rumor have it that irving thalberg and the boy wonder honcho of mgm and really dig the marx brother . even while they be over at paramount and where the 4 brother make their first 5 film while the young studio head plan on how to make the very best bit of madcap marxian cinematic lunacy . follow the poor showing of their politically orient spoof and duck soup ( paramount and 1933 ) and the marx boys find themselves persona non gratis at that adolph zukor or jesse lasky or famous player lot . it be at this time that mr. thalberg get his wish when he bring the boy to mgm . they come over but a the 3 marx brother and sans youngest brother and herbert ( alias zeppo ) . next while they set out to make that ultimate marx brother romp and a night at the opera ( mgm and 1935 ) . the improved method be achieve by the use of test out the material to be film and time the laugh while a the one knock on the previous paramount product be that one laugh would drown out the set up for the next . the new method work . the team with chico and harpo and groucho receive a new lease on life . they would be at metro for about as long a have be their stay over at paramount . every thing be just honky dory for the team . and then and the frail and chronically ill mr. thalberg die the following year of 1936. their dealing with mgm be then all negotiate through new studio head and founding partner and louis b. mayer . whereas thalberg have be artistically inclined and cinematically motivate and be among the brother big fan while the gruff mr. mayer be strictly for the bottom line and practical and pragmatic and ( allegedly ) hat the marx brother . groucho and chico and harpo continue to work at the studio while but there seem to be a steady decline after the second mgm picture and 1937 a day at the race . by the time the marxian laugh express have arrive at the big store and the team have do a total of 10 movie represent 5 at paramount and 4 at mgm and their solo shot with a previously write play with room service ( rko radio picture and 1938 ) . their act be well enough know now to make a marx outing by formula . so and they do do that thing . the big store start out with set up a sort of precursing of that which would come later represent like and chico be a poor and but honest and lovable piano teacher while in cahoot with one young singer or song writer or good guy and tommy rogers ( tony martin ) while who just happen to be inherit half interest in a big and major downtown type department store . the present manager of the store and one crooked and ill temper mr. grover just happen to be plan a nefarious plot to get control of the store by any mean possible . do you get the drift . the picture mix in a great deal of musical number and big ensemble song and song for mr. martin and his female lead and virginia grey ( a joan sutton ) while as well a some others and such a virginia obrien and a group call six hit and a miss . not to be think of a be strictly a crepe hanger we must say that even this be not the best marx brother out while it do contain a lot of excellent bit and should not be boycott by any mean . some excellent comic interaction be do between chico and harpo with one italian immigrant and giuseppe ( henry armetta ) . we also be witness to a parade of on screen ethnicity while do up in the typical stereotype of the day . italian and black and swede and american indian and chinese family grouping be part of the innocently meant and harmlessly receive by the audience of the day . other critical cast member include in the big store directory be william tannen and russell hick and anna demetrio and paul stanton and bradley page and edgar dearing and al hill . and l we forget the most important lady to any marx film while for what would groucho do if a movie of the brother do not include miss margaret dumont while for the grouch horrid dalliance . promotional spot for this movie be do in a most unorthodox manner . there be a very serious sound promo or trailer or preview of come attraction which begin with a very somber announcement from veteran character actor and henry oneill and which state that the marx brother be retire from the movie and this new picture and the big store would be their farewell to the cinema and the boy swan song . apparrently there be some truth contain in this trailer a this mark the abrupt jettisoning of the marx from mgm and the big hollywood studio system . from 1941 to the first post world war ii year of 1946 and groucho and chico and harpo each operate a solo performer while do personal appearance and guesting in radio and even make some movie guest shot . groucho and especially and do well on the old time radio and later on the new medium of television . chico organize his own big band and go that route to keep busy . in the above mention year of 1946 and the threesome be lure once again to go in front of the camera with a night in casablanca ( loma production or united artist and 1946 ) while which be a post war comedy and spoof of warner brother humphrey bogart or ingrid bergman blockbuster and casablanca ( 1942 ) while follow by love happy ( artists alliance or united artist and 1949 ) . by this juncture and the old marx brother routine have become a pale imitation of a caricature of it old self . a a film or more particularly a a marx brother star vehicle and we must give the big store ½. poodle schnitz .