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Comedy musical

Monkey Business (1931): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Monkey Business (1931) movie poster

Monkey Business is a 1931 comedy musical directed by Norman Z. McLeod, starring Chico Marx, Harpo Marx and Groucho Marx. It runs 1 hour 17 minutes. Critics gave it 74 on Metacritic.

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Monkey Business (1931) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 17m (77 min)
Director
Norman Z. McLeod
Genres
Comedy , Musical
Original language
Spanish
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Monkey Business About?

The premise of Monkey Business without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A successful businessman finds his life thrown into chaos when an unforeseen financial crisis strikes. Now facing eviction, he’s forced to reconnect with old friends and their unconventional plans to help him out of trouble. This former yo-yo champion and devoted father must rediscover the true meaning of community and what it takes to be a local hero, all while navigating a rapidly changing situation.

Monkey Business Themes & Keywords

· 48 tags
  • marx brothers
  • barn
  • party
  • hiding in a closet
  • chase
  • rescue
  • singing
  • traveling in a shipping container
  • art deco
  • luxury liner
  • gangster moll
  • hayloft
+36 more
  • passenger liner
  • debutante ball
  • gangster
  • neglected wife
  • reference to maurice chevalier
  • ocean liner
  • kidnapping
  • stowaway
  • guitar
  • chess
  • brawl
  • piano
  • fainting
  • taxi
  • pickpocket
  • shaving
  • bozo as epithet
  • passport
  • sea adventure
  • farce comedy
  • slapstick comedy
  • classic musical
  • pre code film
  • transatlantic
  • transatlantic voyage
  • voyage
  • bootlegger
  • new york state
  • united states of america
  • absurdism
  • absurd comedy
  • new york city
  • reference to gary cooper
  • reference to thomas edison
  • interview
  • impersonation
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Cast & crew

Monkey Business Cast

Chico Marx leads the cast, with Harpo Marx and Groucho Marx. Directed by Norman Z. McLeod; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Norman Z. McLeod

More films directed by Norman Z. McLeod, best-rated first: Horse Feathers, Alice in Wonderland, Alias Jesse James and Never Wave at a WAC.

Full filmography
Ratings

Monkey Business Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Monkey Business 74 on Metacritic.

Plot

Monkey Business Plot Summary

What happens in Monkey Business from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

On board an ocean liner bound for America, four stowaways—Chico, Groucho, Harpo, and Zeppo—hide in wooden barrels in the ship’s cargo hold. After singing “Sweet Adeline,” they are discovered and the ship’s officers spend the rest of the voyage chasing and attempting to catch the mischievous quartet. Chico, Chico Marx, and Harpo, Harpo Marx, pose as barbers and shave off an officer’s mustache while he is sleeping; Groucho, Groucho Marx, and Chico lock the ship’s captain in a closet and eat his lunch; Groucho hides in the stateroom closet of gangster Alky Briggs and his wife, Lucille, Thelma Todd; Briggs leaves and Groucho begins romancing Lucille until he is caught and threatened by Briggs.

Full summary

The whole story of Monkey Business, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Monkey Business Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Monkey Business.

Monkey Business (1931) Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Monkey Business?

9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 9

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered

What is the occupation the Marx Brothers pretend to have while onboard the ocean liner?

Cars

Cars in Monkey Business

4 cars on screen, including the 1928 Packard Custom Eight and the 1930 Studebaker President.

  • 1928 Packard Custom Eight in Monkey Business 1928 Packard Custom Eight Minor role
  • 1930 Studebaker President in Monkey Business 1930 Studebaker President Minor role
  • 1926 Yellow Cab Model O in Monkey Business 1926 Yellow Cab Model O Minor role
  • 1931 Nash Eight in Monkey Business 1931 Nash Eight Background role
Details

Monkey Business Also Known As

18 alternative titles, including “The Marx Brothers - Monkey Business” and “Marx Brothers - Monkey Business”.

Also known as
  • The Marx Brothers - Monkey Business
  • Marx Brothers - Monkey Business
  • Os Quatro Batutas
  • Marx Brothers [1931] Monkey Business
  • Pistoleros de agua dulce
  • Monnaie de singe
  • Monkey Business - Quattro folli in alto mare
  • Die Marx Brothers auf See
  • Обезьяньи проделки
  • Маймунска работа
  • Małpi interes
  • 몽키 비즈니스
+6 more
  • Fyra fräcka fripassagerare
  • 恶作剧
  • Fulde af Fup
  • تجارت میمونی
  • いんちき商売
  • Pistolers d’aigua dolça

Seen Monkey Business?

FAQ

Monkey Business FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Monkey Business, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Monkey Business?

Monkey Business runs 1 hour 17 minutes (77 minutes).

When was Monkey Business released?

Monkey Business was released on September 19, 1931.

Who directed Monkey Business?

Monkey Business was directed by Norman Z. McLeod.

More films by Norman Z. McLeod

Who is in the cast of Monkey Business?

Monkey Business stars Chico Marx, Harpo Marx and Groucho Marx, among 10 credited actors.

How is Monkey Business rated?

Monkey Business has 74 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.

Does Monkey Business have a post-credit scene?

No. Monkey Business has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Monkey Business in?

The original language of Monkey Business is Spanish.

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