ANIMAL CRACKERS

Animal Crackers
Paramount, 1930, B/W, 98 minutes, ***
Released August, 1930

All Four Marx Brothers in a zany tale involving high society parties, a stolen painting, African explorers, young lovers, and a manic game of bridge. With Margaret Dumont, Lillian Roth, and the song "Hooray for Captain Spaulding."

This film is so far over the top it borders on weird! The entire film feels like it was impromptu. But that's not to say it's not entertaining. It is crazy fun as only the Marx Brothers can do it!

Producer: none credited
Directed by: Victor Heerman
Screen Play by: Morrie Ryskind
Based on the Musical Play by George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind, Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby
Continuity by: Pierre Collings
Music: Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, Sheldon Brooks, Nat Bonx and Moe Jaffe
Art Director: Ernst Fegte
Photographed by: George Folsey

Cast: Groucho Marx [Captain Jeffrey 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], Margaret Irving [Mrs. Whitehead], Kathryn Reece [Grace Carpenter], Robert Greig [Hives], Edward Metcalf [Hennessey], The Music Masters [Six Footmen], Ann Roth [Girl]

Musical Program: [0:00] Main Title (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:02] Butler's Song (sung by Robert Craig and The Music Masters); [0:04] Hooray for Captain Spaulding (Zeppo Marx and sung by Chorus); [0:05] May I Present (sung by Zeppo Marx and Chorus); [0:07] Hello, I Must Be Going [sung by Groucho Marx, Margaret Dumont and Chorus); [0:08] Hooray for Captain Spaulding (sung by Chorus, danced by Groucho Marx); [0:50] Original Piano Ditty (Chico Marx at the Piano); [0:55] Anvil Chorus (from the Opera IL TROVATORE) (very short excerpt played by Harpo Marx on horseshoes, Chico Marx at the Piano); [1:01] Why Am I So Romantic? (sung by Hal Thompson and Lilian Roth, then played on harp by Harpo Marx); [1:32] My Old Kentucky Home (excerpt sung by Groucho, Zeppo and Chico)