Monkey Business Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Four stowaways on a boat annoy some gangsters and a whole lotta sailors.

🍿 Monkey Business: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Stowaways Aboard a Transatlantic Liner

The Marx Brothers—Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo—are introduced as stowaways hiding in barrels on a transatlantic ocean liner. They are constantly evading the ship’s crew, leading to chaotic and humorous situations. The brothers use various disguises and tricks to avoid capture, creating mayhem throughout the ship.

Entanglement with Rival Gangsters

Amidst their escapades, the Marx Brothers inadvertently become involved with two rival gangsters: Alky Briggs and Joe Helton. Briggs hires Groucho and Zeppo as his bodyguards, while Helton enlists Chico and Harpo. This sets the stage for further comedic entanglements as the brothers find themselves on opposing sides of a gang war.

Arrival in America and a Kidnapping Plot

Upon arriving in America, the brothers attempt to disembark by hilariously impersonating Maurice Chevalier. However, their antics continue when Briggs kidnaps Helton’s daughter, Mary. Zeppo, who has fallen for Mary, leads his brothers on a mission to rescue her from Briggs and his gang.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Groucho (Groucho Marx): A witty and sarcastic stowaway who gets mixed up with gangsters and delivers rapid-fire jokes.
• Harpo (Harpo Marx): A silent and mischievous stowaway whose physical comedy and harp playing create surreal and comedic chaos.
• Chico (Chico Marx): A cunning and musically talented stowaway who uses his broken English and piano skills for comedic effect.
• Zeppo (Zeppo Marx): The straight man of the group, a stowaway who finds himself romancing a gangster’s daughter.
• Lucille (Thelma Todd): A glamorous gangster’s wife who seeks excitement and finds herself entangled with Groucho.
• Briggs (Harry Woods): A ruthless gangster who hires Groucho and Zeppo as bodyguards.
• Mary Helton (Ruth Hall): The beautiful daughter of a rival gangster who becomes the object of Zeppo’s affection and is later kidnapped.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Groucho: “Are you the floorwalker of this ship? I want to register a complaint.” – Groucho, as a stowaway, tries to act like a legitimate passenger and complain to the ship’s captain.
• Groucho: “You know who sneaked into my stateroom at three o’clock this morning?” – Groucho continues his complaint to the captain by delivering a punchline that highlights his character’s absurdity.
• Groucho: “Nobody, and that’s my complaint.” – Concluding the previous quote, making the joke iconic.
• Groucho: “Well, you couldn’t expect a mustache to go around by itself.” – When asked by the first mate if he has seen a stowaway with a moustache, Groucho responds with a pun.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $500,000 (estimated)
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Monkey Business Reviews

Personal Review

I really enjoyed Monkey Business! The Marx Brothers are hilarious as stowaways, and I laughed so hard during the Maurice Chevalier scene. It’s one of their best movies in my opinion and Harpo’s character made me laugh all throughout the movie. I would totally recommend this to anyone.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic comedies”
  • “Admirers of the Marx Brothers”
  • “Viewers who enjoy slapstick and wordplay”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild comedic violence”
  • “Some dated cultural references”

Professional Reviews

• IMDB: “Monkey Business is pure Marx Brothers nonsense that appears to be every bit as funny today as it possibly was way back in 1931. It plays like an extended comedy short that would have worked equally well had it starred the Three Stooges. Highly recommended for a good laugh.
• IMDB: “While not their best, this film is hilarious fun from start to finish. The script is great, with some deliciously acerbic one-liners from Groucho. Zeppo has a chance to shine, and the Maurice Chevalier scene is classic. Highly enjoyable and recommended!
• IMDB: “Monkey Business is an apt title to an appropriately managed film. With what has been released over the last seventy plus years into the mainstream and what new groups have formed, it’s easy to dub the Marx Brothers films dated and unimportant, when they are the direct opposite.

Audience Reactions

Viewers loved the scene where the brothers try to impersonate Maurice Chevalier to get off the ship.: The film is praised for its fast-paced gags, Groucho’s wit, and Harpo’s physical comedy.

Overall Consensus: A riotous, classic Marx Brothers film with plenty of laughs, though some find the second half weaker than the first.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Monkey Business was the first Marx Brothers film written specifically for the screen, rather than adapted from a stage play.”
• “Reportedly, a dozen writers were involved in the script, and Groucho Marx was unhappy with the initial draft.”
• “The film satirizes the gangster genre, which was popular at the time due to movies like ‘Little Caesar’ and ‘Public Enemy’.”

🖥️ How to Watch Monkey Business?

Currently, ‘Monkey Business’ is available for purchase on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video. Check your preferred streaming platform for rental and purchase options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Monkey Business, you might like these similar films:

• A Night at the Opera (1935): Another classic Marx Brothers film with their signature anarchic humor and fast-paced gags.
• Duck Soup (1933): Often considered one of the Marx Brothers’ best, featuring political satire and absurd situations.
• Some Like It Hot (1959): Features cross-dressing and mistaken identities, similar to the Marx Brothers’ chaotic style of comedy.
• The Gold Rush (1925): Charlie Chaplin’s classic combines slapstick, humor with social commentary in a visually comedic style, similar to the Marx Brothers.
• Airplane! (1980): A modern spoof comedy with rapid-fire jokes and absurd situations reminiscent of the Marx Brothers’ films.

🛒 Monkey Business Related Products

• The Marx Brothers: Silver Screen Collection (Duck Soup / Monkey Business / Horse Feathers / Animal Crackers / Cocoanuts): This collection includes five of the Marx Brothers’ classic films, offering hours of laughter and entertainment. The ultimate Marx Brothers movie collection!
• Groucho Marx T-Shirt: A classic T-shirt featuring the iconic image of Groucho Marx with his signature mustache and glasses. The ultimate gift for the biggest Marx Brothers fan!
• Marx Brothers Bobblehead Set: A set of four bobbleheads featuring Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo Marx. Decorate your house and show off your love for these comedic geniouses!

🎧 Soundtrack

Monkey Business features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Sweet Adeline” – performed by The Marx Brothers
• “Monkey Business Prelude #2” – performed by John Leipold
• “You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me” – performed by The Marx Brothers

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Masha and The Bear – Monkey Business 🐵(Episode 74)

Hey, have you ever felt like just ditching responsibilities for an adventure? Masha totally gets it in this episode! It’s pure chaotic fun, and honestly, I wish I could get away with half the stuff she does. Check it out!

DON’T STOP RUNNING!! Scary Monkey Game! 🙈 (FGTEEV plays Dark Deception #1)

Ever wondered what it’s like to be chased by terrifying monkeys in a creepy maze? FGTEEV takes on the challenge in Dark Deception, and it’s hilarious (and a little scary) to watch! Seriously, their reactions are priceless.

MONKEY BUSINESS

Yo, need a quick laugh? This 52 second video is all about monkey business. It’s so short, sweet, and hilarious – the perfect brain break. Trust me, you’ll love it!

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