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Zeppo was 28, Groucho 39, and Harpo and Chico in their early 40s.
The groups film career began auspiciously with Paramount, for which they made five classic movies.
These early comedies have the most quotable jokes, the most absurd situations, and the most indelible scenes.
And, yes, Zeppo.
And then they signed with the tonier studio, MGM.
Here, they made two of their biggest box-office hits, but at what cost?
These movies put Agees maxim to the test.
But they didnt think of themselves as satirists or comedy subversives.
Stoliar said that Groucho told him, We were just trying to be funny.
Which undermine the most sacred cows and highest authorities?
Which most deftly remove the starch from the stuffiest shirts?
Which have the best songs and instrumental performances?
Which keep those intrusive love stories at bay and allow the Marx Brothers to run riot?
Which would be the best gateway into the Marx-verse?
1.Horse Feathers (1932)
1.
2.Duck Soup(1933)
2.
Once youve graduated fromHorse Feathers, youre prepared for their masterpiece, ranked No.
5 on AFIs 100 Years … 100 Laughs list.
This was the film that gave Woody Allens suicidal character a new lease on life inHannah and Her Sisters.
After one taste, youll duck soup for the rest of your life.
3.Animal Crackers(1930)
3.
); and Groucho dictating a letter to his lawyer at Hungadunga, Hungadunga, Hungadunga, and McCormick.
The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection Blu-ray contains the original uncut version, with its racier dialogue restored.
(Do you want me to scratch Elsie?
Well, if you enjoy that sort of thing, its quite alright with me).
4.A Night at the Opera(1935)
4.
Mel Brooks citesA Night at the Operaas his favorite Marx Brothers film.
Gilbert Gottfried referred to it on hisAmazing Colossal Podcastas the beginning of the end.
It was not known for the Marxes style of anarchic comedy.
The brothers may have been compromised, but for this one glorious film, the Thalberg way works.
5.Monkey Business(1931)
5.
It contains the brothers grandest entrance together: as stowaways on an ocean liner.
They pop out of four barrels to take their bows after a rousing chorus of Sweet Adeline.
Why dont you get in the back seat for a while and let your wife drive?
), Chico and Harpo making waves on deck, and Zeppo falling for a gangsters daughter.
It peters out at the end, but for the first 70 minutes,Monkey Businessis pure bananas.
6.The Cocoanuts(1929)
6.
But the comedy is strong and the brothers make indelible first onscreen impressions.
The best-known sequence is Groucho and Chicos Why a Duck routine.
Thats about as funny as anything in the movie.
7.A Day at the Races(1936)
7.
With all due respect to Gilbert Gottfried,thisis the beginning of the end.
Irving Thalberg died during production, and the absence of his keen instincts and guiding hand are deeply felt.
The Chico of the Paramount films was a hustler and a fixer out for No.
The comedy scenes again road tested in front of an audience are strong.
8.Room Service(1938)
8.
Some purists insist that this is not, in fact, a true Marx Brothers movie.
The source material was a popular Marxless Broadway play that was retailored to fit the Marxes personas.
You cant shake backers out of your sleeve, Groucho complains.
Anyhow, I cant.
But if presented with a choice between this and any of the later MGM films, Ill orderRoom Service.
9.A Night in Casablanca(1946)
9.
The Marx Brothers emerged from retirement after a five-year hiatus for this hit-or-miss return-ish to form.
Its not, as one would hope, a parody of the Humphrey Bogart classic.
But Grouchos bravado carries the day in two memorable scenes.
My names Ronald Kornblow, I stop at nothing).
The other is with a snooty entitled guest.
(This lady is my wife; you should be ashamed.
If this lady is your wife, you should be ashamed.)
10.Go West(1940)
10.
The things the MGM movies thought audiences would care about.
Here, its whether John Carroll can resolve a family feud so he can marry Diane Lewis.
There is no comic tension in placing them in a circus.
This film does give us one of Grouchos iconic songs, Lydia the Tattooed Lady (a.k.a.
Todd Alquists ringtone inBreaking Bad).
12.The Big Store(1941)
12.
That is, unless the stores manager doesnt bump him off first.
Enter Margaret Dumont (yea!)
who hires Grouchos low-rent private eye Wolf J. Flywheel to be his bodyguard.
Ill write you twice a week.
A Harpo and Chicopiano duetis a musical highlight.
13.Love Happy(1949)
13.
Remember James Agees quote about the Marx Brothers?
To that,Love Happysays, Hold my beer.
The brothers last film is even less of a Marx Brothers movie thanRoom Service.
They are not in a single scene together.
Harpo is the whole show as a vagabond who acts as a guardian angel to a struggling theatrical troupe.
Looking at the camera, he says, If this were a French movie, I could do it.
I cant understand why.
Its a sad swan song, but not as cringe-worthy as the surviving Ritz Brothers inBlazing Stewardesses.
