At the Circus

1939
Approved
1h 27m

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

6.6K

YOUR RATING

Groucho Marx, Eve Arden, Chico Marx, and Harpo Marx in At the Circus (1939)

The Marx Brothers try to help the owner of a circus recover some stolen funds before he finds himself out of a job.

Play trailer3:14

1 Video

50 Photos

Comedy Musical

The Marx Brothers try to help the owner of a circus recover some stolen funds before he finds himself out of a job.The Marx Brothers try to help the owner of a circus recover some stolen funds before he finds himself out of a job.The Marx Brothers try to help the owner of a circus recover some stolen funds before he finds himself out of a job.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

6.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 3:14

Official Trailer

Photos50

Top cast52

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Groucho Marx

Attorney Loophole

Chico Marx

Antonio

Harpo Marx

'Punchy'

Kenny Baker

Jeff Wilson

Florence Rice

Julie Randall

Eve Arden

Peerless Pauline

Margaret Dumont

Mrs. Dukesbury

Nat Pendleton

Goliath

Fritz Feld

Jardinet

James Burke

John Carter

Jerry Maren

Little Professor Atom
(as Jerry Marenghi)

Barnett Parker

Whitcomb

Mariska Aldrich

Mannish Woman
(uncredited)

Irving Bacon

Telegraph Clerk
(uncredited)

Willie Best

Redcap
(uncredited)

John Binns

Old Man
(uncredited)

William A. Boardway

Party Guest
(uncredited)

George Bookasta

Member of Quartette
(uncredited)

Director
- Edward Buzzell
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
For Groucho Marx' performance of "'Lydia, the Tattooed Lady", additional lyrics were written by E.Y. Harburg exclusively for screenings of the film for Allied servicemen in European war zones. The special lyrics included the line "When she stands the world grows littler; When she sits, she sits on Hitler.' This version of the song was filmed, and included in prints of the film distributed in Great Britain and France, and was greeted with marked enthusiasm during screenings in those countries.

Goofs
During the "Swingali" number, three boys playing saxophones stand up and play "Auld Lang Syne," but the instruments heard on the soundtrack are clarinets.

Quotes
Peerless Pauline: I've waited so long to find someone like you.
J. Cheever Loophole: Oh, someone *like* me, I'm not good enough for you, eh?

Connections
Featured in From the Ends of the Earth (1939)

Soundtracks
Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
(1939) (uncredited)
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg
Sung by Groucho Marx and chorus, with Chico Marx at piano

User reviews67

Review

Featured review

9/10

The Boys Go To the Big Top

No, this isn't the Cecil B. De Mille big top opus, it's the Marx Brothers one. The boys were slowing down a bit when they made it, and as it came out in 1939, it kind of got buried under all the other movies of that remarkable film year, and is now somewhat neglected. This is a pity, for while it isn't their best movie, it's far from their worst. The plot isn't worth going into,--does anyone really want a synopsis of a Marx Brothers film?--and grande dame Margaret Dumont is on hand as the woman of Groucho's nightmares come to life. Kenny Baker and Florence Rice are the leads, and I've seen far worse. This isn't a belly laugh movie but it's very amusing. The production values are excellent, and the circus itself is fun, and so is the gorilla. Every comedian should encounter a gorilla at least once in his career. At the Circus is Groucho's chance, and it provides the movie with its funniest moment. This isn't a great comedy, but it's a very good movie.