Animal Crackers: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx, Lillian Roth, Margaret Dumont, Louis Sorin, Hal Thompson, Margaret Irving, Kathryn Reece, Robert Greig, Edward Metcalf, George J. Folsey, Victor Heerman, Bert Kalmar, George S. Kaufman, Harry Ruby, Morrie Ryskind: Amazon.ca: Video

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Amazon.com Essential Video

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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Dans ce deuxième classique des Marx Brothers, Groucho joue le rôle du capitaine Spaulding (allusion à un fameux dealer de drogue de Hollywood), dont la chanson Hooray For Captain Spaulding est devenue la signature. Dans ce film bourré de gags hilarants, nos compères essaient de résoudre le mystère d'un vol de tableau dans la haute société. Parmi les meilleurs moments, on citera le cours sur l'Afrique ou comment tirer sur un éléphant en pyjama, et une partie de cartes entre Harpo, Chico et la toujours aussi crédule Margaret Dumont. Les intermèdes musicaux sont mieux amenés que dans leurs films ultérieurs. --Bill Desowitz

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Customer Reviews

29 Reviews

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3 star:		(5)
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4.4 out of 5 stars (29 customer reviews)

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3.0 out of 5 stars Dated Operetta-Style MarxxBrothers Comedy, May 8 2004

By

Michael Mathena "Michael Mathena" (Valley City, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Animal Crackers (VHS Tape)

Groucho Marx in one of the Marx Brothers' Classics, surrounded by the usual cast of High Society play-alongs, delivers what many consider their very best work. The lunacy begins when Groucho arrives back from an African Exploration, just in time to be the guest of honor at a Society Dinner Party. The craziness is fueled by some twists and turns about a valuable painting (which seems to be easily copied onto what appears like a roll of wall paper). The predictable plot keeps rolling along, while Groucho seems to consume 95% of the scipt with one-liners.

In 1930 this may have been a welcome distraction from Depression Era hum-drum life. I tried to find the same amusement a lifetime later, and can't agree with the critics. Aside from a few clever (even risque) jokes, I was missing the rolling-on-the-floor-with-laughter effect. Animal Crackers left me only with luke-warm feelings, while I found the "other" Marx Brothers Classic, "Duck Soup" hilarious. I would rather see "Duck Soup" 5 more times than view "Animal Crackers" ever again. Not a total loss of 1 1/2 time, but don't expect any "mirror scenes", because this one has none!***

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4.0 out of 5 stars No trains will be sold after the magazine leaves the depot.., May 8 2004

By

L. Fellows "eowyn86" (Maine) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Animal Crackers (Full Screen) (DVD)

Wow. There are actually some funny movies out there that DON'T include obscenities, naked people, or jokes about barfing!! This movie is worth buying for that fact alone. Why can't people make movies like this anymore? Why do we have to go back 70 years to find a movie with terrible film editing in order to get the best laughs? Well, it sure is worth it to me.
Anyway, I'll start off with what I didn't like about it, which really wasn't a lot. Mainly just the really bad sound quality, and terrible film editing. Also, the romantic sub-plot and song didn't really do much for me either. But fortunately, the Marx brothers can make up for anything.
This is the only one of their films that I've seen so far that included Zeppo, and I was kind of disappointed, since the only funny thing he said in the whole movie was "How do you spell 'semicolon'?" But the other boys were great. I didn't really care much for the part where Harpo was standing in his underwear shooting a cap gun at people, and I'm probably too young to understand all of Groucho's 'strange interludes', but other than that it was hilarious.
The things that got me laughing the hardest were the bridge game, looking for the 'flash', the expression on Chico's face when he realizes he doesn't remember the finish to his song, Harpo sneakily stealing the money from Roscoe W. Chandler, the whole 'left-handed moth' thing, the negotiation between Groucho & Chico about how much it costs for his band to play (or rather, not play), Chico telling Arabella that he couldn't take out the painting if it's not stealing...I could go on & on, would you like me to go on & on? Ok, I won't. But I'll leave you with the line that got me laughing the hardest, for some strange reason:
Groucho: (I'm paraphrasing here) "We need to find out the motive of the guys who swiped the painting."
Chico: "I got it - robbery!"

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5.0 out of 5 stars Have You Seen Your Marx?, Dec 30 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Animal Crackers (VHS Tape)

Captain Spaulding`s on the case as he searches for a stolen painting! With non-stop humor,gags,and talk of marraige, this equils up to be one of the looneyest movies EVER!

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars A GOOD CHOICE TO SEE THE MARX BROTHERS ON ACTION.
Some people consider "Animal Crackers" as the best movie in the Marx Brothers filmography. But most of the people, including myself, rather prefer "Duck Soup", however, "Animal... Read more

Published on Dec 7 2003 by Alejandro Cortes

5.0 out of 5 stars Seminal work of (Groucho)MARXISM !
ANIMAL CRACKERS has moments that are hysterically funny. If you love movies;comedy;or enjoy relishing talent of one of the world's greatest wise-ass wits, this is THE work of... Read more

Published on Nov 3 2003 by Arthur F. McVarish