In their first post World War II film, the Marx Brothers take aim at those films of adventure and intrigue set in far away places and filmed at studio back lots. Such a film was the classic Casablanca and so was A Night In Casablanca.
Personally I can't believe Jack Warner wanted to sue the brothers and United Artists over this film. He certainly had deeper pockets than they did, why make such a fuss?
In any event the film is about looted Nazi treasure from the late war and it being hidden in a Casablanca hotel. Two of the hotel managers have met violent and sudden death and the third one is already earmarked by Nazi bigwig Sig Ruman on the run from the Nuremberg court. He's stopping in Casablanca to get the treasure on the way to South America. But when his valet Harpo accidentally vacuums his toupee off his head, his plans halt. Ruman can't go out or he'll be instantly recognized without the rug.
That hotel manager whom they want to get is none other than Groucho and he gets his usual assistance from self appointed bodyguard Chico. Of course that sets up a lot of typical Marx situations.
A Night In Casablanca is not as good as most of their films from the Thirties, still it has its moments. Harpo literally 'holding' up a building is one of them. And the brothers gas lighting Sig Ruman as he's trying to pack is another.
Fans of the brothers will enjoy this one. As for those who don't know them, I'd look first at their early films from Paramount to get a true gauge of their surrealistic comedy.
Personally I can't believe Jack Warner wanted to sue the brothers and United Artists over this film. He certainly had deeper pockets than they did, why make such a fuss?
In any event the film is about looted Nazi treasure from the late war and it being hidden in a Casablanca hotel. Two of the hotel managers have met violent and sudden death and the third one is already earmarked by Nazi bigwig Sig Ruman on the run from the Nuremberg court. He's stopping in Casablanca to get the treasure on the way to South America. But when his valet Harpo accidentally vacuums his toupee off his head, his plans halt. Ruman can't go out or he'll be instantly recognized without the rug.
That hotel manager whom they want to get is none other than Groucho and he gets his usual assistance from self appointed bodyguard Chico. Of course that sets up a lot of typical Marx situations.
A Night In Casablanca is not as good as most of their films from the Thirties, still it has its moments. Harpo literally 'holding' up a building is one of them. And the brothers gas lighting Sig Ruman as he's trying to pack is another.
Fans of the brothers will enjoy this one. As for those who don't know them, I'd look first at their early films from Paramount to get a true gauge of their surrealistic comedy.