Overview
A small circus faces turmoil as loyalty and greed collide in a comedic quest for justice.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- breezy
- family movie night
- classic comedy marathon
What critics said
Critics recognized the film's broad Marx Brothers entertainment value but generally found it a familiar and less inspired imitation of their earlier successes.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The theft investigation unfolds among circus workers, performers, and attractions while the troupe's future is threatened.
The missing $10000 drives Loophole, Pirelli, and Punchy to identify the thief and recover the circus funds.
Groucho Marx's Attorney J. Cheever Loophole joins the investigation through flamboyant, joke-driven lawyering.
The Marx Brothers' comic performances mix Groucho's wordplay, Chico's persona, Harpo's pantomime, and circus spectacle.
Films like At the Circus, and why
A Night at the Opera
shared anarchic vaudeville humor, musical comedy, and Marx Brothers ensemble energy
Horse Feathers
shared broad physical comedy, theatrical performance, and chaotic ensemble plotting
The Great Circus Mystery
shared circus setting, slapstick comedy, and old-Hollywood musical entertainment
Movie Details
- Director
- Edward Buzzell
- Release Date
- 1939-10-20
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (101)
Cast
- Groucho Marx
- Chico Marx
- Harpo Marx
- Kenny Baker
- Florence Rice
- Eve Arden
- Margaret Dumont
- Nat Pendleton
- Fritz Feld
- James Burke
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, YouTube TV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is At the Circus about?
- The Marx Brothers turn a threatened circus and a stolen fortune into a fast-moving carnival of slapstick, wordplay, music, and comic investigation.
- What is At the Circus like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of At the Circus as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is At the Circus violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in At the Circus.
- What did critics think of At the Circus?
- Critics recognized the film's broad Marx Brothers entertainment value but generally found it a familiar and less inspired imitation of their earlier successes.
- Which films are like At the Circus?
- Films with a similar feel include A Night at the Opera, Horse Feathers, and The Great Circus Mystery.
- How long is At the Circus?
- At the Circus runs 87 minutes.
- Where can I watch At the Circus?
- In United States, At the Circus streams on fuboTV, YouTube TV.
