Animal Crackers 1930 N/R, 98 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Victor Heerman Cast: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont, Lillian Roth, Robert Greig, Louis Sorin, Hal Thompson, Margaret Irving
Capt. Jeffrey Spaulding (Groucho Marx) is being honored upon his return from Africa. The party becomes the centerpiece for a scheme to substitute a forgery for a valuable painting. Uproariously funny film. Groucho Marx: "One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know."
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Anything Goes 1936 N/R, 90 min. Genre: Musical aka: Tops Is the Limit
Director: Lewis Milestone Cast: Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman, Charles Ruggles, Ida Lupino, Grace Bradley, Arthur Treacher, Margaret Dumont, Robert McWade, Philip Ahn, Keye Luke
This musical features Cole Porter's songs, and it also has the bonus of Ethel Merman bringing her Broadway role of Rena Sweeney to film. The story revolves around entertainers on an ocean liner. "You're the Top" and "I Get a Kick Out of You" are highlighted in this film.
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At the Circus 1939 N/R, 87 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Edward Buzzell Cast: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Margaret Dumont, Kenny Baker, Florence Rice, Eve Arden, Nat Pendleton, Fritz Feld, James Burke
The Marx Brothers step in to save the circus and encounter a myriad of zany characters (Eve Arden is the Human Fly and Margaret Dumont is shot from a cannon) in the process. One highlight of the film is Groucho's rendition of "Lydia the Tattooed Lady."
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Bathing Beauty 1944 N/R, 101 min. Genre: Musical
Director: George Sidney Cast: Red Skelton, Esther Williams, Basil Rathbone, Bill Goodwin, Harry James, Xavier Cugat, Margaret Dumont, Jean Porter, Donald Meek, Ann Codee
College girl Caroline Brooks (Esther Williams) meets and falls in love with a songwriter, Steve Elliott (Red Skelton); however, she still spends as much time as possible swimming in her pool.
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The Big Store 1941 N/R, 84 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Charles Reisner Cast: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Tony Martin, Virginia Grey, Margaret Dumont, Douglass Dumbrille, William Tannen, Marion Martin, Virginia O'Brien, Henry Armetta, Anna Demetrio
Detective Wolf J. Flywheel (Groucho Marx) is hired by the Phelps Department Store co-owner, Martha Phelps (Margaret Dumont), to guard her partner, Tommy Rogers (Tony Martin), whose life has been threatened. This marks the last of the Marx Bros. MGM films.
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The Cocoanuts 1929 N/R, 91 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Joseph Santley, Robert Florey Cast: Groucho Marx, Zeppo Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Oscar Shaw, Mary Eaton, Kay Francis, Margaret Dumont, Basil Ruysdael, Barton MacLane
In this first film of the Marx Brothers, Zeppo, Harpo, and Chico sabotage plans of a hotel manager (Groucho) who will stop at almost nothing to make money on Florida real estate.
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The Dancing Masters 1943 N/R, 63 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Malcolm St. Clair Cast: Oliver Hardy, Stan Laurel, Trudy Marshall, Bob Bailey, Margaret Dumont, Robert Mitchum, Matt Briggs, Nestor Paiva, Arthur Space, Edward Earle
While failing at operating their dancing school, Laurel and Hardy help a young inventor and end up stuck on a driverless bus while dealing with a gang of hoods.
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A Day at the Races 1937 N/R, 111 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Sam Wood Cast: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Allan Jones, Maureen O'Sullivan, Margaret Dumont, Sig Ruman, Douglass Dumbrille, Leonard Ceeley, Esther Muir
Veterinarian Hugo Z. Hackenbush (Groucho Marx) poses as a medical doctor to convince the wealthy hypochondriac, Emily Upjohn (Margaret Dumont), to give financial assistance to Judy Standish (Maureen O'Sullivan), which will save Judy's sanitarium. Then a new plot is hatched: win a steeplechase race and use the winnings to pay off Judy's debts. This comedy features Groucho, Harpo, and Chico at their best.
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Diamond Horseshoe 1945 N/R, 104 min. Genre: Musical aka: Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe
Director: George Seaton Cast: Betty Grable, Dick Haymes, Phil Silvers, William Gaxton, Beatrice Kay, Margaret Dumont, Eddie Acuff, George Melford, Reed Hadley, Edward Gargan
Nightclub singer Bonnie Collins (Betty Grable) gives up her stardom for marriage to a struggling medical student (Dick Haymes). Songs include "The More I See You" and "I Wish I Knew."
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Duck Soup 1933 N/R, 70 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Leo McCarey Cast: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Zeppo Marx, Edmund Breese, Louis Calhern, Margaret Dumont, Edgar Kennedy, Charles Middleton, Edwin Maxwell, Raquel Torres, Verna Hillie, Leonid Kinskey, William Worthington, Eric Mayne
Wealthy Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont) donates $20 million to Freedonia with the provision that it will make Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx) its dictator. The deal is made, and Firefly immediately frustrates his cabinet and offends the neighboring country of Sylvania. War is inevitable, and Sylvania sends Chicolini (Chico Marx) and Pinky (Harpo Marx) to spy on Firefly and become members of his cabinet. Firefly declares war on Sylvania, and after more than a few double-crosses, Freedonia wins. This movie is silly, zany, crafty, and VERY entertaining.
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The Horn Blows at Midnight 1945 N/R, 78 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Raoul Walsh Cast: Jack Benny, Alexis Smith, Dolores Moran, Allyn Joslyn, Reginald Gardiner, Guy Kibbee, Franklin Pangborn, Margaret Dumont, Robert Blake, Paul Harvey
A musician (Jack Benny) dreams he is the angel Athanael whose trumpet, when blown at midnight, will result in the Earth's destruction.
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Little Giant 1946 N/R, 91 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: William A. Seiter Cast: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Brenda Joyce, Jacqueline deWit, Elena Verdugo, Mary Gordon, Margaret Dumont, George Cleveland, George Chandler, Pierre Watkin
Bud Abbott takes on two roles in this story about a shy vacuum cleaner salesman (Lou Costello) who is trying to live up what his demanding bosses–John Morrison (Bud Abbott) and Tom Chandler (Bud Abbott)–expect of him.
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Never Give a Sucker an Even Break 1941 N/R, 70 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Edward F. Cline Cast: W.C. Fields, Gloria Jean, Franklin Pangborn, Margaret Dumont, Leon Errol, Leon Belasco, Anne Nagel, Mona Barrie, Irving Bacon, Claud Allister, Billy Lenhart, Kenneth Brown, Susan Miller, Charles Lang, Minerva Urecal
W.C. Fields plays himself going through a day trying to sell a story to Esoteric Studios' producer Franklin Pangborn. The script reading becomes the story of Uncle Bill (Fields) and his niece (Gloria Jean) flying to Mexico to sell wooden nutmegs. Along the way, Uncle Bill dives out of an airplane to retrieve a whiskey bottle–and survives! He lands on a mountain where he meets and woos Mrs. Hemogloben (Margaret Dumont) who eats men. Many funny gags and moments.
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A Night at the Opera 1935 N/R, 96 min. Genre: Comedy / Musical / Romance
Director: Sam Wood Cast: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Kitty Carlisle, Margaret Dumont, Allan Jones, Sig Ruman, Walter Woolf King, Edward Keane, Robert Emmett O'Connor, Gino Corrado, Frank Yaconelli, Billy Gilbert, Al Bridge, Jonathan Hale
When the Marx Brothers become part of the hoity-toity opera world, comedy abounds in this Marx Brothers' classic. In an attempt to reunite with his lover Rosa (Kitty Carlisle), Ricardo (Allan Jones) joins up with Fiorello and Tomasso (Chico Marx and Harpo Marx) to stow away on a ship headed for New York. They are prepared to pull out all stops to get Ricardo a job as the leading tenor in the New York Opera Company where Rosa is starring as the leading lady. They arrive in New York, but the authorities, who want to catch the stowaways, are on their trail, and they join up with Otis P. Driftwood (Groucho Marx) in their attempt to stay one step ahead of the authorities.
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Sunset in El Dorado 1945 N/R, 56 min. Genre: Western
Director: Frank McDonald Cast: Roy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes, Dale Evans, Hardie Albright, Roy Barcroft, Tom London, Robert J. Wilke, Bob Nolan, Margaret Dumont, Stanley Price
Most of this movie consists of flashbacks as Dale Evans travels to an abandoned town where her grandmother was a well-known dance hall queen. The grandmother's boyfriend looks a lot like Roy Rogers.
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Three for Bedroom C 1952 N/R, 74 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Milton Bren Cast: Gloria Swanson, James Warren, Fred Clark, Hans Conried, Steve Brodie, Margaret Dumont, Ernest Anderson, Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, Janine Perreau
Due to a mix-up in reservations, three passengers on the Super Chief train find they are assigned to the same compartment.
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Up in Arms 1944 N/R, 106 min. Genre: Musical
Director: Elliott Nugent Cast: Danny Kaye, Dinah Shore, Dana Andrews, Constance Dowling, Louis Calhern, Elisha Cook Jr., Lyle Talbot, Walter Catlett, George Meeker, Margaret Dumont
In Danny Kaye's first feature film, he recreates Eddie Cantor's role from "Whoopee!" as a hypochondriac involved in many escapades following his Army induction.
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What a Way to Go! 1964 N/R, 111 min. Genre: Comedy / Romance
Director: J. Lee Thompson Cast: Shirley MacLaine, Robert Mitchum, Gene Kelly, Paul Newman, Dick Van Dyke, Robert Cummings, Margaret Dumont, Dean Martin, Reginald Gardiner, Roy Gordon, Fifi D'Orsay, Lou Nova, Maurice Marsac, Wally Vernon, Jane Wald
Poor Louisa (Shirley MacLaine)–every time she marries, her new husband dies. Eventually, she has a whole lot of money that she is trying to give to the IRS, but officials suspect that she is insane and send her to a psychiatrist, Dr. Victor Stephanson (Robert Cummings), Louisa's story unfolds as she tells Stephanson about her marriages. The first one involves her choice of poor shopkeeper Edgar (Dick Van Dyke) over wealthy Leonard (Dean Martin), but Edgar works himself to death. Next, Louisa marries inventor Larry (Paul Newman) who becomes wealthy and dies. Then, she marries business tycoon Rod (Robert Mitchum) who retires, becomes a farmer, and is killed by a bull. Finally, Louisa marries entertainer Jerry (Gene Kelly), and he becomes a star and is crushed to death by a mob of his fans. All died trying to make Louisa happy, and now she believes that the money they made is cursed.
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Wise Girl 1937 N/R, 70 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Leigh Jason Cast: Miriam Hopkins, Ray Milland, Walter Abel, Henry Stephenson, Alec Craig, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, Margaret Dumont, Gregory Gaye, Ivan Lebedeff, Rafael Storm
Susan Fletcher (Miriam Hopkins) falls in love with a struggling artist, John O'Halloran (Ray Milland), AFTER she tries to get custody of his two children.
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Youth on Parole 1937 N/R, 60 min. Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Phil Rosen Cast: Marian Marsh, Gordon Oliver, Miles Mander, Margaret Dumont, Milburn Stone, Joe Caits, Harry Tyler, Peggy Shannon, Ranny Weeks, Sarah Padden, Wade Boteler, Mary Kornman, Paul Stanton, Fred "Snowflake" Toones, Theodore von Eltz
After being paroled while serving their 18-months sentences for robbing a jewelry store–a crime they did not commit–Phillip (Gordon Oliver) and Bonnie (Marian Marsh) get together and fall in love. Problems rise to the fore when Phillip's boss fires him after learning about the prison sentence. But, this time, Bonnie and Phillip decide to take action and track down those jewel thieves who framed them.
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Zotz! 1962 N/R, 87 min. Genre: Comedy / Horror / Fantasy
Director: William Castle Cast: Tom Poston, Julia Meade, Jim Backus, Fred Clark, Cecil Kellaway, Margaret Dumont, Jimmy Hawkins, Elaine Martone, Zeme North, James Millhollin, Carl Don, Mike Mazurki, Louis Nye, Frank J. Scannell, Judee Morton
College professor Jonathan Jones (Tom Poston) discovers "zotz," which is a magic coin that gives him power over those around him. Jones offers "zotz" to the Pentagon only to learn that the Army brass believes he is crazy. When foreign agents learn about "zotz," they set out to kidnap Jones, but, during the attempt, Jones drops his magic coin, and it is lost forever in the sewer.
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| 1. Animal Crackers (1930)
2. Anything Goes (1936) aka: Tops Is the Limit
3. At the Circus (1939)
4. Bathing Beauty (1944)
5. The Big Store (1941)
6. The Cocoanuts (1929)
7. The Dancing Masters (1943)
8. A Day at the Races (1937)
9. Diamond Horseshoe (1945) aka: Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe
10. Duck Soup (1933)
11. The Horn Blows at Midnight (1945)
12. Little Giant (1946)
13. Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941)
14. A Night at the Opera (1935)
15. Sunset in El Dorado (1945)
16. Three for Bedroom C (1952)
17. The Unknown Marx Brothers (1993)
18. Up in Arms (1944)
19. What a Way to Go! (1964)
20. Wise Girl (1937)
21. Youth on Parole (1937)
22. Zotz! (1962)
In The News
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