The Big Store
| The Big Store | |
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Theatrical poster for Big Store (1941)
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| Directed by | Charles Reisner |
| Produced by | Louis K. Sidney |
| Written by |
Nat Perrin (story) Sid Kuller Hal Fimberg Ray Golden |
| Starring |
Groucho Marx Chico Marx Harpo Marx Tony Martin Virginia Grey Margaret Dumont Douglass Dumbrille |
| Music by |
Hal Borne Georgie Stoll (musical direction) Earl Brent (adaptation) Arthur Appell (dance direction) |
| Cinematography | Charles Lawton Jr. |
| Edited by | Conrad A. Nervig |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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83 min. |
| Language | English |
The Big Store (1941) is a Marx Brothers comedy film in which Groucho, Chico and Harpo cause havoc in a department store. Groucho plays detective Wolf J. Flywheel, a character name originating from the Marx-Perrin radio show Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel in the early 1930s.
The Big Store was the last of five films the Marx Brothers made under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and it was advertised as their farewell film. However, the team would return to the screen in A Night in Casablanca (1946) and Love Happy (1949).
The Big Store co-starred singer Tony Martin and Virginia Grey as the love interests, as well as long time Marx Brothers foil, Margaret Dumont in her seventh and final film with the Marxes. The villain was portrayed by Douglass Dumbrille, who had played a similar role in A Day at the Races.
Tagline: "Where everything is a good buy. Goodbye!"
The Phelps Department Store owner Hiram Phelps has died, leaving half-ownership in the business to his nephew, singer Tommy Rogers. The other half is owned by Hiram's sister, Martha Phelps (Margaret Dumont), Tommy's aunt. Rogers has no interest in running a department store, so he plans to sell his interest and use the money to build a music conservatory. Store manager Grover (Douglas Dumbrille) wants to kill Rogers before he can sell his share, marry the wealthy Martha, then kill her to become sole owner of the Phelps Department Store. Martha is highly suspicious, worried about Tommy's safety lest anyone suspect her of foul play to take over the store. Against Grover's wishes she hires Wolf J. Flywheel (Groucho) as a floorwalker and bodyguard. Between Tommy wooing his sweetheart Joan (Virginia Grey) and Flywheel romancing Miss Phelps, the brothers eventually expose and thwart the plot to kill Tommy.
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