A Night at the Opera

A Night at the Opera


MGM, 1935, B/W, 92 minutes, ***

Released November, 1935



Chaos reigns (rains?) when the Marx brothers decide to produce an opera. Lots of classic comedy scenes and some great music make this one of the best, if not the best of the Marx Brothers films. Classic comedy scenes include the famous stateroom scene (where everyone onboard the liner tries to cram into Groucho's tiny stateroom) and the "Party of the First Part" contract, which is a word game scene with Chico and Groucho haggling over a 6-foot long contract ("Everyone knows there is no Sanity Clause!").

Kitty Carlisle and Alan Jones sing "Alone" and Jones offers up his famous "Cosi Cosa," which was his song for several years in the mid-1930s. Great entertainment!



Producer: Irving Thalberg

Directed by: Sam Wood

Screen Play by: George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind

From a Story by: James Kevin McGuinness

Musical Score by: Herbert Stothart

"Alone" Music by Nacio Herb Brown, Lyrics by Arthur Freed

"Cosi Cosa" Music by Kaper and Jurmann, Lyrics by Ned Washington

Dances by: Chester Hale

Art Director: Cedric Gibbons

Associates: Ben Carre, Edwin B. Willis

Wardrobe by: Dolly Tree

Recording Director: Douglas Shearer

Photographed by: Merritt B. Gerstad

Film Editor: William LeVanway



Cast: Groucho Marx [Otis B. Driftwood], Chico Marx [Fiorello], Harpo Marx [Tomasso], Kitty Carlisle [Rosa], Allan Jones [Riccardo], Walter King [Lassparri], Siegfried Rumann [Gottlieb], Margaret Dumont [Mrs. Claypool], Edward Keane [Captain], Robert Emmett O'Connor [Henderson], Additional Cast: Billy Gilbert [Peasant], Frank Yaconelli [Engineer], Sam Marx [Extra on Ship and at Dock], Claude Peyton [Police Captain], Rodolfo Hoyos [Count di Luna], Olga Dane [Azucena], James Wolf [Ferrando], Inez Palange [Maid], Otto Fries [Elevator Man], William Gould [Police Captain], George Guhl [Policeman], Phillips Smalley, Selmer Jackson [Committeemen], Harry Allen [Doorman], Lorraine Bridges [Louisa], Alan Bridge [Immigration Inspector], Jack Lipson [Bit], Gino Corrado [Steward], Purnell Pratt [Mayor], Rita and Rubins [Dancers], Luther Hoobyar [Ruiz], Jonathan Hale [Stage Manager], Leo White, Jay Eaton, Rolfe Sedan [Aviators], Wilbur Mack, George Irving, Harry Tyler [Sign Painter], Bess Flowers [Ship Passenger]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:09] Excerpts from the opera PAGLIACCI (sung by Ensemble, mostly in background); [0:11] Nedda! Silvio, a Quest'ora (?) (from the opera PAGLIACCI) (excerpt sung by Kitty Carlisle); [0:17] The Sanity Clause (Groucho and Chico); [0:23] Alone (sung by Kitty Carlisle and Allan Jones, joined by Chorus); [0:32] The Stateroom Scene; [0:39] Rhumba (played in background); [0:41] Santa Lucia (sung by Chorus); [0:42] Cosi Cosa (sung by Allan Jones, joined by Chorus, danced by Ensemble); [0:46] All I Do Is Dream of You (played by Chico Marx at the piano); [0:49] Alone (played on harp by Harpo Marx); [1:17] Il Trovatore (Overture) / Take Me Out to the Ball Game (played by Orchestra); [1:19] Excerpts from the opera IL TROVATORE sung by Ensemble as Marx Brothers antics take place backstage and frontstage)