A Night in Casablanca
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Movie Reviews of A Night in Casablanca
Movie Review: The last great one from the Marx Brothers
Summary: 5 Stars
After a couple of real duds in the early 1940s, the Marx Brothers scored again with this crazy lark about Nazis and hidden jewels in a hotel that Groucho manages. Previous hotelkeeps have been bumped off by Nazi thug Sig Ruman as he attempts to recover stolen jewels and art treasures hidden in the basement, but when Groucho takes the job and hires Chico and Harpo (who runs a camel taxi service) to help him out, Ruman doesn't know what he's in for. Not even vamp accomplice Lisette Verea can work her charms on the boys. Much of the humor sparkles and the picture is right up there with their classics from the '30s. Originally it was supposed to be a spoof of the Bogart-Bergman classic CASABLANCA, but that being small potatoes for the Marxes, they decided to take on the whole war-inspired, melodramatic romantic comedy genre instead. Their last great picture and lots of fun to watch.
Movie Review: A Night in Casablanca 1946
Summary: 5 Stars
Groucho (1890-1977) , Chico 1887-1961 , Harpo 1888-1964...Uh-oh ! it's the Nazi vs. nutsies when legendary Marx Brothers foils Axis criminals during A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA . As the manager of the hotel swirling in intrigue , Grochy is up to his fake mustache in joyful if unfilled Lechery. Chico -heywatzamatter-becomes Groucho's bodyguard by self-decree. Harpo , pantomime's clown prince, says more whistle and gestures tahn most comics say in pages of dialogue . When this 1946 film began production Warner Bros. threatned suite saying the title infriged upon the studio's famed CASABLANCA . Groucho fired back: *You probably have the rights to use the name WARNER, but what about Brothers ! Professionaly , we were before you were* .Hight Quality Transfer . Recommended
Movie Review: Great movie.
Summary: 5 Stars
For classic movie lovers this is a good comedy!
One of the Marxx Bros. last - it shows even at their "movie retirement era" they still have it!
Most of the jokes & 1 liners can still be used today & get just as many laughs if not more!
Their age was beginning to show but the skill & finese had not waivered an inch!
Just thinking of their movies makes you laugh & gives you a warm fuzzy feeling of faux nostalgia almost as though you were there in that time.
I highly recommend this movie!
Movie Review: Love his movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Love this movie. Big fan of Marx Brothers. The DVD came in the condition as marked, well before date indicated which is always a plus. Would do business with this seller againMovie Review: "You schweinhund!"
Summary: 4 Stars
A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA is a film more famous for the correspondence it allegedly provoked (there's a possibility that the entire thing was a publicity stunt) between Groucho Marx and the Warner Brothers' legal department (WB stated they had a claim on 'Casablanca'; Groucho countered with a claim on 'Brothers') than for any of the gags it contained. I think this is a pity as, while it certainly can't compare to the Marx Brothers at their height, it isn't an awful film. In fact, taken on its own merits, it's quite good.The first thing that struck me when I put on this DVD (this was the first time I'd seen the film) was how much older the Marx Brothers themselves looked, particularly Harpo. His character was always a sort of ageless clown and seeing wrinkles sort of spoilt the illusion for me. On the other hand, Groucho actually looks more in character at this age. It gives him easier access to his "dirty old man" routine, which he played perfectly.
Despite the title (and apparently the original intentions of the filmmakers), the movie doesn't have much to do with the more famous film with a similar name. The action centers in and around a hotel rather than a nightclub (Groucho is now the manager after the last few died under mysterious circumstances). The search is for treasure instead of travel papers. And, of course, instead of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman as the romantic couple, we have bland Zeppo-replacement and bland Zeppo-replacement's bland girlfriend. Well, we can't have everything.
While most of the secondary cast is uninspired, it is nice to see Sig Ruman and his eye-popping indignation back again after his stints in A NIGHT AT THE OPERA and A DAY AT THE RACES. His over-the-top, sputtering reactions almost make up for the lack of Margaret Dumont. In the sequence where he's trying to pack his suitcases and trunks while the Marx Brothers invisibly impede his progress, he helps turn a great scene into a classic one.
The joke writing in this movie is quite strong compared to some of the other MGM Marx features. In particular, Groucho's one-liners are at full strength; I have this movie on in the background while I type up this review, and I'm catching hilarious little jokes and double entendres that I missed the first time around. And while some of the gags have the hint of unoriginality about them, there's enough that's fresh. Sure, the scene of Harpo pantomiming that Groucho was about to be blackmailed by a femme fatale had already been done in A DAY AT THE RACES, but they wisely don't use the same lines to fuel the jokes (although strangely they do use the same music: both Groucho seduction scenes feature Johann Strauss' "The Blue Danube"). The same is true for the crowded dance-floor sequence that mimics the crowded stateroom scene from A NIGHT AT THE OPERA. Same premise, but different funny jokes.
The DVD extras are nothing special. I suppose someone must be enjoying the vintage cartoons that they're putting on these Marx Brothers DVDs, but that person isn't me. The extras aren't important anyway; unfortunately, they don't add anything to the experience. Picture and sound quality are both excellent for a film of this age.
This movie may come from the less celebrated portion of the Brothers' career, but to my surprise I really enjoyed it. No film can go wrong that features a scene of Harpo Marx grinning madly at the controls of an airplane. If you go in expecting DUCK SOUP, then you might be disappointed. But if you take it for what it is rather than what it isn't, you'll find a film that's funnier than most.