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At the Circus

Play trailer Poster for At the Circus Released Oct 20, 1939 1h 27m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
At the Circus features the Marx Brothers (Groucho, Harpo, Chico) working together to save a circus from closing. Circus owner Jeff (Kenny Baker) needs $10,000 to pay off his business partner, John. In an effort to take over the circus himself, John allows his accomplices to steal the $10,000 from Jeff before he can pay. Loophole (Groucho Marx), a clumsy attorney who tries to help recover the money, enlists the help of wealthy Mrs. Dukesbury (Margaret Dumont).
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At the Circus

Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: 4/5 Dec 24, 2002 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies At the Circus is something of a return to form for the Marx Brothers but not quite as good as their best work at Paramount or MGM. Rated: 3.5/5 Jan 3, 2024 Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Beguiling Oct 10, 2009 Full Review Thomas Delapa Boulder Weekly Rated: 3/5 Jun 24, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jun 18, 2005 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews The beginning of the Marx Brothers slide from their peak comedies. Rated: B- Apr 8, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kevin L More grand stuff from the greatest comedy team of them all. There's many of the classic Marx bros. style laughs- clever wordplay, perfectly executed physical humor, Harpo with whatever you need under his coat, and Chico being a plan botching doofus. The use of the circus animals made for some cool scenes. The lions went from terrifying to sleepy cats. An ostrich makes for a quick ride to help out; not to mention a convenient egg. And how did they train that seal? I think his name was Alex. Yes, that's it. Alex the seal. Just like the Go-Go's song. It's great to see how they were still all-in and committed after years of making such comedic classics. There's a limit to the overdone singing, which made me happy. Of course, Margaret Dumont did her thing. Some impressive acrobatics and a woman who walks upside down. Whatta dame, Eve Arden. Then there's the kid who gave us some borderling profanity. All in a mouse's night. 3.3 stars Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/15/24 Full Review william k Although not among the best of the Marx Brothers comedies, this film still has an abundance of their wild anarchistic fun and quite a few memorable scenes; the romance, however, well, you simply need to grin and bear it. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review christopher c. m Like most Marx brothers movies, it can drag in the middle. But it is funny, as always with the Marx brothers and there are some impressive circus stunts. A must for Marx brothers fans. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review steve d A lot of fun and really funny. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Not up there with "Duck Soup" or "Horse Feathers" or "A Night at the Opera", but "At the Circus" still gives us the Marx Bros with some wonderfully comic moments. Despite the laughs it does feel a bit like the brothers brand of comedy is starting to fade, however. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Although it needs a lot of editing, the Marx Brothers give us a comedy worthy of all-star status. The last scenes at the "Dumont" mansion were probably the most popular, as the boys get to parlay their sharp and witty humor on the unsuspecting society matron at her own estate. I doubt that she woke up that morning expecting to be shot from a cannon. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews
At the Circus

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis At the Circus features the Marx Brothers (Groucho, Harpo, Chico) working together to save a circus from closing. Circus owner Jeff (Kenny Baker) needs $10,000 to pay off his business partner, John. In an effort to take over the circus himself, John allows his accomplices to steal the $10,000 from Jeff before he can pay. Loophole (Groucho Marx), a clumsy attorney who tries to help recover the money, enlists the help of wealthy Mrs. Dukesbury (Margaret Dumont).
Director
Edward Buzzell
Producer
Mervyn LeRoy
Screenwriter
Irving Brecher
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 20, 1939, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 11, 2008
Runtime
1h 27m
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