The Marx Brothers

For those of you who don't know, the films that the Marx Brothers made for MGM were finally released in a 5 dvd set. Three of the movies (the brilliant "A Night at the Opera," the workmanlike "A Day at the Race,s" and the questionable "A Night in Casablanca") are also now available on their own, and A Night at the Opera is worth picking up if you love classic film comedys.

Three earlier films, made for Paramount, were released and allowed to go out of print. These were the stagey "Animal Crackers" (which was taken directly from their stage show), the funny "Horse Feathers" and the brilliantly anarchic "Duck Soup."

One flaw mars the new reissues (of the MGM work) in my opinion and that flaw is the complete dissing of the work they did for Paramount. The early Paramount films were a bit rough, but the later ones were very well done. They also make great hay of the idea that Thalberg (MGM Producer) was brilliant so he added a story to the films, involving a romance that the Marx Brothers had to help along. I guess that that does give you more of an investment in what is going on, but it also means you have to sit through romantic dialogue without any Marx Brothers around.

Anyway for your viewing pleasure here are some quotes from what are, in my opinion, the two best Marx Brothers Movies.

Groucho: Well, that covers a lot of ground. Say, you cover a lot of ground yourself.
You better beat it - I hear they're going to tear you down and put up an office building where you're standing.
You can leave in a taxi. If you can't get a taxi, you can leave in a huff.
If that's too soon, you can leave in a minute and a huff.
You know, you haven't stopped talking since I came here?
You must have been vaccinated with a phonograph needle.
Duck Soup (and yes that is all one monologue, given to the long suffering Margaret Dumont)

Chico- Can he live in NY on $3?
Groucho- Like a prince. Of course he won't be able to eat, but he can live like a prince.
A Night at the Opera

Don't worry, a LC Round the Horn is coming!