's frenzied search for stolen money in the strong-man's room (while the latter is asleep!), and the typically busy climax in which Dumont receives the ultimate humiliation.
AT THE CIRCUS is the Marxes' third best MGM picture (demonstrating a steady decline for them from picture to picture) but it's still inferior to the later A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA (1946), in my opinion or any of their early Paramount films, for that matter.