A Night at the Opera(1935)- User Reviews

Counted one of the Marx Brothers best. Mostly George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, others wrote a script. Groucho as an opera impresario Otis B. Driftwood (can you believe it): tasked to introduce Mrs. Claypool (Margaret Dumont) into the world of opera society. This means money directed to the right person, here Herman Gotlieb (Sig Rumann) director of of the opera. Introduce two more Marx, and assign them characters: Chico is agent for Ricardo (Alan Jones) poor but honest tenor with aspirations, and Harpo dresser for opera star Lasspari (Walter Woolf King), not poor and not honest. He won't sing unless he gets paid for it, giving Ricardo his opportunity. Ricardo will sing for a cheese sandwich, and he has the inside track with Rosa (Kitty Carlisle) who spurns (politely) Lasspari's attentions.

Everybody (mostly) takes ship for New York. Chico and Harpo are stowaways, Groucho in a closet sized stateroom, preceded by steamer trunk, hideaway for Chico and Harpo. Groucho orders breakfast. Then enter manicurist, maid, plumber and his helper, six or so waiters carrying the grub. After an eventful voyage, they hit New York and invade the opera: they try to replace Lasspari with Ricardo, but Groucho runs afoul of Mrs. Claypool and loses his job...They plot to kidnap Gottlieb, join the chorus during a performance of Verdi's "La Traviata"...

"A Night at the Opera" breaks all the funny rules and get away with it. Directed by Sam Wood.