In post-war Casablanca, Ronald Kornblow (Groucho Marx) is hired to run a hotel whose previous managers have all wound up being murdered Read more
| Starring | Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Charles Drake |
|---|---|
| Director | Archie Mayo |
| Genres | Comedy |
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In post-war Casablanca, Ronald Kornblow (Groucho Marx) is hired to run a hotel whose previous managers have all wound up being murdered
| Starring | Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Charles Drake, Lois Collier, Lisette Verea |
|---|---|
| Director | Archie Mayo |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 21 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 18 Oct 2004 Production year: 1946 |
| Format | DVD |
While it has none of the sustained genius of their earlier outings, the Marx Brothers' penultimate picture has enough moments of inspired lunacy to merit a place on the week's must see list. Although freed from the constraints placed upon them by MGM, the trio (ending a five-year screen exile) is forced to play second fiddle to a contrived plot about spies and hidden treasure, which was supposed to invite cheeky comparisons with the classic Humphrey Bogart/Ingrid Bergman drama. Groucho goes into one-liner overdrive to compensate for the absence of Margaret Dumont, but Harpo has the best gag in the opening minutes, so don't be late!
The last authentic Marxian extravaganza; it starts uncertainly, builds to a fine sustained frenzy, then peters out in some overstretched airplane acrobatics.
None of the discs in this box set have a film on them, instead its filled with poor quality early television clips and radio broadcasts. Not really worth renting unless your a really big Marx brothers fan.
One of the later Marx Bros. efforts, and very entertaining it is too, in a chuckling rather than screaming way, although in an audience you'd probably be laughing along with the others. Groucho is in top form, every line a pretty good joke, and his manic walk predates Cleese by 20 years. Excellent support from actors we know little about now. Yes, I'm beginning to like the Marx Brothers!