At the Circus is not the Marx Bros. best film. The jokes are not as densely populated as say A Night at the Opera. In fact, this film feels like a remake of Opera but not as funny.

This is your basic Marx Bros. plot. Good guy owns circus. Bad guy is plotting to take the circus away. The Brothers thwart the bad guy. As a major plot during the Great Depression, when most people felt the rich were the cause of all problems, (and who weren't suffering) this was a charmer of an idea.

The trouble is the Marx Brothers did this plot in almost every film. Duck Soup is a notable exception. By the time Circus was made the idea was fairly stale and most of their gags hard worn thin.

I don't really want to turn people off to the Marx Bros. I want to turn people onto their better works (Duck Soup, A Night at the Opera, Go West).

Let's not deny their talent. The Brothers' best works will leave you gasping for air. You might also get a glimpse at what Vaudeville was like.

Dust Bag Full

Film Facts

Cast
• Groucho Marx
• Chico Marx
• Harpo Marx
• Kenny Baker
• Florence Rice
• Eve Arden
• Margaret Dumont
• Nat Pendleton
• Fritz Feld
• James Burke
• Jerry Maren
• Barnett Parker
• Mariska Aldrich
• Irving Bacon
• Willie Best
• Frank Darien
• John Dilson
• Byron Foulger
• Buck Mack
• Matt McHugh
• Frank Orth
• Emory Parnell
• Amanda Randolph

Directed by Edward Buzzell

Released in 1939

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Reviewed by Mongo