So I finally watched a Marx Brothers movie last weekend (Duck Soup) and loved it, and now I’m suddenly geeked about the whole Marx Brothers phenomenon. I’ve seen two more of their films since then and been reading about the family and their move from Vaudeville to Broadway to Hollywood. I think Harpo is my favorite; he’s the only mime I’ve ever liked but he cracks me up and I like the way he just happens to find a harp in every adventure and how his personality changes when he’s playing from idiot to savant (HM said once he touched the harp he wasn’t acting any more.) I like Groucho best when he goes from memorable one liners to being actually insane. You get the sense he’s ad libbing everything and they only ever did one take.
Since I’ll probably eventually watch all of the movies and know which one to see first (Since I’ve seen Duck Soup and Animal Crackers, the next two are Night at the Opera and Day at the Races), I guess I don’t need recommendations. Just wanted to share the joy of finally getting what the big deal is.
I went into my first Marx brothers movie expecting to hate it, but I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Groucho cracked a joke and as I was repeating it to myself (so I could tell someone at work) 14 more jokes went by. After that I rented a bunch more. After reading this, I think I’m going to go put some more on my Netflix list.
“Take this thing out and sell it. My broker just called and said he needed more margin”. Ad libbed by Groucho for the Broadway production of “Animal Crackers” after the stock market crash wiped out his lifetime savings.
Pity there is no film of the time during World War II when Groucho and Charlie Chaplin teamed up with two tennis pros for a war bond drive. Groucho showed up with a blanket and picnic basket. When Chaplin objected saying “I didn’t come here to be your straight man”, Groucho replied “That’s what you think”
Or the time the anti-Semitic country club rejected Groucho because he was Jewish. He asked “My children are only half-Jewish”. Can they go into the swimming pool up to their needs".
Or the time returning for a trip for England, he filled out the reentry form occupation listing as
“smuggler”. And in a loud stage whisper, asked his wife “Where did you hide the opium”. The family got stripped searched for that one.
Ah, I fell in love with them as a teen, most especially Harpo. That was my standby Halloween costume. Also, read all their autobios. I checked out every one they had at the library. It’s been a while, I’ll have to watch those movies again.
Don’t overlook my favorite Marx Brothers movie, Horse Feathers. Hilarious as always, and unlike A Night at the Opera, the music is good enough not to bring the movie to a dead stop.
Lots of other good songs in Marx Brothers movies… “Hello I Must Be Going,” “All Gods Chillun Got Guns,” and “Lydia the Tattooed Lady,” among others I’m sure.