A Night at the Opera (1935)

While DUCK SOUP has risen to become emblematic of the Marx Brothers at their zaniest, A NIGHT AT THE OPERA represents the brothers at their finest. Under the inspired supervision of the boy genius Irving Thalberg, the script was penned by two of Hollywood's wittiest screenwriters, George Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind; the production values are substantially greater than in previous Marx Brothers works; the romantic leads, Kitty Carlisle and Allan Jones, are charming, first-rate stars; the supporting cast, led by Margaret Dumont, Sig Rumann, and Herman Gottlieb, turn in excellent performances; and the bent of the humor is honed from the surreal to a pointed attack on the lifestyles of the wealthy. The circuslike stateroom scene is among the funniest in motion-picture history. Harpo's performance of the hit song "Alone" is perhaps his finest harp solo. Directed by Sam Wood, A NIGHT AT THE OPERA was the Marx Brothers' greatest commercial and critical success.