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Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Margaret Dumont, Florence Rice ... see more see more... , Eve Arden , Kenny Baker , Nat Pendleton , Fritz Feld , James Burke , Jerry Marenghi , Barnett Parker , Willie Best , Marx Brothers

A distinct letdown from their previous MGM films, the Marx Bros.' At the Circus nonetheless contains intermittent moments of high hilarity. When Jeff Wilson (Kenny Baker) is in danger of losing his ci... read more read more...rcus to crooked creditor Carter (James Burke), Jeff's faithful roustabout Antonio (Chico Marx) enlists the aid of seedy attorney J. Cheever Loophole (Groucho Marx). Despite the best efforts of Loophole, Antonio and general hanger-on Punchy (Harpo Marx), Jeff is robbed of the circus payroll by two flies in the ointment, Goliath the Strong Man (Nat Pendleton) and Little Professor Atom (Jerry Marenghi, later known as Jerry Maren). Also in on the plot to wrest control of the circus is aerialist Peerless Pauline (Eve Arden), with whom Loophole has a cozy tete-a-tete while walking on the ceiling (no kidding!) In a last-ditch effort to raise the necessary funds, Loophole romances Jeff's wealthy aunt Mrs. Dukesbury (Margaret Dumont). The finale takes place at a fancy society party at the Dukesbury mansion, with Punchy and Antonio hijacking the scheduled entertainment and replacing it with a full-fledged circus performance. Weighed down by an excess of plot and a surfeit of misfire gags, not to mention one of sappiest romantic subplots in film history (involving sappy tenor Kenny Baker and sappier ingenue Florence Rice), At the Circus still keeps audiences happy with Groucho's rendition of the deathless "Lydia the Tatooed Lady" (by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg) and the zany denoument, wherein pompous conductor Fritz Feld and his orchestra are set adrift in the middle of the ocean and the magnificent Margaret Dumont is shot out of a cannon. Best gag: When Eve Arden stuffs the circus payroll into her blouse, Groucho turns to the camera and whispers "There must be some way of getting that money back without offending the Hays Office." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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64% liked it

2,106 ratings

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100% liked it

9 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 27 min.

Directed by: Edward Buzzell

Release Date: June 1, 1939

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Chico, Nat Pendleton and Groucho Groucho and Margaret Dumont Florence Rice and Groucho Groucho and Eve Arden Groucho and Eve Arden Harpo, Groucho and Chico At the Circus
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Flixster Reviews (102)

  • ajv2688
    September 20, 2010
    ajv2688
    This isn't one of my favourite Marx Brothers movies. First of all, I didn't like that really long song with Harpo and the Black kids. Second, the circus seems like the natural habitat for the Marx Brothers, so they don't stand out as much. It is funny most of the time, but I d... read moreidn't like the story.
  • FilmFanatik
    June 12, 2010
    FilmFanatik
    Not my favorite Marx Bros. film. It has some funny bits in it, but it's hampered by exposition...and the magic just doesn't seem to be there.
  • kenstachnik
    April 7, 2008
    kenstachnik
    By no means there best work, and certianly there most un even. There are scenes of pure illogical insanity followed by those of mind numbing exposition.

    However, This probably has the Marx brothers finest musical moments, specifically "Lydia the Tattooed Lady,"
  • hypathio7
    January 7, 2010
    hypathio7
    Back to MGM, but with Mervyn LeRoy producing. Kenny Baker, no not the Kenny Baker from Star Wars, another Kenny Baker who was in musicals in the 30's and 40's, is Jeff who wants to pay off Carter so he can have sole ownership of this circus. He has the money ready to pay. His ... read moreromantic interest is Rice as Julie. They have what looks like a very old fashioned relationship with the man in his place and the woman in her place. The songs they share are hokey and not very engaging. Chico assists Jeff and Harpo is a clown in the strong man act. This is probably the source of some of the inspiration for La Strada. Carter for some unknown reason wants to ruin the circus, but somehow keep it for himself too. He has Arden as Peerless Pauline, Pendleton as Goliath, a midget, and a handful of other thugs do his dirty work. Jeff's money is stolen and Chico sends for Groucho as Attorney Loophole. The Marx Brothers play at detective work till finally Groucho goes to Dumont again to find another way to get the money to save the circus. This is one of the more disjointed plots. Chico plays another number on the piano. Groucho gets to sing a full song this time, the naughty and frolicking Lydia, The Tattoed Lady. I was not aware of this song, yet this whole fourth season of Heroes involving the carnival has made use of this character that Groucho describes. Harpo is putting lions to sleep when out of nowhere a huge crowd of African American children and adults show up to dance and sing a jazz/swing number with him like in A Day at the Races. The song is called Swingali by Harburg and Arlen who did the music for The Wizard of Oz the same year, but it sounds like a medley with a major piece of Blue Moon and other tunes. It is upbeat and adds some energy to the movie though it is badly synched. The only thing that saves the musical break is Harpo's consistently amazing strumming on the harp. There are still a few good one liners and physical gags, but they are not as well timed for the most part. When Groucho is snooping around Peerless Pauline's tent, she slips the stolen money down the front of her sequined leotard in her cleavage and he has one of the best lines about trying to get it without upsetting the Hays Office.
  • staindslaved
    March 7, 2012
    staindslaved
    Early Marx films were entitle Horse Feathers and Monkey Business, go figure what the plots of those films were. Later Marx films were called Go West and At the Circus where the Marx Brothers...go west and go to the circus. Something tells me the lack of effort in those titles w... read moreere reminiscent of the lack of effort that shows through those pictures. Though it's very average Marx Brothers it is still...well...The Marx Brothers! Even on an off day they're pretty hilarious. If Go West made you think of Buster Keaton's The General this will definitely make you think of Charlie Chaplin's The Circus. Never good when a film reminds the audience of a previous superior work. Oh well.
  • threefolddado
    July 17, 2008
    threefolddado
    Not one of their best, but still amusing. Groucho sings Lydia The Tattooed Lady.
  • PodcastingsBrock
    April 20, 2012
    PodcastingsBrock
    An enjoyable Marx Bros. movie. Their comedy still works after all these years. When the antics were happening the movie flowed quite well. Unfortunately, the musical portions stop the movie in its tracks.

    While I do enjoy a good musical, the songs are always my least favorite p... read moreart of a Marx Bros. movie While Lydia the Tattooed Lady is from this movie, and Groucho is fun to watch during that number, the songs with the tenor are of the style of the time, and choreographed simplistically and poorly that they really date the movie. And Harpo playing the Harp is always fun to see, but that number is a complete tangent to the plot.

    There is enough funny Marx Bros. here to make it worth the wait through the songs, and you could actually fast forward through them to get to the next scene and not have to worry about missing a plot point; they are that unrelated to the rest of the film. Recommend.
  • jakkijelene
    January 28, 2010
    jakkijelene
    The Marx Brothers are always highly entertaining. This may not be considered one of their best, but it's one of my personal favorites. Perhaps because it was the first film to introduce me to the genius of the Marx Brothers. Although in black and white, you can still imagine a... read more colorful circus setting. I also think "Lydia The Tattooed Lady" is one of their most memorable musical numbers.
  • profwagstaff
    July 29, 2007
    profwagstaff
    The boys are on a downhill slide, but this one has some classic bits. And Groucho sings "Lydia The Tattooed Lady."

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Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce
October 10, 2009
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

Beguiling Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
April 8, 2005
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The beginning of the Marx Brothers slide from their peak comedies. Full Review

Steve Crum
October 14, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Even lesser Marx Brothers is hilarious fun.

Walter Chaw
August 15, 2004
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

exhibits the sort of anarchy that the Marx Bros. once trafficked in with a willful, almost malevolent mayhem. Full Review

Ken Hanke
August 21, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Second-rate Marx Bros, but with more than a few high spots

Larry Carroll
August 9, 2002
Larry Carroll, Countingdown.com

Classic Marx Brothers comedy.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Frank S. Nugent
January 28, 2006
Frank S. Nugent, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Thomas Delapa
June 24, 2005
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly

No review available.

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Facts

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    • J. Cheever Loophole: That night I drank champagne from your slipper. Two quarts. It would have held more but you were wearing inner soles.
    • J. Cheever Loophole: I don't know what I'm doing here wehn I could be at home in bed with a hot toddy. That's a drink. [not wanting toddy to be confused with actress Thelma Todd]
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At the Circus : Watch Free on TV

At the Circus Trivia

  • Name the movie in which Groucho Marx plays a character named Loophole  Answer »
  • In the movie Dumbo, what does Dumbo shoot out of his nose at the circus croud?   Answer »
  • In which film does Groucho Marx sing "Lydia the Tattooed Lady"?  Answer »
  • Which two Marx brothers' films are set extensively on a train?  Answer »
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