At the Circus (1939)

 

The Marx Brothers try to help the owner of a circus recover some stolen funds before he finds himself out of a job.

From memory: Although not among the best of the Marx Brothers comedies, this film still has an abundance of their wild anarchistic fun and quite a few memorable scenes; the romance, however, well, you simply need to grin and bear it.

Halliwell**: "This film began the decline of the Marx Brothers; in it nothing is ill done but nothing is very fresh either apart from the rousing finale which shows what professionalism meant in the Old Hollywood. Highlights include Groucho singing about Lydia the Tattooed Lady, his seduction of Mrs Dukesbury, and the big society party."

Maltin**1/2: "Not top-grade Marx Brothers, but some good scenes..." 

A Day at the Races (1937)

A veterinarian posing as a doctor, a race-horse owner and his friends struggle to help keep a sanitarium open with the help of a misfit race-horse.

A Day at the Races (1937)

A veterinarian posing as a doctor and a race-horse owner and his friends struggle to help keep a sanitarium open with the help of a misfit race-horse.

From memory: A perfect Marx Brothers vessel: embedded in a silly romance and interspersed with mediocre musical asides, the trio finds enough room to wreak havoc with their anarchic humor.

Halliwell****: "Fashions in Marxism change, but this top quality production, though lacking their zaniest inspirations, does contain several of their funniest routines and a spectacularly well integrated racehorse climax. The musical and romantic asides are a matter of taste but delightfully typical of their time."

Maltin***1/2: "...often uproarious comedy features some of the trio's funniest set pieces...A perfunctory storyline and unmemorable songs keep it from tooping its immediate predecessor, A NIGHT AT THE OPERA...but the comedy is sensational."

Go West (1940)

The Marx Brothers come to the rescue in the Wild West when a young man, trying to settle an old family feud so he can marry the girl he loves, runs afoul of crooks.