Marx Brothers go period – it’s the 1850s and they’re heading out west. It starts quite brightly with the three brothers trying to get on a coach but soon tapers off. Like many Westerns, the plot involves a fight over land – John Carrol sells some land to a railroad in order to help his fiancee’s grandfather and various uninteresting machinations result. I always hate plots where the Marxes are only motivated to unite the lovers – surely they could have fixed it so they could do that and make money? Also it’s annoying they have to unite these lovers – I mean, they won’t get together because their families hate each other – that’s a reason to stay apart? Boring.There are some bright things in this: Harpo facing off against a gun slinger, the brothers running rampant in a stage coach, the boys singing a cowboy song, Harpo playing the harp in an Indian village, a decent chase on a train. But not nearly enough. And no Margaret Dumont! There was no reason why a Marx Brothers period film couldn't have worked - they just needed something decent to do (eg be appointed sherrif of a town or something).
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