The Margaret Dumont Appreciation Thread

[terentii]

@FriarTed

Who else is thinking “Christina Ricci!”?

HOT Wednesday Addams! :eek:

[Exapno_Mapcase]

@Rocketeer

Young Margaret, radiantly beautiful.

Young Margaret, my foot. The clothes and hair mark that as a picture from the late 1920s, when Dumont was in her 40s, as shown by the pictures in the site I linked to.

[Sampiro]

Since YouTube was not in existence when the OP was written (though the Twin Towers were), i’ll post this year.
In February 1965, 35 years after the film version of Animal Crackers , Groucho and Dumont reunited at the Hollywood Bowl to perform that movie’s most famous number, “Hooray For Captain Spaulding”. Here it is:

Groucho Marx Hosts Hollywood Palace With Margaret Dumont 1965-03-03

Margaret Dumont died one week later.

[Exapno_Mapcase]

@Sampiro

Since YouTube was not in existence when the OP was written (though the Twin Towers were), i’ll post this year.
In February 1965, 35 years after the film version of Animal Crackers , Groucho and Dumont reunited at the Hollywood Bowl to perform that movie’s most famous number, “Hooray For Captain Spaulding”. Here it is:
http://youtu.be/xlWQqFB4ECI

Margaret Dumont died one week later.

The article I linked to has this to say:

On February 26, 1965, Dumont recreated a scene from Animal Crackers on TV with Groucho. She died eight days later at the age of 82. On that broadcast, Dumont is as formidable as ever, clearly pleased when the audience applauds her, and nervously mirthful when Groucho ad-libs, “Don’t step on those few laughs I have.” Interestingly, she tries something new here, a delayed reaction to his dirty joke about native girls “developing,” as if she considers the joke for a moment and then thinks, “Ah, now I get that one!” Was this a choice, or was she finally getting this joke after thirty-five years?

It seems clear when he chastises her for stepping on his lines in that final teaming that Groucho was toughly in charge and she was under his thumb professionally. In his Cavett interview, Groucho ungenerously sneered at Dumont’s behavior back stage at that last taping, sitting in her dressing room “as if she was still a big star,” and holding roses “that she probably bought herself.” Practically any other show business figure would have said a few kind words about an indispensable partner on her very last legs, but Groucho chose to hurl a few more insults at her when she could no longer hear them. Maybe that was his way of showing that he loved her.

[Sampiro]

@Exapno_Mapcase

Young Margaret, my foot. The clothes and hair mark that as a picture from the late 1920s, when Dumont was in her 40s, as shown by the pictures in the site I linked to.

I have it from a very reliable source that the picture is Sylvia Sydney circa 1931.

[Sampiro]

Here’s the Dick Cavett interview referenced in that article. His comments about Margaret Dumont begin around 43:00.

[Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker]

@Sampiro

I have it from a very reliable source that the picture is Sylvia Sydney circa 1931.

A quick stroll thru Google Images seems to confirm that.

[Exapno_Mapcase]

[nitpick]Silvia Sidney[/nitpick]

You don’t need to know who Sidney was to see that the woman in that photo is tiny. Sidney was in fact a tiny, fragile beauty, about 5’2". Dumont was statuesque and large-framed and towers over Groucho in every scene because she was about 5’9" without heels. How can you see that picture and think of Margaret Dumont?

[Rocketeer]

Okay, I guess I was wrong.

How about a charming grin instead?

[ElvisL1ves]

@Exapno_Mapcase

Dumont was statuesque and large-framed and towers over Groucho in every scene because she was about 5’9" without heels.

I can see you bending over the stove. I can’t see the stove.

[Irishman]

@Exapno_Mapcase

[nitpick]Silvia Sidney[/nitpick]

You don’t need to know who Sidney was to see that the woman in that photo is tiny. Sidney was in fact a tiny, fragile beauty, about 5’2". Dumont was statuesque and large-framed and towers over Groucho in every scene because she was about 5’9" without heels. How can you see that picture and think of Margaret Dumont?

I’m not sure how you can tell height or size from a picture with no other objects for reference.

Now I will agree you shouldn’t be able to look at that picture and think it resembles Margaret Dumont at all, but not based on the size of the person. Think shape of the chin, in particular.

[Musicat]

@Exapno_Mapcase

[nitpick]Silvia Sidney[/nitpick]

You don’t need to know who Sidney was to see that the woman in that photo is tiny. Sidney was in fact a tiny, fragile beauty, about 5’2". Dumont was statuesque and large-framed and towers over Groucho in every scene because she was about 5’9" without heels. How can you see that picture and think of Margaret Dumont?

Because 40 years never adds pounds, spreads statues, nor enlarges frames?