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A Night in Casablanca (1946) More at IMDbPro »

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42 reviews in total

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17 out of 17 people found the following review useful:
They were and are the greatest comedy team., 28 February 2000

Author: Tim-130 from Kunkletown, Pa

The Marx Brothers are the greatest comedy team of all time. Even in their later films, including this one, which weren't among their best efforts, they still manage to make you laugh. They filled their films with social commentary, sexual innuendo, and slapstick, all with effortless ease, and without being offending. The scenes of Groucho going from one hotel room to another, trying to get Annette alone, with brother Chico as his bodyguard thwarting his every attempt, are gems. I introduced the Marx Brothers to my son while he was very young, and he loves them. Now, more then ten years later he still pulls out the old videotapes occasionally. Then for the next week all we hear in the house is, ‘I once shot an elephant in my pajamas. How they got in my pajamas I'll never know.' Nothing compares to the Marx Brothers, before or since.

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12 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
An absolute classic!, 19 June 2005

Author: fifahenry (fifahenry@hotmail.com) from United Kingdom

I enjoyed this movie a lot, it took a while to find it in the shops but it was worthwhile looking around for. My favourite scene is definitely the one with Harpo minding Chico's peanut stall with the angry neighbouring stall owner. It makes you laugh for ages! Groucho plays the part of the manager of the Hotel Casablanca because all the previous managers were murdered by ex-Nazis looking for Nazi treasure hidden within the hotel prior to the end of the war. Some of the funniest moments in Marx Brother's history are featured in this movie eg. Harpo holding up a wall, Chico and Harpo rearranging a dance floor that keeps getting smaller and a funny suitcase packing routine towards the end. A very humorous movie and I would definitely recommend it.

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13 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
A Fond Farewell, 30 April 2005

Author: gftbiloxi (gftbiloxi@yahoo.com) from Biloxi, Mississippi

By 1946 the Marx Brothers considered themselves retired as a screen team--but brother Chico's on-going financial difficulties coaxed them back into the studio for a final film. The result is a film that will never compete with their sharp-edged comedies of the 1930s but which possesses considerable charm nonetheless.

Although the film began as a parody of the classic CASABLANCA, the plot changed quite a bit by the time it reached the screen. Groucho has been employed as the manager of the Hotel Casablanca--where three previous managers have met sudden death. Attempts on his life soon follow, and before too long the brothers stumble upon the tale of former Nazis in search of treasure hidden somewhere inside the resort.

Time, it seems, mellowed the brothers, and although they retain their sparkle they perform without the manic edge that characterized their earlier films; the result is a much friendlier, cozier style of comedy that feels as comfortable your bedroom slippers. All three have at least one opportunity to shine, with perhaps the most memorable moments being the ever-shrinking dancefloor and the hilarious packing scene, and it has tremendous charm--and is all the more welcome for following the several uninspired films the brothers made during the early 1940s.

Although the Marx Brothers would appear in one more film, LOVE HAPPY, it is uninspired--and rather curiously the three never appear together in the same scene! So it is perhaps best to regard A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA as their final appearance as a screen team. And while it isn't among their great films, it is indeed lots of fun.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer

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10 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Fitting final flourish to the Marx Brothers act, 12 August 2004

Author: Mark_McD from United States

That the Marxes could make this as their final film together (Groucho was tacked onto "Love Happy" as an afterthought and had no scenes with Chico and Harpo) means they could go out with a flourish. Groucho's jokes were back in form, not-so-sly innuendo and all, and the dross of the MGM years was cut away: the romantic leads had minimal screen time and did NOT sing, and the special effects laden last reel chase scene was cut mercifully short. Although it's unfortunate that the script had the quick-witted Marxes resort to poor stage fighting to overcome the Nazis. I believe it was while hanging from the ladder in that chase scene (in what's too clearly the California desert) that Groucho decided there must be a better way to make a living, and went to what became "You Bet Your Life."

PS: It suddenly struck me that Sig Ruman's voice, without the accent, could have been a perfect double for Marvin the Martian. Anyone know if he could have inspired Mel Blanc?

I got some hearty laughs out of it, so that's what counts in the end.

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7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Very Good late Marx Bros. film ***, 27 July 2004

Author: JoeKarlosi from U.S.A.

At last, another highly enjoyable Marx Brothers movie from their later days! In fact, I'd almost consider CASABLANCA as enjoyable as A NIGHT AT THE OPERA, which is the best of the latter movies for my money. This is a very well-written comedy with Groucho in excellent form and given an endless array of funny lines to spout. Harpo is a laugh riot from start to finish and Chico --- well, he's still just Chico, but I loved his piano playing segment this time around, and he's got some nice scenes supporting Harpo. Sig Ruman adds a lot of spice in his role as the perfect recipient of the team's gags.

With my still being fairly new to the Marx Brothers at the time of this viewing, I'd say it appears the writing seemed to be everything when it came to their comedy. When it's bad (ROOM SERVICE) they don't have a leg to stand on. When it's superb (like in OPERA and CASABLANCA) they're comical geniuses.

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7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
the second best film with the word "Casablanca" in the title ever made!, 25 February 2002
Author: (ajdagreat) from USA

There are two kinds of people in this world: People who love the Marx Brothers, and stupid people. "A Night in Casablanca", however, should be more for people who are already fans - it's certainly not the Marx Brothers' best work. However, it is very watchable, and much better than some of their earlier work with MGM. If "A Night at the Opera" is their last great film, then "A Night in Casablanca" is their last good film. A bunch of good lines here. Not bad, check it out!

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4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Slapstick and lots of it., 17 May 2004

Author: Haufrect Dale (dbh@rxibr.com) from Houston, Texas

"A Night in Casablanca" is filled with the usual Marx Brother's energy and then some. It is their slapstick that is uniquely displayed by these masters of the craft. Even though this particular comedy is not their best, it is still worth an evening of fun. It takes place in Casablanca, and the name alone conjures up the Bogart film. There is a series of murders of prior hotel managers. The plot thickens from there. All fans of the comedy of the Marx Brothers should view this film in addition to their entire collection. Without a doubt it is not to be missed. Harpo is especially funny in his typical antics. Groucho is a quick and witty as ever. It gets a very good rating from me.

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4 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
The Last Great Marx Brothers Film, 12 March 2006

Author: theowinthrop from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

In my youth two of the surviving Marx Brother films were never on television. One was ANIMAL CRACKERS. The other was A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA. Both had copy-write problems that took years to unravel. They only got released to the public again in the 1970s. Groucho was still alive when ANIMAL CRACKERS got released about 1973. He was not around for A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA.

Perhaps he would not have cared. He always thought the five Paramount films and A NIGHT AT THE OPERA and A DAY AT THE RACES were the best of the thirteen films he made. He always dismissed the films made after the death of Irving Thalberg because they were not made with the care Thalberg brought to "Opera" and "Races". That would include A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA.

It was not a fair statement, but in his later years the less attractive aspects of Groucho's personality came to the forefront. Groucho's ready wit delighted audiences, but he was very difficult to know intimately and like. Some of his statements (about director Sam Wood being a racist) are still questioned. His opinion of the post 1937 films is difficult to totally dismiss. AT THE CIRCUS, GO WEST, THE BIG STORE, and LOVE HAPPY had good moments in them but were decidedly weaker films than the first seven. But ROOM SERVICE and A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA were both successful comedies, if not as good as the first seven. Groucho's feelings about movie making post Thalberg was changed in one way that a number of his fans rarely think of. Thalberg's contract for the brother's joining MGM gave them a tremendous share of the profits (something that MGM head Louis B. Mayer was not thrilled about - and which helped determine his lack of interest in the brothers' subsequent films). Groucho's success in vaudeville, Broadway, and early films left him well-to-do, yet he, Chico, and Harpo, were still looking for work in 1936 - 1937. But the results of the first two films left all three brothers millionaires. They didn't have to keep working. In fact, their one film a year contract is ridiculous when compared to the existing contracts of W.C.Fields, Laurel & Hardy, and Wheeler & Woolsey, all of whom made two or three feature films a year. By the time THE BIG STORE was released (1941) the brothers (even heavy gambler Chico) did not require more money. Only in 1946, when Chico's gambling debts grew too big, did they agree to make a final film. Having relaxed for five years, and laid fallow as it were, the results were pretty good.

Look at it another way. After Zeppo left the team in 1933 there was nothing to suggest the brothers could not have split and gone separate ways. Harpo (like Zeppo) had appeared once in a film (a silent movie) without his brothers. Later on Howard Hughes tried to use him in the title role of Androcles in ANDROCLES AND THE LION. But that was his only attempt at a solo. Groucho actually did write a screenplay for a movie that was produced. He also published a book. In subsequent years Chico would take a band on the road. They could have separated. If they had, they could have made separate talkies. Groucho would (after 1946). Why did he wait until then? And once he got started, why was his number of solo film appearances so small (about five movies, as well as the game show YOU BET YOUR LIFE). Because he had no need to do so - he had enough money now.

Keeping this lack of need for making movies in mind it explains the better quality of NIGHT IN CASABLANCA. The film was not rushed but thought out. So Ronald Kornblow, the manager of the hotel in NIGHT IN CASABLANCA, is more memorable than...say J. Cheever Loophole in AT THE CIRCUS. His lines are better. The gags, such as Harpo's opening one of the collapsing house, or the packing/unpacking "ballet" at the expense of Sig Ruman's Nazi character, are far funnier than the best moments of the weaker films. The film is not flawless (the crashing of the plane onto police headquarters is too sudden to be fully effective - compare it with Laurel & Hardy's mad plane ride in THE FLYING DEUCES to see what I mean). But the flaws are not as bad as in GO WEST.

The topic of the search for post-war Nazi war criminals is not one to be considered humorous, but then the idea of suicide and dead bodies is not funny either - yet ROOM SERVICE's last half hour is hilarious regarding the latter. Here it is too, as the Nazis (Sig Ruman and his henchmen) live up to their personalities, but are shown to be capable of being flummoxed constantly. Watch Harpo get openly bored parrying the dueling strokes of one of the Nazis before an amazed Ruman.

As for Groucho, his attempts at sexual liaisons with the temptress Beatrice Rheiner (Lissette Verea)are constantly detoured or demolished by Harpo and Chico (and Chico even ends up with Beatrice at one point). No, this film is a worthy film for the brothers - their last worthy film.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
The Telltale Toupee, 15 April 2009

Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

In their first post World War II film, the Marx Brothers take aim at those films of adventure and intrigue set in far away places and filmed at studio back lots. Such a film was the classic Casablanca and so was A Night In Casablanca.

Personally I can't believe Jack Warner wanted to sue the brothers and United Artists over this film. He certainly had deeper pockets than they did, why make such a fuss?

In any event the film is about looted Nazi treasure from the late war and it being hidden in a Casablanca hotel. Two of the hotel managers have met violent and sudden death and the third one is already earmarked by Nazi bigwig Sig Ruman on the run from the Nuremberg court. He's stopping in Casablanca to get the treasure on the way to South America. But when his valet Harpo accidentally vacuums his toupee off his head, his plans halt. Ruman can't go out or he'll be instantly recognized without the rug.

That hotel manager whom they want to get is none other than Groucho and he gets his usual assistance from self appointed bodyguard Chico. Of course that sets up a lot of typical Marx situations.

A Night In Casablanca is not as good as most of their films from the Thirties, still it has its moments. Harpo literally 'holding' up a building is one of them. And the brothers gas lighting Sig Ruman as he's trying to pack is another.

Fans of the brothers will enjoy this one. As for those who don't know them, I'd look first at their early films from Paramount to get a true gauge of their surrealistic comedy.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Good farce!, 8 March 2006

Author: from United States

The Marx Brothers came out of retirement to make this film in order to help the financially-strapped Chico, who was forever broke due to his gambling addiction.

The movie begins slowly, and there are some rather unfunny scenes featuring Harpo, but when Chico and Groucho arrive on the scene the film really picks up. There are some truly great scenes in this film. My favorite is Harpo desperately trying to convey important information to Chico via whistles and inspired charade.

The plot is rather silly, but who cares? While not on a par with their classics "Duck Soup" and "A Night at the Opera", this movie is very much worth seeing.

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