Monkey Business

The film features some of the Brothers best skits, and in particular some of Groucho's greatest moments. Although I desperately miss Margaret Dumont in this film, Groucho manages some first rate scenes with Thelma Todd, who would later grace HORSEFEATHERS as the College Widow. She would in 1936 die as the result of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, but speculation began immediately that she had been the victim of a crime. She had no record at all of depression, was only 29, and was at the peak of her career. Her death remains one of the great mysteries in the history of Hollywood, and adds poignancy to her comic appearances with Groucho and Co.

Groucho reels off a huge number of classic one-liners in this one. "Look at me. I worked myself up from nothing to a state of extreme poverty." "As for me, I'm going back into the closet, where men are empty overcoats." "Sir, are you trying to offer me a bribe? How much?" "Oh, why can't we break away from all this, just you and I, and lodge with my fleas in the hills? I mean, flee to my lodge in the hills." "Madam, before I get through with you, you will have a clear case for divorce, and so will my wife." Or the great scene where Groucho complains to the ship's purser about the woman he found in his cabin. "What woman?" the shocked officer replies. "No woman, and that's what I want to complain about."

Probably the most famous skit in the film, though I must confess to preferring several others more, is their attempted exit off the ship as Maurice Chevalier. Other great skits include Harpo's intrusion into a Punch and Judy show, Groucho and Harpo's invasion of the captain's quarters on the ship, Chico and Harpo's pretending to be barbers, and Groucho's attempt to give romantic advice to a couple of surreptitious lovers. Although one of their best films, the second half falls off sharply as soon as they all get off the ship. Apart from Groucho's extraordinary encounters with Thelma Todd on the verandah outside a house where a party is taking place, virtually all the good skits take place in the first half.


Great Anarchy   March 16, 2003
Erik Bateson (California)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Though not as good as Duck Soup or A Night at the Opera, there are some great early Marx moments in this film. It has some great lines like this one, from Groucho: Oh, I know it's a penny here and a penny there, but look at me. I worked myself up from nothing to a state of extreme poverty. His satrical off-beat humor makes me smile, because you don't see that any more. Even Woody Allen has become commercialized. Like other Marx Brothers films (especially the ones at Paramount), some scenes keep changing in darkness, the frames occasionally go way too fast, and some scenes are choppy, though not as mush as Horse Feathers. One line I found to be Ironic. Thelma Todd, after arguing about the possibility of a gambling casino in her restraunt was found dead a few days later in her garage, in her car, of carbon monoxide poisoning (in real life). In Monkey Business, Groucho says "You're a woman who's been getting nothing but dirty breaks (pause for a few seconds)-well, we can clean and tighten your brakes, but you'll have to stay in the garage all night." Thank you for taking the time to read my review and feel free to leave me a helpful/not helpful feedback. God Bless America!


Stowaways make hilarious trouble!   January 11, 2003
Josh P.
The Marx Brothers, with no character names, play stowaways on board a cruise ship and turn business on board into a game full of tricks. They get involved with unscrupulous gangsters doing dirty deeds. Knock-out laughs in this one. Harpo has a great moment of physical comedy in one part where he becomes involved at a puppet show on board the ship where a hilarious mix-up occurs. Great chase scenes! Something you really need to
see if you really want to laugh.