The Big Store *** (1941, Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Tony Martin, Margaret Dumont, Virginia Grey, Douglass Dumbrille) – Classic Movie Review 2402

This Marx Brothers’ fifth and last film for MGM may possibly also be the least, but there are plenty of pleasures stocked up in this crazy comedy based on a story by Sgt Bilko’s creator, Nat Perrin. Director Charles Reisner’s 1941 comedy may be ordinary for the Marx Brothers, but it is funny nevertheless.

Groucho Marx is on best funny form as Wolf J Flywheel, private detective at Margaret Dumont’s big store, the Phelps Department Store, while Chico Marx and Harpo Marx have their moments as Ravelli and Wacky. And the yarn gives Dumont a brilliantly done opportunity to get into a superb comedy tizzy as her character Martha Phelps’s wicked fiancé Mr Grover (Douglass Dumbrille) tries to swindle her nice nephew Tommy Rogers (Tony Martin) out of inheriting the store.

We could perhaps do without Martin singing ‘Tenement Symphony’ but certainly not without the priceless dialogue: Dumont: ‘I’m afraid after we’ve been married a while a beautiful young girl will come along and you’ll forget all about me.’ Groucho: ‘Don’t be silly. I’ll write to you twice a week.’

Also in the cast are Virginia Grey, Virginia O’Brien, Henry Armetta, Marion Martin, William Tannen, Anna Demetrio, Paul Stanton, Russell Hicks, Bradley Page and William Talman.

Marx was annoyed when he was called for retakes on the ‘Sing While You Sell’ number the day his son Arthur Marx was playing a tennis match but upset when he found the retake lines ‘six times as unfunny’ as the originals.

Tony Martin died on July 27 2012, aged 98.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2402

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