At the Circus (Blu-ray Review)
Director
Edward BuzzellRelease Date(s)
1939 (November 25, 2025)Studio(s)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (Warner Archive Collection)- Film/Program Grade: B+
- Video Grade: A
- Audio Grade: A
- Extras Grade: C+
Review
The Marx Brothers starred in a series of successful pictures at Paramount, then moved to MGM, where they made arguably their best films, A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races. After a brief switch to RKO for Room Service, the brothers returned to MGM for At the Circus, which gave the zany trio a perfect backdrop for their antics.
Jeff Wilson (Kenny Baker), the new owner of Wilson’s Wonder Circus, will lose it unless he pays $10,000 to shady business manager John Carter (James Burke) after that night’s show. Carter is in cahoots with Goliath the Strongman (Nat Pendleton) and the midget Little Professor Atom (Jerry Maren) to make sure Jeff can’t come up with the money before the rigid deadline. Big-top workers Tony Pirelli (Chico) and Punchy (Harpo) send for their attorney pal J. Cheever Loophole (Groucho), on the lam from the law himself, to represent Jeff. According to Tony, “Whenever you got business trouble, the best thing to do is to get a lawyer. Then you got more trouble, but at least you got a lawyer.” Jeff raises the required amount but he gets knocked out and the money is stolen.
Loophole arrives and after several comic misadventures he questions Goliath and Professor Atom. As they all smoke cigars in the midget’s tiny room, a series of sneezes blows the tiny furniture every which way. Loophole then turns his attention to aerialist Peerless Pauline (Eve Arden), girlfriend of the unscrupulous Carter. She has the stolen cash and Loophole tries to get it back from her with no success. She tucks it into her bra and he can’t retrieve it even as they walk on the ceiling in suction shoes.
Learning that Jeff’s aunt is Suzannah Dukesbury (Margaret Dumont), a wealthy patroness of the arts, Loophole heads to her Newport mansion and convinces her to sponsor Jeff’s venture, assuming it’s to finance a symphony. This deception sets the stage for comic misunderstandings, slapstick, and classic Marx Brothers lunacy.
Music is a major element of Marx Brothers movies and At the Circus includes two singers in a romantic subplot. Jeff and the circus’ singing horse trainer Julie Randall (Florence Rice) team up for the duet Two Blind Loves, and Rice sings Step Up and Take a Bow as a horse performs appropriate choreography. Chico plays Beer Barrel Polka on the piano in his distinctive style and Harpo delivers a lovely harp solo rendition of Blue Moon. Swingali is an elaborate boogie-woogie production number featuring Harpo with a predominantly Black orchestra emulating the styles of Guy Lombardo, Harry James, and Glenn Miller.
The musical highlight, however, is Groucho’s Lydia the Tattooed Lady, about a woman whose numerous skin inkings are a history lesson in themselves. E.Y. Harburg’s lyrics are clever and provide a perfect vehicle for Groucho’s inspired rendition. Performed on the circus train as it chugs to the next venue, the number draws in enthusiastic onlookers while Harpo swings from an overhead lighting fixture.
At the Circus was shot by director of photography Leonard M. Smith on 35mm black-and-white film with spherical lenses, finished photochemically, and presented in the aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection features a 4K scan of the best surviving preservation elements, offering exceptional clarity and contrast. MGM’s care in lighting is apparent in every scene. Comic visual highlights include Professor Atom’s tiny room causing Groucho to squeeze in uncomfortably, Eve Arden and Groucho walking on the ceiling, and an entire symphony orchestra obliviously floating out to sea as they play. A gorilla, blatantly an actor in a gorilla suit, is supposed to provide a few laughs.
The soundtrack is English 2.0 mono DTS-HD Master Audio. English SDH subtitles are available. Dialogue is clear and distinct. Though Groucho’s delivery is very quick, his diction is perfect and he lands each gag impeccably. Harpo pantomimes his performance as always, and sometimes toots a long-handled horn.
Bonus features on the Blu-ray release from Warner Archive include the following materials:
- Dog Daze (10:37)
- Jitterbug Follies (8:45)
- Leo Is on the Air (11:28)
- Original Theatrical Trailer (3:15)
Dog Daze – George Sidney directed this 1939 Our Gang black & white MGM short featuring Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Porky, and Darla. The gang owes 37 cents to “loan shark” Butch. When they get a reward for finding and caring for a dog, they get the idea of earning more money by gathering all the local dogs and getting rewards from their owners. Not realizing that they’re dognappers, they soon get into trouble with the cops.
Jitterbug Follies – This black & white 1939 MGM cartoon features Count Screwloose (voiced by Mel Blanc) and J.R. the Wonder Dog who hold a $10,000 amateur talent contest with the idea of skipping town with the money. A couple of imposing toughs from the Citizens for Fair Play committee force them to actually hold the contest. This cartoon was adapted by Milt Gross from his own comic strip and was MGM’s second attempt at an in-house cartoon series, but only two Screwloose cartoons were made.
Leo Is on the Air – In this extended radio promo for At the Circus, a narrator talks about the film and introduces musical excerpts that include Tiger Rag, Lydia the Tattooed Lady, Beer Barrel Polka, and Swingali. The MGM orchestra is credited for playing the music.
At the Circus rehashes a number of ideas that clicked in earlier Marx Brothers films and contains the requisite instrumental solos for Chico and Harpo. Groucho’s scenes with Margaret Dumont, one of the best “straight men” in the movies, are pure joy, as he machine guns one insult after another at the dignified dowager. Eve Arden is wasted in a minor role with little chance to deliver wisecracks, her specialty. Character actor Fritz Feld plays the symphony conductor who drifts out to sea on a barge with his entire orchestra. Notable comedy scenes include a routine between Groucho and Chico about badges, Harpo riding an ostrich, and a finale filled with lots of fast-paced slapstick. Though not top-tier Marx Brothers, At the Circus has enough mayhem and laughs to make it an enjoyable look into their absurd world.
- Dennis Seuling