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Amazon.co.uk Review
This second Marx Brothers classic has Groucho playing Captain Spaulding (an inside joke pertaining to a renowned Hollywood drug pusher), whose song "Hooray for Captain Spaulding" became his signature anthem. Despite its staginess, it has some hilarious gags as the boys try to solve the mystery of a stolen painting among the high-society crowd. Some of the highlights include Groucho's African lecture about shooting an elephant in his pajamas, and a wacky card game between Harpo, Chico, and the always-gullible Margaret Dumont. The musical interludes here don't seem as awkward as in later films. It's really quite charming watching Chico and Harpo show off their graceful talents. --Bill Desowitz
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
The Paramount Marx movies are now regarded as perhaps their best, with particular praise going to "Duck Soup" and "Horse Feathers", but their first two pictures, based on Broadway stage hits, are often ignored - or, even worse, dismissed as "stagey". Surely that misses the point? Yes, "Cocoanuts" and "Animal Crackers" are stagey, but you don't have to read much about the Brothers to discover that much of their best work was lost to posterity - a Groucho ad lib heard once by an audience in New York and then lost to time. These films are about as near as we can get to seeing what the Brothers were like on stage and, while they are not nearly as ad libbed as some would have us believe, there are still some great moments. Moments that MGM would never have let them get away with. "Animal Crackers" improves on "The Cocoanuts" in many respects. The plot, of course, doesn't really matter all that much, but the quality of the humour certainly does. There is a much rougher round the edges feel to this than you might find in the MGM films. It may have been performed hundreds of times on Broadway, but it's done with such a freshness (probably due to the indecent haste with which the film was mounted and made) that at some points you could well be watching Groucho up there on the stage. Wondering what he's going to do next. What damage will the Brothers wreak on poor Roscoe W. Chandler? Will Margaret Dumont escape with her dignity intact? Surely...no!...surely Harpo is NOT going to engage in a mock wrestling match with her! And then, before you know it, yes he most definitely is. It's quite a trick to make something so rehearsed seem so spontaneous, but "Animal Crackers" pulls it off with elan. If you think "A Night at the Opera" can't be bettered, then try this - the same writers, similar plot devices but, at times, much, much funnier.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
"One morning I shot an Elephant in my pyjamas.How he got in my pyjamas I'll never know". This is just one joke from a film that will appeal to fans old & new.From the opening scenes where we're introduced to Capt.Spalding(Groucho)to the closing cutlery scene you're treated to jokes,visual gags and music of the highest calibre.If your a fan you know you won't be dissapointed.If its your first time give it a go ,if you don't laugh once you could well be dead.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Judging by the script, you'd never believe that "Animal Crackers" is over seventy years old. Think of all the "postmodern" things that happen in this movie: Groucho directly addresses the audience to apologize for a bad joke; Harpo shoots a gun at a statue, only to see the statue come to life and return fire; and Margaret Dumont freezes in time while Groucho has a "strange interlude" and rambles to the audience about the perils of marriage and living with your folks! Of course, the absolutely ancient and decaying print will remind you that "Animal Crackers" is older than the hills, but otherwise, it's much fresher and weirder than the stuff that passes for comedy today.
Also remembered for the famous phrase,"One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know."
Also remembered for the famous phrase,"One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know."
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bad
Mrs Rittenhouse (Margaret Dumont) holds a society party at which Captain Spaulding (Groucho Marx) is the guest of honour and Roscoe Chandler (Louis Sorin) will unveil a painting. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2009 by Alex da Silva
Don't sharpen your tusks, they may get loose
The depression is finally arrived and the Marx Brothers are having it easy more than ever, stealing silverware and paintings and anything they can set their fingers on. Read more
Published on 29 April 2008 by Jacques COULARDEAU
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