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A Night At The Opera (1935)
Released By: MGM Home Entertainment   Rating: N/A   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: MGM Home Entertainment
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: N/A
Director: Sam Wood
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Kitty Carlisle, Margaret Dumont, Marx Brothers
Published ID: 137554
UPC: 012569596924,
Plot: Although some purists hold out for Duck Soup (1933), many Marx Brothers fans consider A Night at the Opera the team's best film. Immediately after the credits roll, we are introduced to Groucho Marx as penny-ante promoter Otis B. Driftwood. After a sumptuous dinner with a beautiful blonde at a fancy Milan restaurant, Driftwood tries to cadge another free meal from his wealthy patroness, Mrs. Claypool (Margaret Dumont). The dignified dowager complains that Driftwood had promised to get her into high society, but has done nothing so far. Otis B. counters by introducing Mrs. C to pompous opera entrepreneur Gottleib (Sig Rumann); all Mrs. Claypool has to do is invest several hundred thousand dollars in Gottleib's opera company, and her entree into society is in the bag. Contingent upon this plan is Driftwood's signing of Rodolfo Lassparri (Walter Woolf King), a self-important tenor. Backstage at the opera, Driftwood meets Fiorello (Chico Marx), who poses as a manager and offers to sell Driftwood the world's greatest tenor-not Lassparri, as Driftwood assumes, but Fiorello's pal Ricardo Baroni (Allan Jones). Instantly the two sharpsters try to draw up a contract (The party of the first part shall hereafter be known as the party of the first part...), which they proceed to tear up piece by piece whenever coming across a clause that displeases them (Driftwood: That's a sanity clause; Fiorello: You no foola me. There ain't no Sanity Claus). Having lost Lassparri to Gottleib, Driftwood sails back to America with Mrs. Claypool and the opera company. Gottleib arranges for Driftwood to get the tiniest, least accessible stateroom on the ship. Unpacking his trunk, Driftwood discovers that he's got to share his postage-stamp quarters with Ricardo Baroni, who has stowed away because he's in love with the opera troupe's leading lady Rosa (Kitty Carlisle). Also hiding out in Driftwood's trunk is Fiorello, who's come along because he's still Ricardo's manager, and the wacky Tomasso (Harpo Marx), Lassparri's former dresser, who has come along for the hell of it. Anxious to arrange a tete-a-tete with Mrs. Claypool in his stateroom, Otis finds out that his unwelcome guests won't leave until they're fed (Do you have any stewed prunes? Well, give them some black coffee, that'll sober 'em up). After ordering a huge dinner, Otis and his new friends are crowded even farther by a steady stream of intruders, including an engineer and his assistant, a cleaning lady, a manicurist, a girl looking for her Aunt Minnie, and a dozen waiters. The celebrated stateroom scene comes to a rollicking conclusion when Mrs. Claypool has the misfortune of opening the door. On the last night of the voyage, Fiorello, Tomasso and Ricardo sneak out of their stateroom to enjoy an impromptu ethnic festival in steerage. Ricardo sings, Fiorello shoots the keys on the piano, and Tomasso plays the film's theme song Alone on the harp. The stowaways are caught and thrown in the brig, but with Driftwood's help they escape. To avoid recapture, the stowaways don heavy beards and pose as three famed Russian aviators. After making a shambles of a public reception, the three reprobates hide out in Driftwood's New York apartment, where everyone conspires to drive an investigating detective (Robert Emmet O'Connor) crazy. Driftwood is fired from the opera company for associating with the stowaways, while Rosa is dismissed for refusing Lassparri's affections. In order to restore Rosa's job and put the deserving Ricardo in Lassparri's place during the opening performance of La Traviata, Driftwood, Fiorello and Tomasso concoct a scheme that will reduce the opera to comic chaos. The actual night at the opera in A Night at the Opera must be seen to be believed, but the spirit of the scene can be summed up by Gottleib's anguished cry A battleship in Il Trovatore! Opera was the Marx Brothers' first film for MGM, and they dearly coveted a hit after the disappointing box-office showing of their final Paramount films. With the blessing of MGM production chief Irving Thalberg, the Marxes went on the road with their brilliant writing staff (including George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind and Al Boasberg) to test their comedy material before live audiences. As a result of this careful preplanning, Night at the Opera was a smash-hit gigglefest, grossing over $3 million and putting the Marxes back on top in the hearts and minds of filmgoers everywhere. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
One of the Marx Brothers Best!
Added 9/2/2009
Mrs. Claypool wants to put on an opera to make her way in high society and Mr. Driftwood plans to spend as much of her 8 Million dollars as he can by accommodating her. The gags fly as well as the Marx Brothers! Margaret Dumont uses Groucho to make her place in society when it is apparent to everyone that he is just using her money, he even states it. What makes the movie so special isn't the two lovebirds or the story, but how the Marx Brothers work together and create gags. It is very special. Apparently Irving Thalberg was an MGM executive who understood them and allowed them to work.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Thorougly Enjoyable Marx Brothers' Film
Added 4/2/2009
I gave this film five stars. Why? Because it is one of their funniest films. Why? Because it hits the mark. Yes their other films are funny and entertaining, but this one in particular was always my favorite.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Have a night to remember - A Night at the Opera!
Added 3/19/2009
Mrs. Claypool (played by Margaret Dumont) wants to make her splash in high-society by sponsoring an opera staring that great Italian singer, Rodolfo Lassparri, but when her incompetent and manipulative factotum, Otis B. Driftwood (Groucho Marx) gets involved, everything starts to go wrong. Lassparri is scheming to woo Rosa Castaldi by bringing her along as his leading lady, but rival suitor Ricardo Baroni has Fiorello (Chico Marx) and Tomasso (Harpo Marx) in his corner. Before any knows it, pure pandemonium breaks outs out during this wild and hilarious night at the opera!

I love the Marx Brothers, with their goofy and irrepressible humor. Indeed, they are so funny that I succeeded in converting my son into a Marx Brothers' fan as well! A Night at the Opera competes with Duck Soup for the crown of The Best Marx Brothers Movie Ever, and as you must know, that is up against some pretty stiff competition!

This is a very funny movie, with some of the most memorable scenes in Hollywood history - there's the scene where Groucho's stateroom overflows, where the boys try (very successfully) to disrupt an opera, where Harpo runs rings around the New York City police, and so much more. This is a great movie, one of the funnies movies ever made! It's family friendly and sure to please everyone. We love this movie, and give it our highest recommendations.

Pop some popcorn, put this disc in your DVD player, and have a night to remember - A Night at the Opera!
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Groucho at his peak
Added 2/3/2009
Watch the opening sequence of A Night at the Opera and you will see Groucho Marx at the height of his powers. A series of brilliant one-liners, all delivered with impeccable timing. Effortless comedy that was an influence on generations of comedians to come. Remember this was made in 1935!

This is certainly in the same league as Duck Soup and probably better than A Day at the Races. The elongated 'sanity clause' joke, the state room scene on the boat, the detective in the hotel and the set piece at the opera near the end are amongst the best things the Marx Brothers ever did.

Some of the musical numbers appear a little dated, but this was the era of Busby Berkley and so these were expected. It also gave the other to brothers a chance to show off their musical skills as well. But most of all it is Groucho who steals the show, and he is the main reason to watch the film, good as some of the supporting actors are.

This is now part of a great boxed set which is better value for money.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
great classic marx bros comedy
Added 1/15/2009
This is my all-time favorite Marx Bros comedy. It's definitely worth the price. I think it's enjoyable for a large age range. If you've never watched a marx bros comedy before, this should be one of your firsts!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
One of the Marx Brothers Best!
Added 9/2/2009
Mrs. Claypool wants to put on an opera to make her way in high society and Mr. Driftwood plans to spend as much of her 8 Million dollars as he can by accommodating her. The gags fly as well as the Marx Brothers! Margaret Dumont uses Groucho to make her place in society when it is apparent to everyone that he is just using her money, he even states it. What makes the movie so special isn't the two lovebirds or the story, but how the Marx Brothers work together and create gags. It is very special. Apparently Irving Thalberg was an MGM executive who understood them and allowed them to work.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Thorougly Enjoyable Marx Brothers' Film
Added 4/2/2009
I gave this film five stars. Why? Because it is one of their funniest films. Why? Because it hits the mark. Yes their other films are funny and entertaining, but this one in particular was always my favorite.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Have a night to remember - A Night at the Opera!
Added 3/19/2009
Mrs. Claypool (played by Margaret Dumont) wants to make her splash in high-society by sponsoring an opera staring that great Italian singer, Rodolfo Lassparri, but when her incompetent and manipulative factotum, Otis B. Driftwood (Groucho Marx) gets involved, everything starts to go wrong. Lassparri is scheming to woo Rosa Castaldi by bringing her along as his leading lady, but rival suitor Ricardo Baroni has Fiorello (Chico Marx) and Tomasso (Harpo Marx) in his corner. Before any knows it, pure pandemonium breaks outs out during this wild and hilarious night at the opera!

I love the Marx Brothers, with their goofy and irrepressible humor. Indeed, they are so funny that I succeeded in converting my son into a Marx Brothers' fan as well! A Night at the Opera competes with Duck Soup for the crown of The Best Marx Brothers Movie Ever, and as you must know, that is up against some pretty stiff competition!

This is a very funny movie, with some of the most memorable scenes in Hollywood history - there's the scene where Groucho's stateroom overflows, where the boys try (very successfully) to disrupt an opera, where Harpo runs rings around the New York City police, and so much more. This is a great movie, one of the funnies movies ever made! It's family friendly and sure to please everyone. We love this movie, and give it our highest recommendations.

Pop some popcorn, put this disc in your DVD player, and have a night to remember - A Night at the Opera!
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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