History Film / MonkeyBusiness

Like ''Film/DuckSoup'', ''Monkey Business'' is much more anarchic and gag-driven than later movies like ''Film/ANightAtTheOpera'', which heavily feature romance, musical numbers, and, well, [[ExcusePlot plots]]. This was also the Brothers' first film written expressly for the screen rather than adapted from a stage play; Creator/SJPerelman was one of the writers.

* WhatAnIdiot: One of the gangsters ''arms Harpo and Chico.''

''Monkey Business'' is a 1931 comedy film starring the legendary Creator/MarxBrothers.

* NotSoAboveItAll: Notable as one of the few times Zeppo gleefully goes along with his brother's antics and even gets in a few [[DeadpanSnarker zingers of his own]].

Much of the story takes place upon a cruise liner bound for America. Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo play four stowaways, who spend much of the journey trying to avoid the captain and his first mate. During and after the journey, the four become involved with an ongoing dispute between rivaling gangsters, which the four brothers solve in their own way. Thelma Todd turns up again, this time as the flirtatious wife of one of the thugs. Much [[HilarityEnsues hilarity ensues]].

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: While running from the ship's stewards at the beginning of the film, the stowaways encounter some discarded musical instruments. They pick these up and perform an impromptu musical number for a few seconds, then drop them and start fleeing again.

Like the Marxes' other early films, ''Monkey Business'' is much more anarchic and gag-driven than later movies like ''Film/ANightAtTheOpera'', which heavily feature romance, musical numbers, and, well, [[ExcusePlot plots]]. This was also the Brothers' first film written expressly for the screen rather than adapted from a stage play; Creator/SJPerelman was one of the writers.

Like ''Film/DuckSoup'', ''Monkey Business'' is much more anarchic and gag driven than later movies like ''Film/ANightAtTheOpera'', which heavily feature romance and, well, [[ExcusePlot plots]]. This was also the Brothers' first film written expressly for the screen rather than adapted from a stage play; Creator/SJPerelman was one of the writers.

Much of the story takes place upon a cruise liner bound for America. Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo play four stowaways, who spend much of the journey trying to avoid the captain and his first mate. During and after the journey, the four become involved with an ongoing dispute between rivaling gangsters, which the four brothers solve in their own way. Much [[HilarityEnsues hilarity ensues]].

* TheFamilyForTheWholeFamily: The rival bootleggers, Big Joe Helton and Alky Briggs.

* TheFamilyForTheWholeFamily: The rival bootlegging gangs led by Big Joe Helton and Alky Briggs.

* PassThePopcorn: Groucho cheerfully stands between gangster Alky Briggs and his wife while they have a spat, clearly enjoying the show. He even referees the argument, letting the participants know when it's their turn to speak. When the wife gets a little too angry, Groucho hands Briggs a gun, saying, "Here, big boy, you're going to need this more than I will."

* TheFamilyForTheWholeFamily: The rival gangs led by Big Joe Helton and Alky Briggs.

Much of the story takes place upon a cruise liner bound for America. Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo play four stowaways, who spend much of the journey trying to avoid the captain and his first mate. During and after the journey, the four become involved with an ongoing dispute between rivaling gangs, which the four brothers solve in their own way. Much [[HilarityEnsues hilarity ensues]].

* TheFamilyForTheWholeFamily

* NoNameGiven: None of the brothers' characters are actually named in the film, and each of them is credited just as 'A Stowaway' in the credits. The general consensus seems to be that each brother is, essentially appearing AsHimself.

* PassThePopcorn: Groucho cheerfully stands between gangster Alky Briggs and his wife while they have a spat, clearly enjoying the show. He even referees the argument, letting the participants know when it's their turn to speak. When the wife gets a little too angry, Groucho hands the gangster a gun, saying "Here, big boy, you're going to need this more than I will."

* PassThePopcorn: Groucho cheerfully stands between Alky Briggs and his wife while they have a spat, clearly enjoying the show. He even referees the argument, letting the participants know when it's their turn to speak. When the wife gets a little too angry, Groucho hands the gangster a gun, saying "Here, big boy, you're going to need this more than I will."

-->'''Thelma Todd:''' What are you doing in that closet?\\
'''Groucho:''' Nothing -- come on in!

* PassThePopcorn: Groucho cheerfully stands between a gangster and his wife while they have a spat, clearly enjoying the show. He even referees the argument, letting the participants know when it's their turn to speak. When the wife gets a little too angry, Groucho hands the gangster a gun, saying "Here, big boy, you're going to need this more than I will."

-->'''Gangster''': Now listen, bozo--\\
'''Groucho''': That's ''Mister'' Bozo to you.

* TheDanza: In contrast to their other films, the brothers all more or less play themselves here.

* NoNameGiven: None of the Marx Brother's characters are actually named in the film, and each one of them is credited just as 'A Stowaway' in the credits. The general consensus seems to be that each brother is, essentially AsHimself.

Much of the story takes place upon a cruise liner bound for America. Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo play as four stowaways, who spend much of the journey trying to avoid the captain and his first mate. During and after the journey, the four become involved with an ongoing dispute between rivaling gangs, which the four brothers solve in their own way. Much [[HilarityEnsues hilarity ensues]].

* TheDanza: The brothers all more or less play themselves.

* TheDanza: All four brothers more or less play themselves.

* InvisibleCelebrityGuest: Maurice Chevalier is supposedly a passenger on the ocean liner, and a meeting with him leads into one of the film's most famous scenes, but the meeting takes place entirely off-screen.