Product Details

• Actors: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Kenny Baker, Florence Rice
• Directors: Edward Buzzell
• Writers: Irving Brecher
• Producers: Mervyn LeRoy
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: January 27, 1993
• Run Time: 87 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301965981
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,176 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Hollywood's golden year of 1939 found the Marx Brothers At the Circus, up to their usual mischief if not their usual standards. It's a lesser effort but still a rollicking good time, casting Groucho, Chico, and Harpo as the would-be saviors of a financially troubled circus. Of course, Groucho gets the lion's share of zingers as crackpot lawyer J. Cheever Loophole (especially when sparring with his quintessential straight-lady, Margaret Dumont), and Irving Brecher's zippy dialogue (with a last-minute polish by Ben Hecht) is custom fit to the Marxes' vaudeville roots. This was the Marxes' third movie for MGM, and the studio's insistence on sappy romantic subplots and a wimpy romantic lead (Kenny Baker) occasionally stalls the manic momentum. Fortunately there's ample compensation, including Groucho's signature performance of "Lydia, the Tattooed Lady," penned by Wizard of Oz songwriters Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Despite the racial stereotypes that populate Harpo's jazzy interlude, At the Circus is a three-ring showcase of fun. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars "At the Circus" Is Mostly Sawdust, July 29, 1999

By 

Scott T. Rivers (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Marx Brothers At the Circus [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Though it has a few classic moments, notably Groucho's rendition of "Lydia the Tattooed Lady," the lackluster "At the Circus" (1939) ranks among the Marxes' worst films. A contributing factor to the depressing atmosphere is the annoying presence of romantic lead Kenny Baker, whose terrible songs and insipid "Oh, boy!" cheerfulness have no place in a Marx Brothers film. It's sad to see Groucho, Harpo and Chico brought down by poor material as well as a lack of creative input. Harpo, in particular, is diminished by the MGM gloss. Not even Margaret Dumont's presence can salvage this half-hearted attempt at comedy.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 2nd rate Marx Bros. is better than no Marx Bros. at all, November 26, 1999

By 

Joe Libby - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marx Brothers At the Circus [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Without the guidance and care of Irving Thalberg (who died during production of A DAY AT THE RACES), the quality of the Marx Brothers films started to slide. AT THE CIRCUS is a haphazard attempt to repeat the successful formula of RACES and A NIGHT AT THE OPERA. There are still lots of laughs, but they are so loosely strung together that the overall impact is lessened. Also, Kenny Baker's presence really makes one wish for Zeppo, or even Allan Jones.But there is still plenty to enjoy in AT THE CIRCUS. After all, any film that shoots Margaret Dumont out of a cannon and lets Groucho sing a tribute to a tatooed lady can't be all bad!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars If you like the Marx Brothers......, April 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Marx Brothers At the Circus [VHS] (VHS Tape)

....then you should see this movie. There is plenty of stuff to laugh at in the movie. The biggest problen is that the musical numbers and romance are particularly annoying in this movie. They become even more annoying when you find out that a scene with Groucho in court doing his best to bring chaos to the court proceedings while he practices law was deleted because the movie was too long. You'll wish that one of the musical numbers was deleted instead. But after about thirty minutes the movie picks up and keeps going at a good pace. There are many good scenes after that like a great one with Harpo and Chico sneaking into the strongman's room and trying to be quiet. I find that to be one of their best scenes. There's also good scenes with Grouch wooing Margaret Dumont once again, and the funny dinner party scene. So overall the movie is a disappointment because you get the feeling that with a little more work it could've been a great movie instead of a good, uneven one. But as usual, when the Marx Brothers are left to their own devices they shine through. There are plenty of funny things in this movie, so watch it if you can. Just forward through the songs because they're bad and they kill the pace of the movie.