from Paramount
Directed by
Victor Heerman
Starring
Groucho Marx (Captain Jeffrey 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 Chandler)
Hal Thompson (John Parker)
Margaret Irving (Mrs. Whitehead)
Kathryn Reece (Grace Carpenter)
Robert Greig (Hives, the Butler)
Edward Metcalf (Inspector Hennessy)
Written by
George S. Kaufman
Morrie Ryskind
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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
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