A Night at the Opera Overview:

A Night at the Opera (1935) was a Comedy - Musical Film directed by Sam Wood and Edmund Goulding and produced by Irving Thalberg.

SYNOPSIS

Probably the finest hour in the Marx Brothers' stellar career, this was their first film for MGM and their first without Zeppo. It was assembled after Irving Thalberg's dictate that the show go on the road before it went in front of the cameras. The result was a polished, blissful union of critical and commercial smash. It features the seminal Marx Brothers juxtapositions of high society and absurdly crooked con men, in this case Groucho trying to waylay the fortune of perennial nemesis Dumont by persuading her to invest in an opera company. The stowaways in the jammed stateroom scene is one of the greatest bits of comedy ever put on film.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

.

A Night at the Opera was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1993.

A Night at the Opera BlogHub Articles:

A Night at the Opera (1935) – Updated

By 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 29, 2015 From 4 Star Films

That’s in every contract, that’s what you call a sanity clause.” – Groucho You can’t a fool a me there ain’t no sanity clause” – Chico The Marx Brothers had a set formula, where everyone else played the drama straight and they do what ever they want. S... Read full article


Review: A Night at the Opera (1935)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 29, 2015 From 4 Star Films

“That’s in every contract, that’s what you call a sanity clause.” – Groucho “You can’t a fool a me there ain’t no sanity clause” – Chico The Marx Brothers had a set formula, where everyone else played the drama straight and they did whateve... Read full article


Review: A Night at the Opera (1935)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 29, 2015 From 4 Star Films

“That’s in every contract, that’s what you call a sanity clause.” – Groucho “You can’t a fool a me there ain’t no sanity clause” – Chico The Marx Brothers had a set formula, where everyone else played the drama straight and they did whateve... Read full article


A Night at the Opera (1935, Sam Wood)

By Andrew Wickliffe on Mar 2, 2015 From The Stop Button

As good as the Marx Brothers are in A Night at the Opera–and George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind’s strong script is important too–director Wood really brings the whole thing together. The film has its obligatory musical subplot and romantic leads. Wood knows how to balance those e... Read full article


A Night at the Opera (1935)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Aug 14, 2013 From 4 Star Films

Starring the Marx Brothers, this vehicle for their comedy has Groucho, Harpo, and Chico trying to help two lovers earn ?positions?at the opera. Along the way Groucho tries to marry a rich patron and Chico and Harpo run from the law as stowaways. This film which could be seen as having a dramatic sto... Read full article


See all A Night at the Opera articles

Quotes from A Night at the Opera

Henderson: Am I crazy or are there only two beds in here?
Otis B. Driftwood: Now which question do you want me to answer first Henderson?


[in reference to Tomasso]
Otis B. Driftwood: Wouldn't it be simpler if you just had him stuffed?
Fiorello: He's no olive.


Fiorello: You got some mail for me?
Tony: Mail for you? You don't work here.
Fiorello: Well where am I gonna get my mail? I no work anyplace.


read more quotes from A Night at the Opera...

Facts about A Night at the Opera

In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this as the #85 Greatest American Movie of All Time. It was the first inclusion of this film on the list.
In the scene where Harpo Marx, Chico Marx and Allan Jones are impersonating the three aviators in front of the mayor, Groucho Marx turns around to speak to them in a "foreign language." What is actually being said is a direct response to the accusations of imposters, only the audio track is played backwards. The first time Groucho Marx actually says, "Did you hear what he said? He said you were frauds and imposters!" which is then followed by Chico Marx and Riccardo protesting loudly, "How can he say a thing like that?", "This is ridiculous," and other such comments.
Sig Ruman makes his first of three appearances in The Marx Brothers films.
read more facts about A Night at the Opera...
Share this page:
Visit the Classic Movie Hub Blog CMH
National Film Registry

A Night at the Opera

Released 1935
Inducted 1993
(Sound)




See All Films in National Registry >>
Also directed by Sam Wood




More about Sam Wood >>
Also produced by Irving Thalberg




More about Irving Thalberg >>
Related Lists
Create a list



See All Related Lists >>
Also released in 1935




See All 1935 films >>
More "Romance (Comic)" films



See All "Romance (Comic)" films >>
More "Slapstick" films



See All "Slapstick" films >>
More "Mistaken Identity" films



See All "Mistaken Identity" films >>
More "Fame" films



See All "Fame" films >>