This week, Ian and Dave discuss the Marxes’ ninth film: At the Circus – commonly felt to be the first signs of the cracks in the foundation of the Marx Brothers movies. What do Ian and Dave think? Do they agree with the critical consensus or wend their own merry way? Listen and learn!
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YeSSS!!! Thank you, and God bless you, Boys! I was jumping for joy to hear Dave’s clearing up and fleshing out Susan Fleming and Harpo and Million Dollar legs!! Ok, maybe not jumping for joy, but I did say “YeSS!” as Ian expected)
Great show!! Loved it. I really enjoy your banter.
I’m glad you reviewed the movie on it’s own terms, and didn’t compare it too much to their best. A really fun podcast, as always!
Ian, this is the second show where you referenced Groucho’s earlier scene where he’s on the ship and asks if he has time to go pay his hotel bill, and is happy to hear he can’t. Both times you remembered it as The Cocoanuts… Dave tried to correct you, and you switched to Monkey Business (“Monkeys and Cocoanuts ….”). Dave, you should have stuck to your guns–the scene was from A Night at the Opera”. ( He was a stowaway in Monkey Business, and would not have had a hotel bill…)
I suppose, a little too picky, but hey, you guys asked for it. I enjoy Ian’s rewriting the scripts from the future–always spot on!!
Thanks Gentlemen!
Danny
Thanks, Danny. Glad you’re still enjoying this nonsense. You’re right. I should have stuck to my guns, but sometimes it’s more pleasant to let things slide and just get on with the ding-dang show.
Ian’s mixing up the movies sort of makes me feel better about my (In retrospect, surprisingly negative) question in 350 about the films getting all smooshed together!
I too was intrigued by the ceiling walking, particularly what it was they were suctioning onto; glass would probably not be a good idea! Richard Sands, a prominent circus guy, apparently used a polished marble slab, though it doesn’t specify whether it was parallel or perpendicular to the floor. I would think a sheet of metal bolted to a board would be the best/safest surface for the trick.
This book seems like it would be an interesting read, even if it seems short on the technical side (Though it says the suction shoes had a weight limit of 240 lbs.). It references Even Arden’s character, but more interesting, says that a human fly died performing a promotional stunt for Safety Last.
And, again, the advantage of bringing in new eyes to view a film – David quickly noted that At The Circus has no clowns, something that had never sunk into my skull after repeated, increasingly frustrated, viewings for reasons more related to content than context. I’m returning to where I left off now to hear any expostulations about hairpieces. Listening to these podcasts is the most fun I’ve had driving since getting a real tire to replace that mini spare.
Thanks for another great show. Ian, that opening credit cartoon you wanted to see more of – – – the Boys are driving the circus train. A very streamlined train, of course, in keeping with the look of the circus. But yes, it looks so good and I would also love to see it in more detail.