Producer Irving Thalberg had big plans for the Marx Brothers, who were already well-known for their relentless brand of comedy. He knew that by adding more of a concentration on story and conventional "substance," the brothers could be so much more. Their earlier movies had not done well, due to the fact that they were similar to their stage shows, and not as polished as audiences expected their cinematic comedies to be. Many Marx Brothers fans will argue that it was the earlier films that were better, because they were so raw, and pure in their comedy. However, Thalberg's vision of what the Marx Brothers needed at the time. He provided Groucho, Chico, and Harpo (Zeppo was no longer with the group) with a larger budget, a director they respected (Sam Wood), and, most importantly, a fresh start. The result is what many consider to be the best of all of the Marx Brothers' films, A Night at the Opera. Kitty Carlisle and Allan Jones play two relatively unknown opera singers trying to find success. The Marx Brothers help them, in their own way, of course, while making a mockery of the stuck-up opera company and its affiliates. There are countless quotable lines from this movie, an unyielding stream of puns and one-liners, and quite a few classic scenes, including the famous "stateroom scene," which is an extraordinary example of physical comedy at its best. There are very few comedies that can compete with A Night at the Opera, just as there were very few comedians that could ever compare to Groucho, Chico, and Harpo...A spectacular comedy!
Review of A Night at the Opera
