At the Circus may be best known for being the film where Groucho Marx first sings “Lydia the Tattooed Lady” on screen.
The best Marx Brothers films are those that feature songs in addition to their zany antics. Thankfully, this film gets them back on track after making a film for RKO. Margaret Dumont also returns, which always leads to great fun in their films. Unlike Room Service, this film is written directly for them. It makes all the difference in the world even if it is Irving Brecher’s first screenplay with a credit. That being said, At the Circus is more along the lines of mid-level Marx Brothers. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course. But again, the fact that we get one of the most notable song’s in Groucho’s repertoire is enough to elevate the film in my opinion.
At the Circus sees the brothers teaming up to stop a circus from going under. Jeff Wilson (Kenny Baker) is about to lose the Wilson Wonder Circus unless he’s able to pay $10,000 to business partner John Carter (James Burke). Circus employee Antonio “Tony” Pirelli (Chico Marx) sends for an attorney friend of his, J. Cheever Loophole (Groucho Marx). Meanwhile, Carter is conspiring against his business partner with Goliath the Strongman (Nat Pendleton). Tony and Punchy (Harpo Marx) investigate but of course, there’s some classic Marx Brothers antics involved. Loophole learns that Suzanah Dukesbury (Margaret Dumont) is Jeff’s rich aunt and comes up with a plan to get the money from her. It does not quite go as planned. Dukesbury expects a symphony, not her nephew’s circus!
Interestingly, silent film icon Buster Keaton did some uncredited writing on the film. This was during the time when Keaton was working as a gag writer for MGM. When one worked under contract in the 1930s, it meant taking jobs on films whether they wanted to or not. Despite both Keaton and the brothers being comedy legends in their own right, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they were good for each other. They had two very different brands of humor and Keaton even acknowledged that they didn’t require his help. Regardless, Keaton does not have any material in the film.
Still though, there’s a sense of wondering how many of their post-Thalberg films were because of Chico’s gambling. Thalberg was key in bringing them to MGM but his premature death meant films would no longer have his watchful eye. No matter who is producing the film, executives would play a closer role back then. Anyway, Mervyn LeRoy handles producing duties here. Unlike their other films, the brothers would not have the option of working material out on a stage. Unfortunately, the studio decision works against the brothers in this instance. Is there a universe where the film is better by working material out on the stage? Quite possibly.
At the Circus is something of a return to form for the Marx Brothers but not quite as good as their best work at Paramount or MGM.
DIRECTOR: Edward Buzzell
SCREENWRITER: Irving Brecher
CAST: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, with Kenny Baker, Florence Rice, Eve Arden, Margaret Dumont, Nat Pendleton, Fritz Feld
MGM released At the Circus in theaters on October 20, 1939. Grade: 3.5/5
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