Money Business (1931) Director: Norman McLeod
“…Is it true you’re getting a divorce as soon as your husband recovers his eyesight? Is it true you wash your hair in clam broth? Is it true you used to dance in a flea circus?”
★★★★☆
The third Marx Brothers film, after Animal Crackers and The Cocoanuts, Monkey Business is the first Marx Brothers to feature an original screenplay not previously performed by the troupe in their vaudeville act. The plot is simple. The Brothers play four stowaways aboard a cruise liner. They try to avoid the ship’s security guards, while accidentally getting involved in rival gang warfare aboard the ship. Much of the film is just plotless mayhem –what a joy! Once the ship arrives in the United States, one of the gangsters kidnaps the others’ daughter, leaving it up to the Brothers to save the day.
Monkey Business was controversial among censors at the time for Groucho’s liberal use of numerous sexual innuendos, and it was heavily edited and even banned in Ireland. The Marx Brothers’s father Sam Marx (age 72) has a brief background cameo in this film. There are some great songs in the movie as well, including “Sweet Adeline” which is sung while the Brothers harmonize and hide in some barrels. Originally there was a plan to release a sequel based on the gangster theme, however one of the producer’s sons was actually kidnapped and killed in a gangster-related raid so they quickly changed course for the next Marx Brothers film. It wound up being Horse Feathers –a true classic.
Here are some of the classic Groucho one liners in Monkey Business:
“Oh, I know it’s a penny here and a penny there, but look at me. I worked myself up from nothing to a state of extreme poverty.”
“Mrs. Briggs, I’ve known and respected your husband Alky for many years. And what’s good enough for him is good enough for me.” [He suddenly grabs her and pulls her down onto a couch]
“Captain: [describing the stowaways] One of them goes around with a black moustache.
Groucho: So do I; if I had my choice, I’d go around with a little blonde.
Captain: I said, one goes around with a black moustache.
Groucho: Well, you couldn’t expect a moustache to go around by itself. Don’t you think a moustache ever gets lonely, Captain?”
“…Is it true you’re getting a divorce as soon as your husband recovers his eyesight? Is it true you wash your hair in clam broth? Is it true you used to dance in a flea circus?”
“Cab Driver: That’ll be $1.10.
Groucho: Here’s a dollar, keep the change.
Cab Driver: But I said a dollar “ten”!
Groucho: All right, give “me” the dollar, *I’ll* keep the change.”
“With a little study you’ll go a long ways, and I wish you’d start now.”
“Man: Keep outta this loft!
Chico: Well, it’s better to have loft and lost, but never to have lofted at all.”
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Credits
- Director: Norman Z. McLeod
- Written by: S. J. Perelman, Will B. Johnstone
- Produced by: Herman J. Mankiewicz
- Starring:
- Groucho Marx…..Groucho
- Harpo Marx…..Harpo
- Chico Marx…..Chico
- Zeppo Marx…..Zeppo
- Rockliffe Fellowes…..J.J. “Big Joe” Helton
- Harry Woods…..”Alky” Briggs
- Thelma Todd…..Lucille Briggs
- Cinematography: Arthur L. Todd
- Production Company: Paramount Publix Corp
Other Notes
- As promotion for this film, a mash-up of Marx Brothers shorts was released by Paramount entitled “The House That Shadows Built.” It was released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Paramount Studios (imagine that!) and it features a Maurice Chevalier impression by Zeppo.
- This was the first Marx Brothers film to be shot in Hollywood rather than Astoria Studios.
- Notably, Margaret Dumont did not appear in this film.
- There is a minor controversy/debate among Marx Brothers fans over whether or not Harpo can be heard singing “Sweet Adeline” while stowing away in a barrel at the start of this film.