The Big Store is the tenth entry in The Marx Brothers stable of films. It is a worthy one. The story is a standard one for The Marx Brothers, chaos, with some plot. This plot involves a change of ownership of a department store. There isn’t a strong story, just general comic chaos. Tony Martin is good asTommy Rogers, part heir of the department store. Martha Phelps, (Margaret Dumont), his aunt, is the other owner. Tommy wants to sell. This is a problem for the store manager, Mr. Grover, (Douglas Dumbrille). He has been stealing from the store, and fears being caught. He hires people to kill Tommy Rogers. Tommy is nearly killed in an elevator. This prompts Martha Phelps to hire Wolf J. Flywheel, (Groucho Marx), a private investigator. He is aided by Ravelli, (Chico) and Wacky, (Harpo). Their crime solving methods are made up as they go along.
This is what you expect from a Marx Brothers movie, and then some. We have Chico, interacting with an Italian father. He says that he can’t find half of his twelve children. Chico finds them, but the first six are Chinese ,then they are Indian. Ravelli is just trying to help in his own way. Groucho earns his nickname, as the one and only in this film. He shows off his singing and dancing. His repartee with his foil, Margaret Dumont, is a highlight. This was their last film together. Margaret Dumont always worked well with Groucho.
Harpo is always good for a solo on his namesake instrument. In this scene, he switches clothes with a mannequin, becoming a French nobleman. He plays the harp and dances with a noblewoman. It is one of his best musical scenes. Harpo also has a piano duet with Chico. It is their one duet together. They were able to do comedy well, and this shows their great musical talent.
The brothers were able to do big finishes with their movies. The Big Store doesn’t disappoint. Their is a chase scene that starts in an elevator, and goes all over the store. It does not let the audience down. It is mainly slapstick. The director, Charles Reisner, worked with Charlie Chaplin, writing some scripts and appearing in many silent comedies. This experience was probably helpful, in crafting the finale. The Big Store was the last Marx Brothers film for MGM. They went out with a bang and not a whimper.