Today’s quick review: The Big Store. The heir to a department store, singer Tommy Rogers (Tony Martin) plans to sell his share in the store to save the conservatory where he learned music with his friend Rubelli (Chico Marx). But when the store manager Mr. Grover (Douglass Dumbrille) tries to take Tommy’s share by force, private detective Wolf J. Flywheel (Groucho Marx) and his assistant Wacky (Harpo Marx) are hired to act as Tommy’s bodyguards.
The Big Store is a classic comedy from the Marx Brothers. The Big Store sees the Brothers frolick through a department store as they try to save a young singer from a sinister plot, pitch woo to his wealthy aunt (Margaret Dumont), and turn around the store’s flagging sales. The movie has all of the Brothers’ trademarks but has a hard time weaving them together. The result is a spirited romp without the focus or precision of the Brothers’ best.
The Big Store is one of the Marx Brothers’ more musical excursions. Between Chico’s piano playing, Harpo’s harp routine, Groucho’s ensemble number, and a handful of songs for Tony Martin, the film is positively brimming with music. The musical numbers are as elaborate as they are lengthy, with a department store’s worth of extras, props, and costumes. The songs themselves are a mixed bag, with a couple of gems and a few that miss the mark.
The chief trouble is that both the songs and the comedy acts aren’t well integrated into the story. The plot disappears for minutes at a time as the film goes off on one tangent or another, be it a song with no bearing on the plot or a lengthy slapstick routine. Such digressions are part and parcel with classic comedies, but the sheer number of them begins to add up. Taken all together, they sap the momentum from the movie in spite of its energy.
Watch The Big Store when you’re in the mood for some light, varied entertainment and aren’t feeling too picky about story. Between the movie’s long digressions and the looseness of its routines, it doesn’t hold the same sharp appeal as the Marx Brothers’ best. But as a happy-go-lucky comedy with a healthy mixture of song and slapstick, The Big Store is a fine pick. For a more robust comedy with a similar focus on song, try A Night at the Opera.
6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for energetic music and fun comedy, hurt somewhat by a lack of focus.