Talk:Marx Brothers
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And, in the spirit of serious Marxism, you shouldn't forget their older brother Karl Marx :-) sjc
Not to mention the excellent soundtracks for A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races by Freddie Mercury and company. RjLesch
Their father, I seem to recall, appeared as Gummo -- but was this in vaudeville or the plays? I don't think he's evern in the movies.
Gummo was a brother (the oldest, perhaps); he was on stage, but bowed out before they did any movies. Worth mentioning, though. Groucho later said that he thought Gummo was the funniest one of them all. RjLesch
Someone should try and paraphrase David Thomson on the Marx Brothers. Really quite extraordinary analysis.
What does Zeppo look like? I've seen Duck Soup, A Night at the Opera, and Horse Feathers and can't place him. Koyaanis Qatsi
- Zeppo usually plays dull characters, usually Groucho's secretary. I'm fairly sure he's in Animal Crackers. I also thought Gummo was the eldest brother, but I could be mistaken. -- Tarquin
- The birth order was Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo, Zeppo. Zeppo's problem was that he appeared so normal. If he had had some kind of shtick he might have stayed in movies longer. Eclecticology
- Gummo was actually in the vaudeville act briefly but hated it. He became a successful hollywood agent. Zeppo always plays Groucho's assistant of some kind, his secretary in Animal Crackers, his son in Horse Feathers, his asst. in Duck Soup. In Monkey Business, he is presented on an equal footing as the others but they still don't give him any lines when he's onscreen with the three, so he falls flat. interestingly, though, he plays the role of a leering sort of playboy type (wannabe anyway) and he's quite attractive on his own. all too soon, tho he falls in love with a girl and becomes a bland love interest again. richardk
- Supposedly, Zeppo played Groucho's part once on stage when Groucho was sick, getting lots of laughs, not to mention a miracle cure for Groucho, who was back the next day. Zeppo could literally walk the walk and talk the talk, but the dynamics of the act didn't have room for another comic character. I read this in a biography. If I can document it, I'll add it.Ortolan88 19:02, 3 Dec 2004 (UTC)
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Humor Risk
Comment moved from Marx Brothers, re "Humor Risk":
- [I have seen this given as "Humoresque" which makes more sense. - richard@archive.org]
- "The Groucho Phile" gives it as "Humor Risk". I assume that the title was a pun on "Humoresque". -- Infrogmation 02:35 19 Jun 2003 (UTC)
The description of "Humor Risk" seems to keep being changed back and forth. IMDB lists it as "1926", but other sources place it at 1921.
This site (http://w1.660.telia.com/~u66002771/humorisk.htm) seems to be the best webpage on the movie I found in a short search (dispite the wacky formating with text as headlines).
If I recall correctly, there were two showings at the same theater on the same day, one to a mostly adult audience and one to a mostly child audience. While apparently never given mass circulation there seems a possibility that a print might have been shown more, but no confirmation.
I can't find any indication, as claimed by the anon editor, that after the showing the print was "then immediately destroyed." More likely it was lost or deteriorated, as old nitrate stock was wont to do. -- Infrogmation 18:53, 3 Dec 2004 (UTC)
Birth order
Actually, Chico wasn't the first born. Manfred Marx died as an infant before Chico was born. Some say that this is the reason Chico was Minnie's favorite (much to Groucho's remorse). SSS
Recent edits
Much of the article had been written by somebody who either used a translating tool or English was not their first language —I've worked on the grammar of these sections, corrected typos and changed the layout. It still needs more biographical detail - redcountess 06:48, Jan 15, 2005 (UTC)
Image?
Could someone provide a rundown, in the caption, of who each person in the "early photo" image is, from left to right? Kaz 18:54, 3 Feb 2005 (UTC)