A chimpanzee's accidental chemistry experiment fuels a 1952 screwball comedy about eternal youth
In short: In the 1952 film Monkey Business, a research chemist’s quest for an elixir of youth takes an absurd turn when a laboratory chimpanzee accidentally creates the perfect formula. The resulting chaos forces the film’s characters to confront the absurdity of aging, marriage, and the elusive nature of staying young.
Directed by Howard Hawks, the film stars Cary Grant as Dr. Barnaby Fulton, an absent-minded chemist at the Oxly chemical company. Distracted by his work, Barnaby neglects his marriage to Edwina, played by Ginger Rogers. The plot hinges on a laboratory accident: a chimpanzee named Esther mixes a beaker of chemicals into the office water cooler, unknowingly creating the rejuvenating serum Barnaby has been struggling to synthesize.
The comedic fallout is swift and chaotic. Barnaby tests his own concoction and consumes the tainted water, reverting to the behavior of a 20-year-old and pursuing his boss's secretary, Lois Laurel. Edwina soon follows suit, transforming into a prankish schoolgirl. The film’s premise spirals into farce as the couple, their boss Oliver Oxly, and various scientists consume the water, leading to scenarios ranging from playing with children to mistaken identity involving a baby. Despite the absurdity, the film concludes on a sentimental note, with Barnaby observing that one is only truly old when they forget how to be young.
Critical reception of the film has been mixed throughout its history. While it holds a 74% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, contemporary and retrospective reviews often highlight a sense of labor. Director Howard Hawks himself admitted he found the premise unbelievable, which he felt hindered the film's humor. Critics like Leslie Halliwell and Pauline Kael described the work as labored or grating, while others, such as Peter Bogdanovich, praised the chemistry between Grant and Marilyn Monroe, though he lamented the casting of Rogers in the lead role. Conversely, Gregory Lamb defended Rogers as a comedienne of high caliber, illustrating the enduring debate over whether the film's star power could overcome its inherently treacherous farce writing.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Monkey Business (1952 film)
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