On a transatlantic crossing, The Marx Brothers get up to their usual antics and manage to annoy just about everyone on board the ship.On a transatlantic crossing, The Marx Brothers get up to their usual antics and manage to annoy just about everyone on board the ship.On a transatlantic crossing, The Marx Brothers get up to their usual antics and manage to annoy just about everyone on board the ship.
- Awards
- 2 nominations
Groucho Marx
- Groucho
- (as The Four Marx Brothers)
Harpo Marx
- Harpo
- (as The Four Marx Brothers)
The Marx Brothers
- The Four Stowaways
- (as The Four Marx Brothers)
Chico Marx
- Chico
- (as The Four Marx Brothers)
Zeppo Marx
- Zeppo
- (as The Four Marx Brothers)
Rockliffe Fellowes
- Joe Helton
- (as Rockcliffe Fellowes)
Eddie Baker
- Ship's Officer
- (uncredited)
Bobby Barber
- Hoarse Barber Customer
- (uncredited)
Billy Barty
- Child
- (uncredited)
Billy Bletcher
- Man in Deck Chair
- (uncredited)
Eddie Borden
- Joe
- (uncredited)
James Bradbury Jr.
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Maxine Castle
- Opera Singer at Party
- (uncredited)
Davison Clark
- Passport Official
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSam Marx: The Marx Brothers' father is sitting on the crates behind them after they're carried off the ship.
- GoofsDuring the passport scene, when the brothers try to get off the boat by impersonating Maurice Chevalier, neither Zeppo Marx (the first brother to try) nor Groucho Marx (the third to try), get Chevalier's passport back from the officer in charge, yet Chico Marx and Harpo Marx each have it as they approach the front of the line.
- Quotes
Groucho: Are you the floorwalker of this ship? I want to register a complaint.
Captain Corcoran: Why? What's the matter?
Groucho: Matter enough. You know who sneaked into my stateroom at three o'clock this morning?
Captain Corcoran: Who did that?
Groucho: Nobody, and that's my complaint.
- Crazy creditsThe opening credits are painted on the sides of barrels (In the film's opening, the Marx Brothers' characters are stow-aways on a cruise ship, hiding in barrels marked "Kippered Herring").
- Alternate versionsReissue prints have a few additional seconds at the beginning showing the "Approved" code on a title screen. Earlier prints do not have the code at the beginning.
- ConnectionsEdited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Seul le cinéma (1994)
Featured review
How does one review a plotless movie? In "Monkey Business," the Marx Brothers spend the first hour running around on a ship, then they crash a fancy party, then they fist-fight gangsters in a barn. Is there connecting material? Well, yeah - of the thinnest sort imaginable. Does the lack of a coherent plot hurt the film? Not really. Bottom line: it's hilarious. Groucho in particular steals the show with his weird combination flirting/insulting routines.
It's worth noting that, while I laughed a lot at "A Night at the Opera," I laughed even more at this movie. In fact, I was in exquisite pain by the end. Of course, "Opera" actually makes some sense, so it might still be the better movie.
Definitely the best Marx Brothers film that doesn't feature Margaret Dumont, and the strongest showcase for the brothers' talents as physical comedians.
It's worth noting that, while I laughed a lot at "A Night at the Opera," I laughed even more at this movie. In fact, I was in exquisite pain by the end. Of course, "Opera" actually makes some sense, so it might still be the better movie.
Definitely the best Marx Brothers film that doesn't feature Margaret Dumont, and the strongest showcase for the brothers' talents as physical comedians.
- dr_foreman
- Jun 21, 2004
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Die Marx Brothers auf See
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 17 minutes
- Color
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