Released in 1935, A Night at the Opera is a musical comedy featuring Groucho, Chico and Harpo of the Marx Brothers. The plot of the movie revolves around the Brothers' attempts to assist and unite two opera singers whilst also wreaking havoc on a number of snooty socialites. Despite being called A Night at the Opera, the movie is not overly bogged down by musical numbers (though there is a piano routine by Chico and a harp routine by Harpo). The movie contains a number of good gags, including the stateroom scene, the contract negotiation between Groucho and Chico and the sabotage of the opera at the film's climax. Though entertaining, the movie has some problems with pacing (due in part to WWII-era censors removing scenes and dialogue that referenced Italy). Also, those unfamiliar with the works of the Marx Brothers are likely to find that the impact of their gags and style has been lessened by decades of homages and reinterpretations. Rating: 72%
(Image from amazon.ca)
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