A Night At the Opera (1935) {Warner Archive Blu-ray Review}

Reviewed By Jason Lockard

There are some comedy teams that are so iconic that even if you have never seen one of their films you know their characters. The Three Stooges, Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello and yes The Marx Brothers.

The brothers Groucho, Chico, Harpo, Zeppo and Gummo were all performers. When the made a splash in movies most remember just  the trio Groucho, Chico and Harpo. In 1935 the trio would find themselves someplace you would never imagine this off-the-wall brothers, they find themselves out for "A Night At The Opera".

Now the great folks at Warner Archive have decided to give this classic comedy from the Marx Brothers an absolutely stunning Blu-ray release this classic so richly deserves.

Business manager Otis B. Driftwood (Groucho Marx) meets aspiring singer Ricardo (Allan Jones), who is in love of fellow performer Rosa (Kitty Carlisle). With the help of Fiorello (Chico Marx) and Tomasso (Harpo Marx), Otis plans to bring these two together. But there is another who wants to win the beautiful Rosa, Lassparri (Walter Woolf King). Can the trio help these two find love? You'll have to see the film to find out.

The Marx Brothers are in full hilarious form in this film. When you take the zany Marx Brothers and put them in the sophisticated Opera you are bound for utter and complete hilarity. And that is precisely what we get.

It is debatable as to which is the Marx Brothers greatest film, but one thing is for sure A Night At the Opera is defiantly in at top. American Film Institute listed this film in it's 2000 AFI's 100 Years.... 100 laughs at #12. And in 2007's AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies at #85.

This film has been transferred in 1080p from a new restored scan in 1.37:1 aspect ratio with a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. When watching this film in comparison to other releases this scan is miles ahead of the rest. The pictures quality is crisp with no signs of damage and audio is clear with just the slightest hint of hiss. This is one amazing Blu-ray transfer.

Warner Archive went above and beyond here and gave us some amazing bonus features on this Blu-ray as well. Take a look at what is included.

* A very insightful audio commentary by film critic and historian Leonard Maltin
* An extremely interesting documentary Remarks on Marx
* Groucho Marx on The Hy Gardner Show (A 1961 Broadcast)
* 3 Vintage Shorts: Los Angeles: Wonder City of the West, Sunday Night at the Trocadero and Robert Benchley's Academy Award Winning 'How To Sleep' 
* Theatrical Trailer

Watch The Trailer Below:


This Blu-ray release is something special. I can not put into words how impressed I am with this Blu-ray transfer. And all the bonus features truly enhance this release making it a must own.

So if you love the Marx Brothers as much as I do I can not recommend this Blu-ray release enough. You can head over to Amazon.com and get your copy today. You won't be disappointed.

Out of 4 Film Reels (4 Being the Best) The Warner Archive's Blu-ray of A Night At The Opera receives...