MovieChat Forums > A Night at the Opera (1935) Discussion > Allan Jones

Allan Jones

posted 19 years ago by Hansen-Mark
8 replies | jump to latest

Watching this movie again for the 96,000th time recently, I began to notice the performance of Allan Jones. While I don't want to disparage poor Zeppo, he was not a great actor, and while he may have been the funniest of the brothers (as multiple people who knew have attested) it just didn't translate to the screen. I'm not trying to say that Allan Jones is necessarily funnier than Zeppo, but he is certainly a better actor, and upon my umpteenth viewing, I started noticing what a good actor he really is. He seems almost ahead of his time, the way his performance appears so natural. I suppose the reason I didn't notice it before is that it is eclipsed by the manic Marxes. But the next time you watch it, give particular attention to Mr. Jones. While he may not have the same chemistry with the boys as brother Zeppo (which, seeing as how we was an actual brother, is difficult competition) but his underrated work here deserves notice, in my opinion.

[–] Shaolin_Apu 19 years ago

Well at least Allan Jones was a huge improvement by the MGM. He plays excellent role in the film anyway and sad to say, Zeppo would not have made it any better.

Play it again, Frank, I don't give a damn.

[–] MarxBrosFan 19 years ago

Yes, it turned out a better film with Allan Jones than it would have been with Zeppo. The later films could have used Zeppo though, in stead of those Kenny Baker types...

Funny thing on the Allan Jones page: "became a dentist later in life." I've never heard of a dentist that married FOUR times... And his son was the guy who sang the "Love Boat" theme!

One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I'll never know.

[–] Shaolin_Apu 19 years ago

And his son was the guy who sang the "Love Boat" theme!

I didn't know that. Tanks MarxBrosFan!

The "Love Boat" theme is something very special. It summarizes so well that mentality of the early 1980's.

Play it again, Frank, I don't give a damn.

[–] MarxBrosFan 19 years ago

It felt like the 70s... Of course I never watched it myself, are you kidding me? Ok, maybe 300 episodes, tops... On the Imdb page here [The Love Boat TV-Series 1977-1986] it's also rather funny there's *not one* memorable quote listed. That sounds about right if I remember those scripts...

Love, exciting and new
Come aboard, were expecting you
Love, life's sweetest reward
Let it flow, it floats back to you

The Love Boat soon will be making another run
The Love Boat promises something for everyone
Set a course for adventure
Your mind on a new romance

Love won't hurt anymore,
It's an open smile on a friendly shore,
It's love!
Welcome aboard, it's love!

Performed by Jack Jones http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Jones_%28singer%29

One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I'll never know.

[–] Shaolin_Apu 19 years ago

I watched it as a kid, then came 'Knight Rider'. Yes the song sounds more like seventies, but I remember only the eighties.

It's no wonder that there's not one memorable quote. Some guy of the crew was sometimes funny as he ran away from the captain, but only thing in the series was that song.

Play it again, Frank, I don't give a damn.

[–] MarxBrosFan 19 years ago

That's right, that and Captain Stubing's shorts. Very wrong show.

One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I'll never know.

[–] montgomerydou55 9 years ago

Someone once asked the young Jack Jones "Wasn't Allan Jones your father?" Jack snapped, "He still is!"

[–] richspenc 7 years ago

Anyone seen Allen Jones in "Everybody sing" with Billie Burke, Fanny Brice, and a young Judy Garland while still Frances Gumm? Well actually, she changed her name to Judy in 1935 when she first signed up with MGM and "Everybody sing" came out in 1937. Jones also sang part of "Cosi cosa" again in that film at a cafe he worked at.