MONKEY BUSINESS

The Marx Brothers, Thelma Todd

Universal Pictures; Directed by Norman McLeod

Black and White; Not Rated; 77 minutes; 1931

As stowaways on an ocean liner, the Brothers emerge from four barrels marked "Kippered Herring." Groucho proceeds to verbally rape an alluring Lucille (Thelma Todd), in the process getting entangled in a plot involving gangsters and bathtub gin. The Marxes try to disembark by passing themselves off (all four of them) as Maurice Chevalier, and wind up at a society party that exists to be destroyed. Also, as a note to Harpo lovers, this film contains his fullest and most extended role.