The Big Store

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The Big Store

Released Jun 20, 1941

1h 24m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

70%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Private detectives Wolf J. Flywheel, Wacky and Ravelli (The Marx Brothers) are hired by the officious Martha Phelps (Margaret Dumont), co-owner of the Phelps Department Store. Her beloved nephew, Tommy (Tony Martin), has been assaulted, shortly after he announced plans to sell his share of the store. Unbeknownst to Martha, the culprit is her fiancé, sleazy store manager Mr. Grover (Douglas Dumbrille), who wants Tommy dead before the sale exposes his years of fraud and theft.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

The Marx Brothers do Marx Brothers things in The Big Store and while it's not their best effort, it's the Marx Brothers doing those things that are really all that matter.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 5, 2024

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 4/5

Nov 4, 2005

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Thomas Delapa

Boulder Weekly

Rated: 3/5

Jul 22, 2005

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Too many dead spots.

Rated: C

Apr 12, 2005

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Daniel Eagan

Film Journal International

Low-grade comedy is a disappointment for Marx fans

Rated: 1/5

Apr 12, 2005

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Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

The kind of movie that takes you about an hour to figure out that you've already seen it. If you last an hour.

Rated: 0.5/4

Aug 23, 2004

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Bob S

When this comes on TCM, watch it, if you like slapstick. Ignore the snobs. I had never seen this marx brothers film -- it's lesser known, and not their very best -- but it kept me laughing out loud repeatedly. Truly nutty and funny sequences with foldaway beds and department store antics, one of which is an "elaborate sequence took an entire month to shoot and utilized an unusual number of stunt doubles, Mack Sennett-type slapstick stunts and stop-motion photography for a Marx Brothers film." Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Store Of course it's generally the same ridiculous plot concept as their other movies, but the guys are hysterical. Don't deprive yourself by limiting your viewing to A night at the opera.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

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StephenPaul C

LOL, the funniest 01 hour: and 24 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/17/23

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Steve D

Glad it wasn't the end because this one was the worst.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/16/23

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Audience Member

When this relatively minor Marx Brothers' film sticks to comedy or music simply from Chico and Harpo, it can't step wrong, but unfortunately is cluttered with junk it doesn't otherwise need. Still, it has some of their most hilarious slapstick scenes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

While it's not devoid of good jokes, The Big Store shows why people were leaving the Marx Bros. and watching Abbott & Costello instead around this time.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Audience Member

Bestemt ikke Marx Brothers' bedste film.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Charles Reisner

Director

The Marx Brothers

Actor

Tony Martin

Tommy Rogers

Margaret Dumont

Martha Phelps

Virginia Grey

Joan Sutton

Douglas Dumbrille

Mr. Grover

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Synopsis

Private detectives Wolf J. Flywheel, Wacky and Ravelli (The Marx Brothers) are hired by the officious Martha Phelps (Margaret Dumont), co-owner of the Phelps Department Store. Her beloved nephew, Tommy (Tony Martin), has been assaulted, shortly after he announced plans to sell his share of the store. Unbeknownst to Martha, the culprit is her fiancé, sleazy store manager Mr. Grover (Douglas Dumbrille), who wants Tommy dead before the sale exposes his years of fraud and theft.

Director: Charles Reisner
Producer: Louis K. Sidney
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 20, 1941, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 25, 2008
Runtime: 1h 24m

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