Monkey Business (1952): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Monkey Business is a 1952 sci-fi comedy starring Cary Grant as Barnaby Fulton, Charles Coburn and Marilyn Monroe. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes and earned $265 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 37m (97 min)
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- 20th Century Fox
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Monkey Business About?
The premise of Monkey Business without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Research chemist Barnaby Fulton is developing a fountain‑of‑youth pill for his chemical company. When a lab chimp escapes, it contaminates a mixture that ends up in the water cooler. After drinking the water, Fulton feels twenty again and is convinced the formula works. His newfound youthful behavior spreads, causing his wife and his boss to act like children as chaos ensues.
Monkey Business Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- chimpanzee
- age regression
- husband wife relationship
- chemist
- monkey
- laboratory
- science experiment
- invention
- screwball comedy
- fountain of youth
- absent minded professor
- roller skates
+38 more Show fewer
- war dance
- potion
- 1950s
- serum
- eyeglasses
- self experimentation
- regressing to chldhood
- child
- teen angst
- youth restored
- acting like a child
- psychological regression
- formula
- chemical
- youth serum
- contaminated water
- drinking water
- drinking contaminated water
- jealous wife
- house painter
- playing cowboys and indians
- new haircut
- attorney
- laundry room
- hotel laundry maid
- coffee
- pretending to be a native american
- poor eyesight
- eyesight restored
- babysitting
- married couple
- diving board
- diving
- belly flop
- roller skating rink
- new car
- car crash
- toddler
Monkey Business Cast & Characters
Cary Grant leads the cast as Barnaby Fulton, with Charles Coburn as Oliver Oxley and Marilyn Monroe as Lois Laurel.
-
Cary Grant as Barnaby Fulton - Charles Coburn as Oliver Oxley
-
Marilyn Monroe as Lois Laurel -
Ginger Rogers as Edwina Fulton
Also Starring in Monkey Business
· 52 more- Hugh Marlowe Hank Entwhistle
- Roger Moore Bit (uncredited)
- Harry Carey Jr. Reporter (uncredited)
- Howard Hawks Man in Opening (voice) (uncredited)
- Heinie Conklin House Painter (uncredited)
- Forbes Murray Board Member (uncredited)
- Kathleen Freeman Mrs. Brannigan - Neighbor (uncredited)
- Dabbs Greer Cabbie (uncredited)
- Harry Carter Scientist (uncredited)
- Harry Seymour Clothing Store Salesman (uncredited)
- Esther Dale Mrs. Rhinelander
- George Eldredge Mr. Peabody (uncredited)
- Douglas Spencer Dr. Brunner
- Emmett Lynn Gus (uncredited)
- Jerry Paris Scientist (uncredited)
- Ray Montgomery Policeman (uncredited)
Show all 56 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Paul Maxey Board Member (uncredited)
- Ruth Warren Laundress (uncredited)
- Russ Clark Policeman (uncredited)
- Larry Keating G.J. Culverly
- Olan Soule Pickwick Arms Clerk (uncredited)
- John McKee Photographer (uncredited)
- Robert Cornthwaite Dr. Zoldeck
- Joseph Mell Barber (uncredited)
- Robert Nichols Garage Man (uncredited)
- Maudie Prickett Clerk (uncredited)
- Isabel Withers Laundress (uncredited)
- Mack Williams Board Member (uncredited)
- George Hoagland Club Patron (uncredited)
- Bill McLean Bellboy (uncredited)
- Perk Lazelle Club Patron (uncredited)
- Henri Letondal Jerome Kitzel
- Olive Carey Johnny's Mother (uncredited)
- Tex Brodus Club Patron (uncredited)
- Rudy Lee Boy (uncredited)
- Marjorie Holliday Oxley Receptionist (uncredited)
- Charlotte Austin Student (uncredited)
- Nico Minardos Man at Pool (uncredited)
- Gil Stratton Yale Man (uncredited)
- George Winslow Little Indian
- Harry Bartell Scientist (uncredited)
- Mickey Little Boy (uncredited)
- Jerry Sheldon Joe (uncredited)
- Brad Morrow Boy (uncredited)
- Melinda Casey Girl (uncredited)
- Louis Lettieri Boy (uncredited)
- Ronnie Clark Boy (uncredited)
- Faire Binney Dowager (uncredited)
- Christopher Milne Johnny (uncredited)
- Jonathan Milne Johnny (uncredited)
- Terry Goodman Boy (uncredited)
- Jimmy Roebuck Boy (uncredited)
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 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Dr. Barnaby Fulton, Cary Grant, is a slightly absent-minded research chemist at the Oxly chemical company who dreams of an elixir of youth that could renew aging bodies. His boss, the financially shrewd Oliver Oxly, pushes him toward a breakthrough that could be a blockbuster, and the board shares the same keen interest in turning science into profit. The laboratory atmosphere buzzes with ambition, but chaos soon arrives in the form of Esther, a clever chimpanzee, who breaks loose and, in a moment of mischief, sprinkles a beaker’s contents into the water cooler. The mixture is not just a random accident — it holds the rejuvenating power Barnaby has been chasing.
Full summary
The whole story of Monkey Business, scene by scene
Monkey Business Box Office
Monkey Business grossed $265 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$265
- International
- $265
Monkey Business Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Monkey Business.
How Well Do You Know Monkey Business?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays the absent‑minded chemist Dr. Barnaby Fulton?
Cars in Monkey Business
17 cars on screen, including the 1950 MG TD and the 1946 Ford Super De Luxe.
-
1950 MG TD Main role -
1946 Ford Super De Luxe Minor role -
Hyster Straddle Carrier Minor role -
Mack LJ Minor role
Monkey Business Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “Darling” and “I'm Growing Younger”.
- Also known as
-
- Darling
- I'm Growing Younger
- Liebling, ich werde jünger
- Il magnifico scherzo
- Chérie je me sens rajeunir
- Me siento rejuvenecer
- Föryngringsprofessorn
- A Culpa Foi do Macaco
- מאנקי ביזנס
- O Inventor da Mocidade
- Gyanús dolog
- 몽키 비지니스
+6 more Show fewer
- Обезьяньи проделки
- Мајмунска посла
- Ο Βαρνάβας, η Εντβίνα, η Μαϊμού και το Μπογκομόλετς
- 妙药春情
- Em sento rejovenir
- Małpia kuracja
Seen Monkey Business?
Movies Like Monkey Business
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Monkey Business, Monkey Business and Monkey Businessmen.
Monkey Business FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Monkey Business, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Monkey Business?
Monkey Business runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).
When was Monkey Business released?
Monkey Business was released on September 2, 1952.
Who is in the cast of Monkey Business?
Monkey Business stars Cary Grant as Barnaby Fulton, Charles Coburn as Oliver Oxley and Marilyn Monroe as Lois Laurel, among 56 credited actors.
How much did Monkey Business make at the box office?
Monkey Business grossed $265 worldwide.
Does Monkey Business have a post-credit scene?
No. Monkey Business has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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