
Animal Crackers
Seen it?1930 | 98 min | Comedy, Music
Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (97% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Help! or Enchanted, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Light and funny.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 38 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1930: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
The well-known explorer and hunter Captain Spaulding has just returned from Africa, and is being welcomed home with a lavish party at the estate of influential society matron Mrs. Rittenhouse when a valuable painting goes missing. The intrepid Captain Spaulding attempts to solve the crime with the help of his silly secretary Horatio Jamison, while sparring with the anarchic Signor Emanuel Ravelli and his nutty sidekick The Professor.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 77 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$3 million worldwide
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 88K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
A Day at the RacesSunday Safe BetAlso stars Groucho Marx, in another musical comedy, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Help!Saturday SpecialAnother musical comedy that's easy to miss.
Shall We Dance?Weeknight WatchAnother musical comedy, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
EnchantedFriday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed musical comedy.
Cadet KellyWeeknight WatchAnother comedy, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Victor Heerman
- Groucho MarxCaptain Jeffrey T. Spaulding
- Harpo MarxThe Professor
- Chico MarxSignor Emanuel Ravelli
- Zeppo MarxHoratio Jamison
- Lillian RothArabella Rittenhouse
- Margaret DumontMrs. Rittenhouse
- Louis SorinRoscoe Chandler
- Hal ThompsonJohn Parker
- Margaret IrvingMrs. Whitehead
- Kathryn ReeceGrace Carpenter