At the Circus

Synopsis: Jeff Wilson, the owner of a small circus, owes his partner Carter $10000. Before Jeff can pay, Carter lets his accomplices steal the money, so he can take over the circus. Antonio Pirelli and Punchy, who work at the circus, together with lawyer Loophole try to find the thief and get the money back.
Genre: Comedy, Musical
Director(s): Edward Buzzell
Production: MGM Home Entertainment
 
IMDB:
6.9
Rotten Tomatoes:
100%
NOT RATED
Year:
1939
87 min
719 Views


That's all, Gibraltar.

You keep on eating between meals,|you'll ruin your figure.

And if you keep on fooling around|that gorilla...

he'll ruin your figure.

He's a snob. Come on.

Jeff, even though Gibraltar likes you...

I wish you wouldn't|take so many chances with him.

Julie, if that would make you|worry about me...

I'd move right into the cage.

It might seem a little cramped|after that house of yours in Newport.

Newport? Where have I heard that before?

I remember.|That's something in my dim, dark past.

- Are you sure it's past?|- Positive.

You like running a circus, don't you?

I like everything about it. But everything.

That's what you say now...

but the smell of sawdust|can get awfully monotonous after a while.

Young lady, that's no way|to talk to your boss.

a sensationally new modern feature:

that exciting personality...

Miss Julie Randall!

There's my cue.

Point killer.

Step up and take a bow

Don't be modest, don't be shy

Show that thoroughbred look in your eye

Step up with grace and pride

Take that oompah, oompah, oompah

In your stride

Each heart begins to beat in rhyme

Oompah-pah, oomph in three-quarter time

Maidens swoon and ladies pine

Wonderful, isn't she?

She's all right.

But whoever heard|of anyone singing with a horse act?

The audience likes it.

Be gallant

Take a bow

At this time,|presenting that muscular marvel...

the strongest man in the world:

Goliath the mighty!

And now the mighty Goliath...

will catch three 100-pound balls|shot from cannon.

I'll fix you!

Mr. Carter? Where's Mr. Carter?

Hello, Joe. What's new? Don't tell me now.

I got no time. I got to find Mr. Carter.

Hello, Nick. How's the wife?

Tell me later. I'm in a hurry.|I got to find Mr. Carter.

Hello, Sam, and that's all.

You see, Jeff, I'm in kind of a jam.

- Hey, Mr. Carter.|- Just a minute, Tony.

Something's come up.|I've got to have the $10,000 I loaned you.

But it isn't due until Saturday night.

That's right,|but unless you have it for me...

I'm afraid I'll have to take the circus over|to raise the money. I'm in an awful spot.

That won't be necessary, John.|I'll have your money for you tonight.

- You'll what?|- Hey, Mr. Carter.

Shut up. I'm talking. Did you say tonight?

Yes. With today's receipts,|I'll have enough to pay you off.

I'll give you your money|on the circus train tonight.

That's fine.

- lf you please, Mr. Carter.|- What is it?

- Can I have a month off next August?|- What for?

I just got word from my lawyer.|He got me a divorce.

And one month every year|I win the custody of my wife's parents.

Take it up with Mr. Wilson.

What's the matter, boss?|Carter making trouble for you?

He's doing the best he can.|But don't you worry about it, Tony.

You know what I say?

When you got business trouble,|best thing to do is get a lawyer.

Then you got more trouble,|but at least you have a lawyer.

- Thanks, Tony.|- You can count on me, boss.

I ain't got nothing,|but you can always have half.

Poor Jeff. He's in plenty trouble.

Trouble...

This will bring him pretty quick.

- It's a straight wire?|- I think I bent it a little.

- Let's see.|- What's the idea, reading my telegram?

- I've got to count the words, don't I?|- All right.

Ten words, 55 cents.

You got something a little cheaper?

We've got regular form telegrams|for congratulations. That's 25 cents.

That's fine. Send him:|"Congratulations. Just got a big case."

Sorry. Congratulatory messages|apply only to special occasions.

For example,|suppose somebody gets married.

- That's a quarter.|- It ain't worth it.

No. I mean, suppose your sister|had a baby. You'd send her a telegram.

What for? She'd know it.

Come on, please take my telegram.|Here's two bits.

That's right, Antonio.|Don't let anybody on except the crew.

I got a lot of money on the train tonight,|so be careful.

I watch like a hawk, boss.

Nobody gets on the train|unless he's got a badge.

You bet. Nobody gets on the train|unless they got the badge.

Miss Julie, she's in there.

Tony, you're a very valuable man.

Hello, Julie.|Coffee and doughnuts. A la carte.

Jeff, I'm terribly sorry to read...

- What kind of doughnuts do you want?|- The best.

You seem pretty chipper...

for a boy|that's just kissed a fortune goodbye.

It's been a tough struggle,|but the circus is finally showing a profit.

Tonight I'm paying Carter|the money I owe him.

Jeff, that's wonderful!

Now the show will be all yours again,|free and clear.

You turned me down before|because you said I had enough obligations.

Now the only thing|standing in the way of our marriage is you.

I don't know why|I let you keep stalling me.

I must be crazy. I ought to see a doctor.|Get me a doctor.

What's the matter? You ain't tasted it yet.

Jeff Wilson, any young man|as stubborn as you are...

should be taught a lesson.

And I guess it's up to me|to do the teaching.

When are we getting married?

When? Was I hearing things, Julie?|Did you really mean what you said?

- Every word of it, darling.|- We'll be married tonight.

We can't tonight. There isn't time.

We'll be married tomorrow.|Do you hear, Julie? Tomorrow.

Two blind loves

Two blind loves

Do we know what we're doing?

Two blind loves

Don't know what month it is

Or the time of day

Don't know if we're in Brooklyn

Or in Mandalay

I only know the sun started to shine

The day that I looked into your eyes

And you looked into mine

Two blind loves

Babes in the wood

We've got it, oh, so bad

But isn't it good?

We're on a bumpy road, it's true

But heaven is in view

For two blind loves

Two blind loves

Two blind loves

Do we know what we're doing?

Two blind loves

Don't know from appetite

Don't know fish from steak

Don't know if it's a doughnut

Or a wedding cake

I only know the sun started to shine

The day that I looked into your eyes

And you looked into mine

Two blind loves

Babes in the wood

We've got it, oh, so bad

But isn't it good?

We're on a bumpy road, it's true

But heaven is in view

For two blind loves

- Where's your badge?|- Here it is.

Okay, Professor, where's your...|Miss Julie, it's you.

All right to get on the train? I got a badge.

Sure, Jeff. Okay.

Hey, mister. $18.75.

1875. That's what I thought.

The 1940 models run much smoother.

You'll think I'm on a scavenger hunt,|but I'm looking for Antonio Ferrelli.

Mr. Loophole, I'm sure glad to see you.

Tony. You old war-horse.

I haven't seen you|since I stopped taking Scott's Emulsion.

You know, I was afraid|you wasn't going to get here in time.

There, see? Another minute|and you'd miss the train.

But now that you're here|everything will be all right.

This is a big case.|You gonna make lots of money.

- This is your lucky day.|- I'll say it is.

Don't know what the trouble is...

but I'll straighten it out in no time.|See you inside.

Would you hold that train still|while I try to mount it?

I'm sorry. Nobody gets on the train|unless they got the badge.

- Badge?|- The badge, yeah.

You mean my Lone Ranger badge.

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Irving Brecher

Irving S. Brecher (January 17, 1914 – November 17, 2008) was a screenwriter who wrote for the Marx Brothers among many others; he was the only writer to get sole credit on a Marx Brothers film, penning the screenplays for At the Circus (1939) and Go West (1940). He was also one of the numerous uncredited writers on the screenplay of The Wizard of Oz (1939). Some of his other screenplays were Shadow of the Thin Man (1941), Ziegfeld Follies (1946) and Bye Bye Birdie (1963). more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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