Monkey Business

Name: Monkey Business
Genre: Comedy, Musical
Released: September 19, 1931
Duration: 77 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Chico Marx, Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Harry Woods, Rockliffe Fellowes

1931

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 4 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: September 19, 1931 | Passed

Starring: Chico Marx, Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Harry Woods, Rockliffe Fellowes, Ruth Hall, The Marx Brothers, Thelma Todd, Tom Kennedy, Zeppo Marx

Summary: On a transatlantic crossing, The Marx Brothers get up to their usual antics and manage to annoy just about everyone on board the ship.

Director: Norman Z. McLeod

Genre(s): Comedy, Musical

Rating: Passed

Runtime: 77 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Michael Wilmington

Volcanically funny. [23 Dec 2005, p.C7]

Scott Tobias

In casting the brothers as stowaways on an ocean liner, Monkey Business gets laughs from broad Keystone Kops chase scenes, but extends the absurdity even further with bizarre one-liners (Groucho claims he "licked his weight in wild caterpillars") and a sequence in which all four brothers try to get off the boat by impersonating Maurice Chevalier. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

One of the Marx Brothers' funniest films, Monkey Business was their first to be written directly for the screen and is noticeably less stagy than earlier efforts. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

The usual Marx madhouse and plenty of laughs sprouting from a plot structure resembling one of those California bungalows which spring up over night. Read full review

Mordaunt Hall

Whether it is really as funny as Animal Crackers is a matter of opinion. Suffice it to say that few persons will be able to go... and keep a straight face. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

With Monkey Business, their first screen original, the team cast caution to the winds, helped by a perky script and some lunatic sight gags. Read full review

Don Druker

A bit disorganized, it carries hints of surrealism (especially in Harpo's extraordinary performance) that later flowered in Duck Soup. Read full review

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