Moxie Flix: Animal Crackers (1930)

These FREE screenings are part of MOXIE FLIX, a monthly series focusing on essential films for kids to see before they turn 13. This series was made possible by a grant from the Missouri Arts Council and the Springfield Regional Arts Council. A thorough, spoiler-filled Parent’s Guide can be found here.

“Hooray for Captain Spaulding!” as Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and fourth wheel Zeppo rampage through a High Deco Long Island mansion, while Lillian Roth pines, “Why am I so romantic?” A priceless record of their Broadway smash, filmed at Paramount’s Astoria Studios. Long available in versions with poor image and sound, this restoration includes newly-recovered once-censored footage that was long thought lost. Some of the missing footage Universal was able to recover includes a previously missing line from “Hooray for Captain Spaulding,” Groucho’s song and dance number upon returning from Africa; a Harpo gag where he unexpectedly pulls Mrs. Whitehead’s slip out from under her dress; Groucho telling a joke about a “shotgun wedding”; and Zeppo taking dictation from Groucho for a letter to Groucho’s lawyers.

Starring: 4 Marx Brothers (Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Zeppo), Lillian Roth
Director: Victor Heerman
Genre: Comedy