Monkey Business is a 1952 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks and starring Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, Charles Coburn, and Marilyn Monroe. The film is about a chemist who develops a youth formula that turns him and his wife into teenagers, causing them to act like adolescents and get into all sorts of trouble. The film is considered a classic of the screwball comedy genre and is known for its witty dialogue and physical comedy.
Plot
Monkey Business is a comedy film directed by Howard Hawks and released in 1952. The film follows a chemist who develops a youth formula that turns him and his wife into teenagers, causing them to act like adolescents and get into all sorts of trouble. The film is known for its witty dialogue and physical comedy and is considered a classic of the screwball comedy genre. The film stars Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, Charles Coburn, and Marilyn Monroe.
Trailer
Cast
- Cary Grant as Dr. Barnaby Fulton
- Ginger Rogers as Mrs. Edwina Fulton
- Charles Coburn as Oliver Oxley
- Marilyn Monroe as Miss Lois Laurel
- Hugh Marlowe as Hank Entwhistle
- Henri Letondal as Dr. Emile Parades
- Robert Cornthwaite as Dr. Zoldeck
- Larry Keating as G.J. Culverly
- Kathleen Freeman as Mrs. Rhinelander
- Douglas Spencer as Dr. Brunner
- Esther Dale as Mrs. Burns
- George Winslow as Button
- Harry Carter as Mr. Shackelford
- Harold Miller as Mr. Haskell
- Bunny Lewbel as Mr. Kinsey
Director: Howard Hawks
Writer: Ben Hecht, Charles Lederer, I.A.L. Diamond, Howard Hawks
Box Office Gross: $265
Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 29, 1952
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Theme
Monkey Business is a comedy film that explores the theme of aging and the desire to remain young. The film follows a chemist who develops a youth formula that turns him and his wife into teenagers, causing them to act like adolescents and get into all sorts of trouble. The film satirizes the obsession with youth and the desire to remain young forever.
Reception
Monkey Business was well-received by critics and audiences alike upon its release in 1952. The film is considered a classic of the screwball comedy genre and is known for its witty dialogue and physical comedy. It currently holds a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Production Challenges
There were several productionchallenges during the making of Monkey Business. One of the biggest challenges was working with Marilyn Monroe, who was relatively unknown at the time. Director Howard Hawks had to work with Monroe to help her develop her comedic timing and acting skills. Additionally, the film's special effects, which included aging and de-aging effects, were difficult to achieve with the technology available at the time.
Settings, Visual Styles, and Techniques
Monkey Business is set in a laboratory and various other locations in New York City. The film features a classic screwball comedy visual style, with fast-paced dialogue and physical comedy. The film also uses special effects to create aging and de-aging effects, which were innovative for the time.
Trivia and Fun Facts
- Monkey Business was the first film that Marilyn Monroe made for 20th Century Fox after signing her contract with the studio.
- The film's opening credits feature a memorable sequence in which Cary Grant repeatedly misses his cue, which was actually a mistake that was left in the final cut of the film.
- The film was remade in 1958 as a musical called "Stop, You're Killing Me!".
- Monkey Business was the second of four films that Cary Grant and Marilyn Monroe made together.
