Animal Crackers

Adapted from The Cocoanuts, a successful stage play by the Marx Brothers, Animal Crackers is somewhat static in its staging, but all the more surreal and absurd in its plot. Antonin Artaud on the ‘very special magic’ of this film: ‘If there is a characteristic state, a recognisable poetic degree of the spirit that can be called surrealism, then Animal Crackers belongs entirely to it.’ A monologue-like demonstration quote, served up by Groucho as a not entirely credible big game hunter celebrated with the enchanting song ‘Hooray for Captain Spaulding’: ‘One morning I shot an elephant in my pyjamas. How he got in my pyjamas, I don't know.’ (C.H.)