Animal Crackers (1930)
Overview
The well-known explorer and hunter Captain Spaulding has just returned from Africa, and is being welcomed home with a lavish party at the estate of influential society matron Mrs. Rittenhouse when a valuable painting goes missing. The intrepid Captain Spaulding attempts to solve the crime with the help of his silly secretary Horatio Jamison, while sparring with the anarchic Signor Emanuel Ravelli and his nutty sidekick The Professor.
Cast
Groucho Marx
Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding
Harpo Marx
The Professor
Chico Marx
Signor Emanuel Ravelli
Zeppo Marx
Horatio Jamison
Lillian Roth
Arabella Rittenhouse
Margaret Dumont
Mrs. Rittenhouse
Louis Sorin
Roscoe Chandler
Hal Thompson
John Parker
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CinemaSerf
So a renowned explorer ("Capt. Spaulding" - Groucho Marx) returns from doing his David Livingstone in Africa and attends a lavish reception in his honour. Whilst at this swanky soirée, a very valuable painting is stolen and so he, along with Harpo, Chico & Zeppo all pitch in to recover it for their hostess; the glamorous but no-nonsense "Mrs. Rittenhouse" (Margaret Dumont - who frequently struggles to keep a straight face during the ensuing shenanigans!). It quickly accelerates into a rapid-fire series of set-piece sketches - and the best game of bridge you're ever likely to see on screen - with some wonderfully timed one liners. I always found Groucho's accent a bit tiring after a while - his really thick New York accent is not so easy on the ears, but that's an incidental criticism of a really fun vehicle for four folks who just knew how to make us laugh. Maybe one too many musical hiatuses that slow it down somewhat, but hey - you're bound to enjoy most of it.
