Trifecta Of Hilarity: A Night At The Opera (1935), I’m No Angel (1933), and Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)

  
I didn’t watch all these films at the same time, but I’m having a bit of an accumulation of films going on here. Therefore, sorry about this strange  randomness of movies.

First off, I saw another Marx gem, A Night at the Opera. All I could say is: AMAZING. This film is often lauded as the Marx’s best, and rightfully so! They don’t let you catch your breath between huge bouts of laughter! This film is about a group of zanies (as usual) who get themselves into a boatload of shenanigans to get opera star Rosa (Kitty Carlisle) back with her love, chorus boy with a golden voice Allan Jones. Eventually, they impersonate bearded air pilots, become the most wanted men in America, and destroy the hell out of the New York Opera Company’s production of Il Trovatore. Along the way, they bring the wealthy opera patrons back to earth (Margaret Dumont and THE INCREDIBLE Sig Rumann. Love that man.) Even better? I love Harpo even more than I thought possible! from his sleeping through the famous stateroom scene to him swinging on the curtain ropes in the climactic opera scene, my heart almost exploded for the man. Did you know that he did his own stunts in the film?
The famous stateroom scene, one of the greatest comedy moments of all time

I have a personal attachment to this film. I myself saw Il Trovatore twice. TWICE. the first time was absolutely plagued by problems: the principals were ill, some understudy people had to fake sing, and all the trains were delayed so coming back was a complete DISASTER. I saw the opera for the second time this October, hoping to make up for the first time. However, the principals were ill AGAIN, but this time they got understudies who could sing, thank goodness. And once again, the trains were messed up, so we needed to take like, 12 trains to get home, losing half the group along the way. Il Trovatore is officially my “bad luck opera”. So I praise and admire the Marxes for making fun of it. Groucho, Chico, Harpo all the way, baby!

Who annoyed me the most in that film was Allan Jones, who was there purely to fill the post of the Zeppo character (Zeppo left his brothers to become an agent). Although I’ve found Zeppo to be the least funny of the brothers, being a real BROTHER, he had chemistry with them that Jones lacked. And besides, the all the songs except the opera (odd, isn’t it?)  got on my nerves. Other than that, excellent film.

Next up I saw Mae West get her sex appeal on in I’m No Angel. All I could say is, no wonder the censors had a lot of trouble with her. She was greatly enjoyable, with her witty double entendres, husky voice, and REAL body! However, I have to say her costumes were the most highly entertaining.
  
I had no idea what she was thinking when she wore that spiderweb dress. It’s not visible from the picture, but it had a giant sparkly spider on it too. For the picture on the right, she was supposed to be wearing a polka dot ensemble: dress, bolero, and hat. Unfortunately, I can’t find  photo of that memorable outfit.

This film is about a circus performer who’s been through it all when it comes to men. However, when she meets love of her life Cary Grant, she’s quick to marry him. But he jilts her on the day of the wedding and she sues him for breach of promise. This costarring with Cary Grant was the main reason why I watched this film. Seeing someone as jumpy and humorous as he is with someone as volatile as Mae West would’ve been a real treat! However, our Cary doesn’t come in until an hour into an hour and a half film, and is more smooth and slick than an oil spill. He was just…there. And Mae West didn’t even have to try to steal the scene from him (and from everyone else, for that matter). A very enjoyable film.

I’ve read that Mae West was the initial choice to play Belle Watling in Gone with the Wind. That would’ve been SIDE-SPLITTING. If she took the part, she would’ve easily made the film all about Belle rather than all about Scarlett. And I would pay almost anything to see her act with Clark Gable.

Lastly, I saw Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, and because I really don’t want to type out that long title again, I;m just typing “Blandings” from now on. This is my favorite Cary Grant movie EVER. I repeat EVER. This film is absolutely gut-busting and can kill you from too much laughter! Cary Grant is great as the New Yorker who seemingly has it all: loyal, beautiful wife (Myrna Loy, who’s excellent as usual), two daughters (who personally annoyed the crap out of me), and a high-paying job. But the one thing he doesn’t have is a spacious home of his own, and is sick of living in a cramped New York City apartment, where he can never shave in peace or find his socks. Eventually, he find his dream house in Connecticut, but little did he know of the trouble he would have to got through to achieve it.

  
Here’s lots of hilarity from the film, with the dream house in the upper right hand corner.

Also annoying in the film was Melvyn Douglas. Can this dude please stop trying to steal Myrna Loy from Cary Grant? Geez, what a loser. But the other performances and the wittiness (is that a word?) of the script totally eclipse Melvyn Douglas’ annoying character and make it easy to put up with. Besides, isn’t the whole point of Melvyn Douglas’ existence is to be annoying?

This film is riot beyond description, from its Shrunk Mills, Zuzz-Zuzz, bonehead architects, to its corrosive Connecticut water. One day i will need to make a post for this film alone so I can say much more on it. Great performances, an excellent script, and a plot with plenty of room for laughs make this a ten star film, if such a rating ever existed.