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Scott Tobias writes a great take on a Marx Brothers classic:
The best that could be said about A Night At The Opera—and this is no small achievement, because the movie is very good, if not quite up to its vaunted reputation—is that Groucho, Chico, and Harpo squeeze in all the inspired antics the story will allow.
via A Night At The Opera saved the Marx Brothers’ career while spoiling the act / The Dissolve.
I think the first time I noticed the delta between these eras of the troupe was when I got both of the DVD collections that came out several years ago. Watching them in order beginning with the Paramount set and then moving to the Warner Bros. (who took over the MGM film rights) there’s as noticeable a difference as there is when Dorothy steps out of the house and into Oz for the first time. It’s not that the quality was diminished (though that would come in to play later, when it was obvious some of the team were just going through the motions), it’s that the whole spirit was different.
Anyway, go read Tobias’ whole piece. And stick around on The Dissolve as they’re doing some great film writing.
Also, go find Brain Donors, a very funny movie from 1992 starring a post-Barton Fink John Turtorro that’s basically a remake of A Night at the Opera. No, it’s not as inspired or original, but it’s still worth checking out and has some really funny moments.
