In the Heat of the Night at the Opera -- a Professor Lensworthy Movie Review

U.S. 1946 91m B&W ***

Not Rated: The film was released prior to the inception of the modern film rating system.

Review: In this little-known Marx Brothers feature Groucho, Chico and Harpo are cast as detectives coerced into solving a small-town murder case in which they are the primary suspects. Songs, silliness and mayhem inevitably follow. Memorable segments include the pool cue routine with Harpo and a nearsighted bear, the hypnotizing barbershop pole and Groucho singing '(I'll Be Your Alibi) If You'll Be Mine' to a less-than-receptive Sheriff (Margaret Dumont). A stint on the county chain gang gives Harpo a chance to play the harmonica while Chico takes a turn on the trombone. Not the best Marxist stuff but not bad either.

Cast: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Margaret Dumont, Peter Huffington, DeLisle Leslie, Olivia Rey

Goofs and Gaffes: Julius Marx (Groucho) actually appears briefly in one scene reflected in a shop window without his trademark grease-paint mustache.

Review provided by Prof. Nestor Lensworthy from Professor Lensworthy's Essential Guide To Obscure Cinema -- More Than 750 Concise Reviews Of Films You Are Guaranteed Never To Have Seen.