pitsburghfuzz Reviews

Mighty Joe Young (1949)

Willis O'brien Wins Oscar

[9/10 · 20 August 2012]

This is the conclusion of what I like to call, "The Great Apes" Trilogy, which consists of King Kong, Son of Kong, and Mighty Joe Young. The three films involve Merian C Cooper, Ernest B Shoedsack, Ruth Rose, Willis O'brien, and Robert Armstrong. For most people, including myself, King Kong is the best of these three films, while Son of Kong is the weakest. Mighty Joe Young is in between. The gorilla effects are well-done, and even eliminated the ruffling of the rabbit fur King Kong had in 1933. Joe is an amalgamation of the King himself, and his son; containing childlike qualities, as well as the fact that Joe could potentially do some damage. There is one sequence which is simply marvelous involving the nightclub that steals the show. The performances are good for a movie of this type, and ends up being a happier film than the previous installments. Also, Willis O'brien's unmatched talents were finally recognized, with an Oscar for his work on this very film. Highly recommended.

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

A better Titanic, but that doesn't mean much

[6/10 · 16 August 2012]

I hate jukebox musicals. Not my thing. I also hate James Cameron's Titanic, a film with beautiful detail, but contains the most shallow love story ever. Good god it was boring. I came into Moulin Rouge with mixed expectations, and got the viewpoints of someone who loved it, and someone who hated it. I liked the film overall but there are some issues that I have with it that I won't spoil. The film is over the top, which for some can be jarring, especially with the editing and musical numbers. It does give the film a certain energy, but it gets old really quick. The plot is also put forth to us fairly quick, especially for a film that is 2 hours. The singing is eh, but my favorite sequence in the film uses "Roxanne" as a tango, and it is shot, choreographed, and sung well. I also enjoyed the set design and costumes, but the editing sometimes prevents me from looking at it. As a whole, I'd give Moulun Rouge a rental. I liked it, but I wish I could love it. However, I can say that is is infinitely better than Titanic.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Had high hopes, and this film went even higher...

[10/10 · 8 August 2011]

For the past few months, people have been doubting that apes could take over, and yet they would believe that a bunch of robot cars and blue cat people are plausible concepts. This is film is the unexpected hit of the summer. A few weeks ago, most people didn't think much of this film's release. But now, after exceeding box office expectations by $20 million, and gaining positive reception, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is a triumph, especially considering that it had to handle the burden of the poorly received 2001 remake.

First, allow me to address the film's problems before the praise.

The villains are one dimensional. Brian Cox and Tom Felton play slimy characters, David Oyelowo is a greedy corporate villain, and that works in the film's favor, but I cringed whenever they were on screen.

The film also has too many references to the original film. Considering that "Rise" is a great film on its own, its really glaring when a reference is made.

James Franco and Freida Pinto are good, but their characters aren't' anything special or spectacular.

My final problem: This film needs a sequel like how a human needs life to breathe.

Now, onto the positive praise.

Caesar played by Andy Serkis, is by far the best thing for this film. Andy Serkis is able to give us a character that is not only convincing but sympathetic and his character goes through a logical character arc. Like Roddy McDowal was to "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes", Andy Serkis delivers a performance atypical of a summer flick. Some people are speculating a wild card Oscar nomination. I think that this film will be like how "The Dark Knight" changed the Best Picture category.

John Lithgow is the best human character by far. His performance evokes the later stages of Alzheimer's and is the core of the human drama of the film.

Let's not forget the other apes.

Maurice is a orangutan that knows sign language and is the first ape that is kind to Caesar. Not only is the performance fantastic, but by far the most realistic ape in the film.

Rocket is the alpha male at the ape sanctuary and gives Caesar a hard time at first, but becomes almost a sidekick for Caesar.

Buck is a gorilla that is really the brute character. His action scene are awesome, and I laughed whenever he pwnd a human.

The final ape I wish to discuss is Koba. He's a chimp, but is kind of the opposite of Caesar. While Caesar only kills as a matter of last resort, Koba kills because he feels its necessary. I hope to see more conflict between Caesar and Koba in the next film. Little known fact, Koba was a nickname for Joseph Stalin.

As a whole, this film establishes a believable environment for future sequels. As an Apes fan, I can say this film can stand on its own feet against the original, and is vastly superior to the 2001 remake. As I'm writing this review, I have already seen the film twice. I intend to see it again.

Les Misérables (1934)

Just wow.

[10/10 · 16 July 2010]

So far, I have not read the book, and have only listened to a few bits from the musical, and I am usually not too fond of foreign films. I saw that this was on TCM not too long ago and I decided to give a watch. It took me two days, because I was doing other things, and here is my overall impression: One of the Best Films Ever! The story is about convict, Jean Valjean(played by Harry Baur, who gives an incredible performance), has a changed experience because of a bishop who took him in(Henry Krauss), and saved him from going into forced labor for life. Valjean uses silver the bishop gives him, so he could have a new start in life. Along the way, Inspector Javert(Charles Vanel) tracks him down throughout the years, and while Valjean escapes and changes his identity. The story's main themes in my opinion, are redemption, humanity, and the revaluation of good and evil. Valjean is an escaped convict, but he shows love and compassion for his fellow man, and even takes in a dying woman's child as his own. He even offers Javert to arrest him after he has found Cosette(the dying woman, Fantine's child). While Javert, a police inspector, is at the wrong side of ethics, as he lacks the compassion Valjean has. The film runs over four hours, the longest film I have ever seen, and its worth it. You need the running time to be long so you can discover the full depth of the story. The film also contains themes of revolution which are present, but it does not begin until much later on in the film. Overall, one of my 10 favorite films, and is one you should get your hands on.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (I) (1923)

Not a horror piece, but very good.

[9/10 · 7 July 2010]

Prior to Lon Chaney's masterwork in "The Phantom of the Opera", Mr. Chaney used his genius in the field of make-up in this lavish production. The characters were pretty funny at times(especially Norman Kerry, he looked like Cpt. Hook). Patsy Ruth Miller did a good job with the Esmeralda character, and had a lot of beauty and charm. Chaney also delivers an excellent performance as the deformed Quasimodo. He gave the character a lot of passion and emotion, but he also showed great genius in the make-up field. Lon was also game with going through with inconveniences in this role. The best example is when Chaney is getting whipped, he is wearing what some say is a twenty pound hump! Some reports claim that may have been seventy, but lets not get too excited. In any case, not as grand as "Phantom" in my opinion, and not only not as scary, Chaney gives a sympathetic performance as Quasimodo in this 1923 "super-jewel".

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Pixar's Latest Triumph, possibly their greatest.

[10/10 · 6 July 2010]

Like most people from my generation, I grew up with Buzz and Woody, and their small, but epic adventures. When I heard that this film was going to come into fruition, I was excited. Finally after 11 years, the long awaited sequel was going to come out! However, I did worry a little. When I walked into the theater, I was filled with high expectations. Most Pixar films fill these expectations of a great animated film(except for the depressing Incredibles and stupid Cars), but Toy Story 3 was a different case. It not only exceeded my expectations, now I am going to expect much more from Pixar. The movie is simply hilarious. Sadly, some of the characters were not in this one, but we do have the main ones, and that's the important thing. This film is not only the funniest in the trilogy, it is also the darkest. Some of the plot seemed like a rehash of the second, but done is such a way that you don't really realize it or just don't care. This is also one of the few animated films where I teared up a bit. The ending is just perfect, and that is how it should end. I would say that Toy Story is the greatest trilogy in film history.

The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Underrated Version of My Favorite Stage Musical

[4/10 · 16 May 2010]

Personally, I LOVE the Phantom of the Opera, the music, the lyrics to the music itself, and its simple love triangle story are all great elements that help Phantom succeed in entertaining. However, many people give this film version negative reviews, and i do have a few complaints. It isn't as stylized as the stage version. While the Phantom and Christine are sining the title song on stage, it is just beautiful to watch the boat glide through the foggy lake. The film version gets boring. As for the Maquerade sequence, it is dull and boring on film, because of the fast pacing of the singing, and how bored everyone sounds. Red Death is cooler on stage, nuff said. The deformity is'not even really a deformity, its more like sunburn. However, there are several good things about this film. First thing is Emmy Rossum. She is in my opinion, the most beautiful Christine, because of her youthful innocence, and the sound of her voice. Gerard Butler did a good job with the Phantom character. He's no Michael Crawford, but he does a better job with the "anger scenes" like "Down Once More" or Stranger than You Dreampt it". That leads me to my next point. I love the "Point of No Return sequence in the film better than the stage or original recording. As for the singing, most of it was good except for Carlotta(and she had to get a person to dub her voice!). This film has made me forgive Schumacher for "Batman and Robin", and remains one of my favorite films.

Batman & Robin (1997)

The Satan of Film: Batman and Robin

[1/10 · 3 April 2010]

Well, you have to give Joel Schumacher credit...FOR CREATING ONE OF THE WORST FILMS OF ALL TIME. I mean, you have to make new adjectives to describe how atrocious this film is. I would like to talk to the person who claimed that Plan 9 was the worst film ever made and show them the true horrors of how bad cinema CAN be. It is really hard for me to watch a movie and not say there is NOTHING salvageable. Well, there is always the exception to the rule. Too many one-liners, bad acting, and making it too similar to the Adam West series. For that time period, it was appropriate to have campiness at that level, but in 1997, it was unacceptable. This gives me more fuel to hate George Clooney, more reason to say that Batman is not the coolest superhero, and even though Spiderman 3 was bad, at least it made a decent attempt at film making. This "film" proves that most crimes can be forgiven, so long as they are not making Batman and Robin.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Disney at its darkest.

[9/10 · 27 February 2010]

Sadly, the most underrated Disney film. The film has really good music,voice acting, and great animation. The film is obviously based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same name. Tom Hulce's performance as the sympathetic Quasimodo is great, Esmerelda is the sexiest Disney character to date, and Frollo. What can I truly say for Frollo, played by Tony Jay. He is a great voice actor and this is his best performance. In the original novel, Frollo was a priest, not a judge. However, if he was a priest, the movie would be BANNED(as a kid's movie). I love it when he sings "Hellfire", one of the best Disney songs in my opinion. Frollo is a very evil Disney villain. Npot only is he a hypocrite, he is also a very lustful man. The film explores lust, religion and deformity just to name a few. The movie is also pretty funny. This film is an Disney Renaissance Classic. Besides, how many Disney films can you name that mention eternal damnation as one of the main subject matters? All in all, great film. Check it out.

Son of Kong (1933)

Not a bad sequel, considering it is a hard act to follow.

[8/10 · 27 February 2010]

Son of Kong is actually a pretty good sequel. Consider this: It came out the same year as the original, giving little time of good ol' Obie to do the best he could have done and how amazing the first one was. The story is about Robert Armstrong reprising as movie director Carl Denham, who is forced to pay many debts because of King Kong. He then meets up again with Capt. Englehorn, played by Frank Reicher. They then go off to multiple islands in the pacific and meet up with Helene Peterson(Helen Mack). Her father's circus was burned down by scoundrel, Capt. Nilis Helstrom(John Marston). He is then "accepted" with the crew of the venture and they go to Skull Island again. Helstrom causes mutiny, and our heroes are forced to get off the boat. Then we meet baby Kong. The story goes on from there. We do see some Kong favorites like Noble Johnson as the native chief and Victor Wong as Charlie. There really isn't a lot of stop-motion and we feel more sympathetic for the creature than we did in the first one. Overall, a good, satisfying sequel to the grandfather of special effects.

King Kong (1933)

The one that started it all...

[10/10 · 26 February 2010]

King Kong, the great wonder of visual effects! A character so visually beautiful, that we almost forget that it is actually a small model. Anyway, on to my review. King Kong takes place at first in NYC during the worst part of the depression: 1932-1933. We have movie director Carl Denham(played by Robert Armstrong) who wants to make a movie on Skull Island(although, they never call it Skull Island in the film). He finds Ann Darrow(scream-queen Fay Wray)to play the lead in his next film project and then they take a trip the crew will never forget. John Driscoll(Bruce Cabot) who is the hardened 1st mate of the ship, the Venture. The crew arrive on the island where they are greeted by unwelcoming natives who worship Kong. They want to use Ann in compensation for the crew disrupting the ritual. Ann is taken captive and the adventure just starts from there. This film is probably the most groundbreaking film ever made. This is 6 years after the advent of sound, and it is so structured for its time. It has beautiful visual effects done by underrated hero, Wilis O'Brien, a musical score by Max Steiner, and great acting(particularly, Robert Armstrong). This film helped pave the way for future special effects extravaganzas(suck on that Avatar!) Sadly, most people I know hate or just don't like this movie. King Kong, best film ever? Certainly most revolutionary.

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Much too scary to be funny, much too funny to be scary.

[10/10 · 26 February 2010]

An American Werewolf in London is undoubtedly one of the greatest cult classics ever. It is considered by many to be a mini classic. The story begins with two Americans(well, really Canadian but whatever) name David Kessler(David Naughton) and Jack Goodman(Griffin Dunne) who are taking a trip through Europe and end up in England. They are then attacked by a werewolf, Jack is killed, but David lives through the attack. He wakes up in a hospital in London were we meet Dr. Hirsch(John Woodvine) and Nurse Alex Price(played by Jenny Agutter, our love interest. David then experiences weird nightmares that seem very realistic. We meet Jack again(in fact we meet him three times in the film) and he explains that David id a werewolf and unless the bloodline of the werewolf is severed, then all of his victims will continue to walk in eternal limbo. Without the make-up effects by Rick Baker, this movie would not have been half as effective. The werewolf transformation is the greatest in cinema history(the transformation is probably more famous the final form itself!) It won Rick Baker the well deserved first Academy Award for Best Achievement for Make-up. Overall,good acting good comedy, and awesome monster make this film "a howling" experience.

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

Great Sci-Fi Monster film

[10/10 · 13 February 2010]

The Creature was the last of the great Universal Monsters, and this film is certainly one of their best. It is campy, fun, suspenseful, and even wondrous. The film is about a group of scientists who search for a prehistoric half-man half- fish creature. Ben Chapman plays the creature on land, while Ricou Browning plays the creature in the water where he had to hold his breath for four minutes at a time. Bud Westmore does a great creature suit and actually produces something cool looking, not saying his make-up work for "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is terrible, but I think that he and others will always stand in the shadow of make-up titan, Jack Pierce. The film's music is typical 50's sci-fi score and the performances vary, which makes it funny. Julie Adams plays the female scientist who the "Gill-Man" had feelings for, and Richard Carlson plays the main hero. There is some social commentary in this film about the environment, but that does not distract from how enjoyable this film is. Not a masterpiece, just a really awesome film.

Dracula's Daughter (1936)

Could have been better...

[7/10 · 12 February 2010]

Dracula's Daughter is a sequel that released five years after the 1931 Lugosi version. It still stars Edward Van Sloan as Von Helsing and he is accused of murder, because no one believes that Dracula was a vampire. Then, his daughter comes to town Countess Zaleska(Gloria Holden) to try and end her unholy appetite for blood. Undoubtedly, she has the worst performance. Few people actually wanted to play in these movies. It was her disapproval of the project that ultimately hurt the picture. Then it deals with Von Helsing's lawyer friend, Garth(Otto Kruger) and he tries to help defend his friend. Zaleska goes to him for treatment or something. I don't know, I have only seen it twice, but it is not really the best. I don't really think they were trying. Dracula and Frankenstein were great films, but the difference is that they tried to strive and make a great film and in some cases, even better than Frankenstein. However, Dracula's crew did not have as much enthusiasm. If you are a fan of Dracula and homosexual undertones, check it out.

The Wolfman (2010)

Not the film I was expecting...

[10/10 · 12 February 2010]

Personally, I am a big fan of the original Wolfman starring Lon Chaney Jr. Honestly, there has been any other movie that I have hyped for in my entire life. The trailers already made it look dark, but would it live up to my expectations? I found that out right when the film started. The pace of the film is perfect and I love that dark tone of the film. Benicio Del Toro plays an excellent Larry Talbot, a good guy at the wrong place at the wrong time. Anthony Hopkins plays a great Sir John Talbot, but more of a cynical nature. Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving turn in spectacular performances. The film was much darker than I expected. If you are very weak stomach or bad heart, DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM. The overall story works and doesn't seem too unoriginal. If you are a fan of the Universal Monster Legacy, see this film. This is a very scary film, and this ain't your daddy's Wolfman. There is a lot of great scenes, sequences, and quotes. The film is really a great piece of what can truly happen, when a remake, actually turns out to be good. How it compares to a 69 year old film that's for you to decide.

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

The Bride of Frankenstein!

[10/10 · 10 February 2010]

Even though I prefer Frankenstein, to most people, Bride of Frankenstein is a perfect example as a sequel of a great film, and make it even better. I love this film. The story begins with Mary Shelly (the author of Frankenstein, played by Elsa Lachester) telling her husband and Lord Byron that her story has not ended yet. The windmill has burned down and Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) had been taken home to his future wife, Elizabeth (Valerie Hobson, Mae Clarke was sick at the time but i feel they are equally beautiful and great as Elizabeth). The monster (Beautifully portrayed by Boris Karloff) is still alive and roams about the country side. Then we meet perhaps the most eccentric, gayest scientist the silver screen has to offer: Dr. Pretorious played by Ernest Thesgier. He tells Frankenstein that he himself had created life, but differently than Frankenstein's method, and lures Frankenstein back into creating a mate for the monster. The monster then is capture, but easily escapes and on the way, he meets a blind hermit. This is one of the most emotional scenes in the history of movies. They both have a disadvantage and both help each other reach a common goal: finding a friend. Soon after, two hunters walk in and accidentally burn the house of the hermit down. The monster is then chased by villagers through a graveyard and walks into crypt, thus meets Dr. Pretorious who promises him a bride. The monster then captures Elizabeth and then Frankenstein and Pretorious start creating the bride. The ending is fantastic for the movie, so I won't ruin the surprise. The acting is superb in this film and exceeded my expectations as a sequel. On its own, its a great movie for the horror genre and for all times. The Bride of Frankenstein is a brilliant piece of art.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)

The Mightiest Motion Picture of them All!

[10/10 · 1 February 2010]

Well, my summary is a bit exaggerated, but I'm not that far off. Like all Disney film, this is not a great adaptation of the novel(the novel is so boring though), but it is probably the best known adaptation of the book. To start off the cast is marvelous, more specifically that of James Mason, as the anti-hero, Capt. Nemo. The movie also stars Paul Lukas, Peter Lorre, and Kirk Douglas. Most of the film takes place in the Nautilus(designed by the genius Harper Goff) and it gives the audience a feel of claustrophobia. The underwater shots of the Nautilus are beautiful. However, those scenes would not be as good if they were not accompanied by Paul Smith''s beautiful score. Another Disney legend on this movie is matte artist, Peter Ellenshaw. He painted a bunch of boats that looked very much real and he painted Vulcania. The highlight of the movie is the giant squid, a scene that took up so much money that it could have been the end of Disney as we know it. Overall, 20,000 Leagues is in fact a mighty motion picture with great acting, music, and special effects that contribute to the overall quality of the film.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Simply a classic

[8/10 · 23 January 2010]

This film is simply whimsical and wonderful. The film deals with a few children who are given golden tickets to visit Wonka's factory to find the heir to Wonka. The children are all stereotypes which is really funny and you could almost translate that into today(wait they did, in a bad remake). I love Gene Wilder's performance as Wonka. The songs are memorable, almost like Disney songs. Just those songs that everybody knows. The remake took a stake and jabbed it into my childhood. The sets are dated, but that makes them even cooler. The film has a pretty good supporting cast and added to the film, unlike the Buton version. Burton did a good job with his sets, but it hails in comparison to the original Wonka.

The Caine Mutiny (1954)

Bogart's last memorable performance...

[8/10 · 23 January 2010]

Thsi film is one of Bogrt'd finest moments and sadly, one of his last films. The film has Bogart star as Capt. Queeg, a sea captain, who is a bit paranoid about a great many things on the ship. The story goes on, but he had a great cast to back him up, including Fred MacMurray, Van Johnson, Jose, Ferer, and a few others to make his already outstanding performance even more enhanced. Bogart based his performance on a friend of his he knew who had the same condition. The final court room scene is the film is one of the more famous scenes. I just love it when Bogart plays with a bunch of marbles in his hand every now and then. In retrospect, a great film with great casting, all we need now is frozen strawberries.

Horse Feathers (1932)

I'm against you not liking this film.

[10/10 · 23 January 2010]

This was the fourth film done by the "Four Marx Brothers", and it is one of their best, especially from Paramont(the other two good ones were Duck Soup and Animal Crackers). Zeppo is given a bigger role in this film, in hopes that he would stay longer(he only stayed for one more movie). He plays Groucho's son, the new president of a college who has not won a football game since 1888. He asks his father to acquire two football players, but ends up getting Chico and Harpo. Thelma Todd plays the college widow, trying to get the football play sheet. This film has memorable songs, great gags, and a satisfying ending. If you are a Marx fan, this is a must see, if you don't see it, I'm against it.

A Night in Casablanca (1946)

A Night in Comedy Heaven, with three Marxes

[8/10 · 23 January 2010]

This film introduced me to the Marx Brothers. It is currently my 2nd favorite Marx film, and it is certainly one of their funniest. The story involves foul play with the murder of hotel managers in post-war Casablanca. Heinrich Stubel(Ruman) is trying to become manager so he can claim hidden treasure in the hotel. Howver, they hire Groucho as the manager of the hotel and things go topsy turvy for both sides. Then of course we have Chico and Harpo running muck all over the place with their antics. The film is quite enjoyable and is really funny. There are a few bits in the film that are particularly funny, such as the floor show scene. The Marx Brothers really turn in a great comedy and a decent story. Overall, if you don't see this film, you should be ashamed.

High Sierra (1940)

Manhunt for "Maddog"!

[10/10 · 23 January 2010]

Although many credit Casablanca to be his first sympathetic performance, this was actually his first. The film is about Roy Earle(Bogart), a gangster just released out of prison and is sent to do a job. He meets with Babe and Red(Curtis and Kennedy) and a girl named Marie(Lupino). As he traveled to meet them he met a nice family and was attracted to Velma(Leslie) who has a clubfoot and Earle decides to pay for her surgery hoping to make her fall in love with him. The film ends with a great manhunt for Earle in the mountains, one of the most intense scenes ever. Lupino and Bogarts' chemistry is fantastic. Even though Lupino is given top billing, you obviously know Bogart is the main character in the film. Its a film about dreams and how they can drastically clash with reality and the people living in it.

Ben-Hur (1959)

Bigger is better, in this Biblical Epic

[10/10 · 23 January 2010]

No film will make you believe in miracles like Ben-Hur. The film is about a Judean prince(Heston) who accidentally kills the governor of Judea and his former friend(Boyd) sends him to the galleys and he swears revenge. He has such a strong faith in God and ultimately leads back to Judea on a quest to find his mother and sister(who were arrested along with Judah. His love(Harareet)wrongfully tells him that his mother and sister are dead(they had obtained leprosy) and his revenge culminates in one of the grandest sequences in film history: the chariot scene. Films are not made like this anymore. Unlike today, everything pretty much was real, and this is one of the few movies where bigger is better. The scenes with Christ are beautiful. They never say his name but I find it more powerful. The one word to really describe this movie is EPIC.

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Tear Jerker...

[10/10 · 23 January 2010]

I recently bought this film at suncoast to watch it. (cuz well, i just like doing things like that). The film is about teenagers and fitting in. You have a teen named Jimmy Stark(Dean) who moves into a new neighborhood a lot because he simply can't fit in or people call him chicken. Plato(Mineo) becomes friends Stark, and is a fellow outcast too. Judy(Wood) hand out with the cool kids until later on in the film. The movie deals with conflicts that teens faced during the 50's and how they try to fit in. Judy, Plato, and Jimmy all lack a decent, solid father figure. Plato starts to look at Jimmy as his father. Dean's performance as Stark is outstanding and Sal Mineo as Plato is also a noteworthy performance. The film also proves that we all have our own problems too. The film gets very intense at parts, is more remembered for its tender moments. The film's ending is a tear jerker and you may need a tissue or two. If you don't watch this, then you read too many comic books.

A Night at the Opera (1935)

Best of the Marxes

[10/10 · 19 January 2010]

Even thought he funniest Marx Bros. movie was Duck Soup, A Night at the Opera was the best made of the movies. Many people consider this to be the 2nd greatest, but I say this was the best. The story was good, but the comedy was hilarious. The music is pretty good too. The brothers were all very funny. The story involves opera stars making their debut in America. Is that all? No. When the Marxes are involved, there is more to it than that. The comedy scenes were hilarious but the best scenes were the states room and the clause scene. Anyway, Groucho plays a woman's financial adviser(Dumont) and she donates money to the opera manager (Ruman)Then you have two young lovers(Carlise and Jones) but cannot be together because she is being sent to America. Harpo and Chico are partners as usual, and the story goes on from there.