THE 4 MARX BROTHERS AT PARAMOUNT 1929 – 1933 [1929 / 1930 / 1931 / 1932 / 1933 / 2017] [Blu-ray] [Limited Edition Box Set] [UK Release] The Maddest Comics of the Paramount Screen!
The Marx Brothers – Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx and Zeppo Marx are one of the cornerstones of American comedy. Starting out in vaudeville, they conquered Broadway and eventually the big screen in their own inimitable style, at once innovative, irreverent, anarchic, physical, musical, ludicrous and hilarious.
With the advent of the talkies, the Marx Brothers signed to Paramount Pictures and brought their stage act to cinema audiences. They made five films in five years with Paramount Pictures, all of which are collected here: ‘THE COCOANUTS’ [1929], ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ [1930], ‘MONKEY BUSINESS’ [1931], ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ [1932] and one of the greatest comedies of all time, ‘DUCK SOUP’ [1933].
The Paramount Pictures era represents The Marx Brothers at their absolute finest, retaining all of the energy and controlled chaos of their stage shows. Plots are unimportant – it’s the gags, set-pieces and one-liners that matter, like: “Why a duck?;” “Hello, I Must Be Going;” “Hooray for Captain Spaulding;” “That’s the bunk!” and in the film ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ they said “Swordfish” and of course there was the classic mirror sequence in the film ‘DUCK SOUP.’
FILM FACT: ‘THE COCOANUTS’ [1929] was one of the early sound movies and they were struggling with some problems with this new technology. Sound could only be recorded live, which means that whenever you hear the music of a full orchestra would have to have been nearby. To avoid the sound of paper being shuffled it was soaked in water. You can clearly see that in the Viaduct scene, when Groucho Marx shows Chico Marx their plans. This movie was made when the Marx Brothers where performing Animal Crackers on stage. This is the only movie were Harpo wears a red wig, like he would have done on stage. The wig appeared too dark on film and in the other movies he is using a blond wig. Referring to directors Robert Florey and Joseph Santley, and Groucho Marx remarked, “One of them didn't understand English and the other didn't understand comedy.” As was common in the early days of sound film, to eliminate the sound of the camera motors the cameras and the cameramen were enclosed in large soundproof booths with glass fronts to allow filming, hence the largely static camera work. The “ink” that Harpo drank from the hotel lobby inkwell was actually Coca-Cola, and the “telephone mouthpiece” that he nibbled was made of chocolate, both inventions of Robert Florey. The film ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ contains the well-known Chico Marx-Harpo Marx scene in which Chico Marx keeps asking Harpo for “a flash” (meaning a flashlight), and Harpo Marx, not understanding and produces from his bottomless trench coat and baggy pants a fish, a flask, a flute, a “flit,” a “flush” etc. Typical for many The Marx Brothers films, production code censors demanded changes in some of the lines with sexual innuendo. ‘MONKEY BUSINESS’ is the third film released in 1931 was their first with a script made for the screen and their first made in Hollywood. Groucho Marx brought in his uncle, Al Sheen, to write plenty for this picture. If you're looking for sheer Marx Brothers zaniness without any unnecessary musical numbers or subplots, this is a movie for you. According to Frank Bland, this picture also contains the funniest line ever delivered in a Marx Brothers film by a non-Marx Brother: Captain: “Stowaways? How do you know there are four of them?” Steward: "Well, they were singing Sweet Adeline." Opinions are split about whether you can hear Harpo's voice when the stowaways sing "Sweet Adeline.” ‘MONKEY BUSINESS’ was banned in some countries because censors feared it would encourage anarchic tendencies and was the first The Marx Brothers film to be filmed in Hollywood. Their first two films were filmed at Paramount Pictures Astoria Studios in Queens, New York City. Comparing the original scripts with the finished film ‘DUCK SOUP,’ most of the characters' initial scripted names were later changed. Only the names of Chicolini and Mrs. Teasdale were kept. Groucho Marx's character originally named “Rufus T. Firestone” and eventually became Rufus T. Firefly, while the name of Harpo Marx's character is named “Pinky” in the final product and was given in the press book as “Brownie.” The “Ambassador Frankenstein of Amnesia” was quickly changed to Ambassador Trentino of Sylvania. Zeppo Marx's character remained Firefly's son until very late in production, finally becoming Bob Roland, his secretary; also, Mrs Teasdale's niece “June Parker” transformed into Vera Marcal, first introduced as Ambassador Trentino of Sylvania's “niece” before ultimately becoming his companion.
‘THE COCOANUTS’ [1929]
Cast: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Zeppo Marx, Oscar Shaw, Mary Eaton, Cyril Ring, Kay Francis, Margaret Dumont, Basil Ruysdael, Gamby-Hale Ballet Girls, Dolores Hope (uncredited), Sylvan Lee (uncredited) and Barton MacLane (uncredited)
Directors: Joseph Santley and Robert Florey
Producers: James R. Cowan and Walter Wanger (uncredited)
Screenplay: George S. Kaufman (book) and Morrie Ryskind (adapted)
Composer: Frank Tours (uncredited)
Cinematography: George J. Folsey, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black and White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 93 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Paramount Pictures / Universal Pictures / Arrow Academy
* * * * *
‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ [1930]
Cast: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Zeppo Marx, Lillian Roth, Margaret Dumont, Louis Sorin, Hal Thompson, Margaret Irving, Kathryn Reece, Robert Greig, Edward Metcalf, The Music Masters (Six Footmen), Robert Allen (uncredited), Donald MacBride (uncredited), Ann Roth (uncredited) and Fredi Washington (uncredited)
Director: Victor Heerman
Screenplay: Bert Kalmar (based on the musical play), George S. Kaufman (based on the musical play), Harry Ruby (based on the musical play) and Morrie Ryskind (based on the musical play)
Composer: Max Reese (uncredited)
Cinematography: George J. Folsey, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black and White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 98 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Paramount Pictures / Universal Pictures / Arrow Academy
* * * * *
‘MONKEY BUSINESS’ [1931]
Cast: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Zeppo Marx, Rockliffe Fellowes, Harry Woods, Thelma Todd, Ruth Hall, Tom Kennedy, Tom Kennedy, Eddie Baker (uncredited), Bobby Barber (uncredited), Billy Barty (uncredited), Billy Bletcher (uncredited), Eddie Borden (uncredited), James Bradbury Jr. (uncredited), Maxine Castle (uncredited), Davison Clark (uncredited), Cecil Cunningham (uncredited), Bobby Dunn (uncredited), Al Flosso (uncredited), Bess Flowers (uncredited), Otto Fries (uncredited), Sherry Hall (uncredited), Pat Harmon (uncredited), Ethan Laidlaw (uncredited), Sam Marx (uncredited), Charlotte Mineau (uncredited), Harold Minjir (uncredited), William H. O'Brien (uncredited), Evelyn Pierce (uncredited), Cyril Ring (uncredited), Constantine Romanoff (uncredited), Rolfe Sedan (uncredited), Frederick Sullivan (uncredited), Ben Taggart (uncredited), Leo White (uncredited) and Leo Willis (uncredited)
Director: Norman Z. McLeod
Producer: Herman J. Mankiewicz (uncredited)
Screenplay: Al Shean (contributing writer) (uncredited), Arthur Sheekman (additional dialogue), J. Carver Pusey (contributing writer) (uncredited), S.J. Perelman and Will B. Johnstone
Cinematography: Arthur L. Todd (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black and White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 77 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Paramount Pictures / Universal Pictures / Arrow Academy
* * * * *
‘HORSE FEATHERS’ [1932]
Cast: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Zeppo Marx, Thelma Todd, David Landau, Bobby Barber (uncredited), Reginald Barlow (uncredited), Vince Barnett (uncredited), Sheila Bromley (uncredited), E.H. Calvert (uncredited), Edgar Dearing (uncredited), Robert Greig (uncredited), Theresa Harris (uncredited), Edward LeSaint (uncredited), Florine McKinney (uncredited), Nat Pendleton (uncredited), Lee Phelps (uncredited), James Pierce (uncredited), Frank Rice (uncredited), Syd Saylor (uncredited), Arthur Sheekman (uncredited), Ben Taggart (uncredited) and Phil Tead (uncredited)
Director: Norman Z. McLeod
Producer: Herman J. Mankiewicz (uncredited)
Screenplay: Arthur Sheekman (uncredited), Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, S.J. Perelman and Will B. Johnstone
Composer: John Leipold (uncredited)
Make-up Department: Robert J. Schiffer (Make-up Artist) (uncredited)
Cinematography: Ray June, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black and White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 67 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Paramount Pictures / Universal Pictures / Arrow Academy
* * * * *
‘DUCK SOUP’ [1933]
Cast: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont, Raquel Torres, Louis Calhern, Edmund Breese, Leonid Kinskey, Charles Middleton, Wade Boteler (uncredited), Sidney Bracey (uncredited), E.H. Calvert (uncredited), Davison Clark (uncredited), Louise Closser Hale (uncredited), Joseph Crehan (uncredited), Carrie Daumery (uncredited), Mario Dominici (uncredited), Maude Turner Gordon (uncredited), Verna Hillie (uncredited), Edward LeSaint (uncredited), George MacQuarrie (uncredited), Edwin Maxwell (uncredited), Eric Mayne (uncredited), Edmund Mortimer (uncredited), Dennis O'Keefe (uncredited), Leo Sulky (uncredited), Frederick Sullivan (uncredited), Ben Taggart (uncredited), Dale Van Sickel (uncredited), Charles West (uncredited), Florence Wix (uncredited) and William Worthington (uncredited)
Director: Leo McCarey
Producer: Herman J. Mankiewicz (uncredited)
Screenplay: Arthur Sheekman (additional dialogue), Bert Kalmar (story), Harry Ruby (story) and Nat Perrin (additional dialogue)
Composer: John Leipold (uncredited)
Cinematography: Henry Sharp (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black and White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 68 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Paramount Pictures / Universal Pictures / Arrow Academy
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: THE 4 MARX BROTHERS AT PARAMOUNT 1929 – 1933 have Five newly restored comedy films from Paramount Pictures and starring the legendary The Marx Brothers, that consisted of Groucho Marx [1905 – 1976], Chico Marx [1887 – 1961], Harpo Marx [1910 – 1963] and Zeppo Marx [1901 – 1979] all come together with this UK Arrow Academy Blu-ray Limited Edition Box Set for the first time ever from Paramount Pictures and Arrow Academy. Known for their comedic stage and film performances from the early 1920’s to the late 1960’s, The Marx Brothers are considered among the greatest comedy stars of the Classic Hollywood era. THE 4 MARX BROTHERS AT PARAMOUNT 1929 – 1933 includes newly discovered footage from the ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ film, which has not been seen since the film was edited to meet the American Motion Picture Production Code standards which were better known as The Hays Code for the film ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ reissue in 1936. It is also loaded with lots of bonus content including an all-new feature-length documentary, “The Marx Brothers: Hollywood's Kings of Chaos” [2016], and with this collectible packaging it includes an exclusive booklet by author Robert S. Bader, entitled “The Marx Brothers: From Vaudeville to Hollywood,” which is an all-new essay on the comedians including rare photos and much much more.
The Marx Brothers, which included Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx and Zeppo Marx who are the reigning kings of comedy in America and remain one of the most iconic comic teams of all time. From their early days on Vaudeville and the Broadway stage through to their wildly popular motion pictures, and The Marx Brothers kept audiences of all ages laughing out loud with some of the most hilarious routines ever imagined. ‘THE 4 MARX BROTHERS AT PARAMOUNT 1929 – 1933’ Restored Edition captures the very best of the comedy team and includes the only five movies to feature all four brothers. Filled with unforgettable comedy sketches, musical numbers, witty dialogue and plenty of gags, this must-own Blu-ray Limited Collection includes ‘THE COCOANUTS’ [1929], ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ [1930], ‘MONKEY BUSINESS’ [1931], ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ [1932] and considered one of the greatest comedy movies of all time ‘DUCK SOUP’ [1933].
‘THE COCOANUTS’ [1929] is set in the Hotel de Cocoanut, a resort hotel, during the Florida land boom of the 1920s. Mr. Hammer [Groucho Marx] runs the place, assisted by Jamison [Zeppo Marx], who would rather sleep at the front desk than actually help him run it. Chico and Harpo arrive with empty luggage, which they apparently plan to fill by robbing and conning the guests. Mrs. Potter [Margaret Dumont], appeared in the first of seven film appearances with The Marx Brothers and is one of the few paying customers. Her daughter Polly [Mary Eaton] is in love with struggling young architect Bob Adams [Oscar Shaw]. He works to support himself as a clerk at the hotel, but has plans for the development of the entire area as The Cocoanut Manor. Mrs. Potter wants her daughter to marry Harvey Yates [Cyril Ring], whom she believes to be of higher social standing than the clerk. This suitor is actually a con man out to steal the dowager's diamond necklace with the help of his conniving partner Penelope [Kay Francis]. As to the film ‘THE COCOANUTS’ itself, I did not find it at all funny, in fact the film made me very angry, and especially with the stupid mindless antics of Harpo Marx with his constantly physical contact with the women, that today he would be totally arrested and I am very angry I had to sit through 93 minutes of not very funny and especially insulting humour. As to Groucho Marx so called humour, well for me personally I did not find his so call sarcastic remarks not at all funny and I just did not understand his type of humour.
THE COCOANUTS MUSIC TRACK LIST
FLORIDA BY THE SEA (1925) (uncredited) (Written by Irving Berlin) [Sung off-screen by chorus] [Danced by the Gamby-Hale Ballet Girls and Allan K. Foster Girls]
WHEN MY DREAMS COME TRUE (1929) (uncredited) (Written by Irving Berlin) [Performed by Oscar Shaw and Mary Eaton]
THE BELL-HOPS (1925) (uncredited) (Written by Irving Berlin) [Danced by the Gamby-Hale Ballet Girls]
MONKEY-DOODLE-DOO (1925) (uncredited) (Written by Irving Berlin) [Performed by Mary Eaton] [Danced by the Gamby-Hale Ballet Girls and Allan K. Foster Girls]
BALLET MUSIC (1929) (uncredited) (Written by Frank Tours) [Danced by the Gamby-Hale Ballet Girls]
TALE OF THE SHIRT (1925) (uncredited) (Music written by Georges Bizet, from “Carmen”) (Lyrics by Irving Berlin) [Performed by Basil Ruysdael and chorus]
GYPSY LOVE SONG (1898) (uncredited) (Written by Victor Herbert) [Performed by Chico Marx on the piano]
* * * * *
‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ [1930] We find the well-known explorer and hunter Captain Jeffrey Spaulding [Groucho Marx] has just returned from Africa, and is being welcomed home with a lavish party at the estate of influential society matron Mrs. Rittenhouse [Margaret Dumont] when a valuable painting goes missing. The intrepid Captain Jeffrey Spaulding attempts to solve the crime with the help of his silly secretary Horatio Jamison [Zeppo Marx], while sparring with the anarchic Signor Emanuel Ravelli [Chico Marx] and his nutty sidekick The Professor [Harpo Marx].
ANIMAL CRACKERS MUSIC TRACK LIST
YOU MUST DO YOUR BEST TONIGHT (1930) (uncredited) (Music by Harry Ruby) (Lyrics by Bert Kalmar) [Performed by Robert Greig and The Music Masters]
I REPRESENT (1930) (uncredited) (Music by Harry Ruby) (Lyrics by Bert Kalmar) [Performed by Zeppo Marx and Chorus]
HELLO, I MUST BE GOING (1930) (uncredited) (Music by Harry Ruby) (Lyrics by Bert Kalmar) [Performed by Groucho Marx, Margaret Dumont and chorus]
HOORAY FOR CAPTAIN SPAULDING (1928) (uncredited) (Music by Harry Ruby) (Lyrics by Bert Kalmar) [Performed by Sung by Groucho Marx, Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont and chorus] [Danced by Groucho Marx]
Gypsy Chorus (from “Il Trovatore”) (1852) (uncredited) (Music by Giuseppe Verdi) (Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano) [Performed by Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx and Chico Marx]
Sextet (from “Lucia di Lammermoor”) (Music by Gaetano Donizetti) [Played when Emmanuel Ravelli (Chico Marx) makes his entrance]
WHY AM I SO ROMANTIC? (1930) (uncredited) (Music by Harry Ruby) (Lyrics by Bert Kalmar) [Performed by Lillian Roth and Hal Thompson] [Also played a bit on harp by Harpo Marx]
COLLEGIATE (Music by Moe Jaffe) [Played when “The Professor” Harpo Marx makes his entrance and in a later scene featuring him]
I’M DAFFY OVER YOU (1930) (uncredited) (Written by Chico Marx and Sol Violinsky) [Performed by Chico Marx on piano]
SILVER THREADS AMONG THE GOLD (1873) (uncredited) (Music by H.P. Danks) [Performed by Chico Marx on piano]
MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME (1852) (uncredited) (Written by Stephen Foster) [Performed a cappella by Chico Marx, Groucho Marx and Zeppo Marx]
* * * * *
‘MONKEY BUSINESS’ [1931] The Marx Brothers star in their first film written specifically for the silver screen, and we find them all as stowaways on an ocean liner bound for New York. The four stowaways get involuntarily pressed into service as toughs for a pair of feuding gangsters while trying desperately to evade the ship's crew. Each of them has a separate adventure on board; from matinee idol Zeppo Marx's romancing of a bootlegger's daughter to Groucho Marx having to avoid the attentions of gangster's moll Lucille Briggs [Thelma Todd]. Prior to this, the film has no real plot, just the brothers causing unending uproar. Except in the credits and in the screenplay The Marx Brothers characters have no names in this film. They are referred to simply as “the stowaways.” After arriving stateside, one of the gangsters kidnaps the other's daughter, leaving it up to the brothers to save the day.
MONKEY BUSINESS MUSIC TRACK LIST
YOU BROUGHT A NEW KIND OF LOVE TO ME (1930) (uncredited) (Written by Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal and Pierre Norman) [Performed by Zeppo Marx, Groucho Marx and Chico Marx] [Heard when Harpo Marx tries to convince the passport officials that he is Maurice Chevalier]
PIZZICATO (1876) (uncredited) (Written by Léo Delibes) [Performed by Chico Marx on the piano]
WHEN I TAKE MY SUGAR TO TEA (1931) (uncredited) (Written by Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal and Pierre Norman) [Performed by Chico Marx on the piano]
I’M DAFFY OVER YOU (1930) (uncredited) (Written by Chico Marx and Sol Violinsky) [Performed by Harpo Marx on the harp] [Whistled by Chico Marx]
SWEET ADELINE (1903) (uncredited) (Written by Richard H. Gerard and Harry Armstrong) [Performed a cappella by Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx and Zeppo Marx]
O Sole Mio (1898) (uncredited) (Lyrics by Giovanni Capurro) (Music by Eduardo Di Capua) [Performed by Maxine Castle] [Accompanied by Harpo Marx on the harp]
YOU BROUGHT A NEW KIND OF LOVE TO ME (1930) (uncredited) (Written by Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal and Pierre Norman) [Performed by Maurice Chevalier]
JUST ONE MORE CHANCE (Music by Arthur Johnston) [Played instrumentally during the scenes between Zeppo Marx and Ruth Hall]
O Sole Mio (Reprise) (1898) (uncredited) (Lyrics by Giovanni Capurro) (Music by Eduardo Di Capua) [Performed by Maxine Castle at Joe Helton's party]
BLUE BLAZES (Music by Richard A. Whiting) (Lyrics by Leo Robin)
IT’S A GREAT LIFE (If You Don't Weaken) (Music by Richard A. Whiting with Newell Chase) (Lyrics by Leo Robin)
HO-HUM (uncredited) (Music by Dana Suesse) [Played as background music]
YOU’RE THE SUREST CURE FOR THE BLUES (uncredited) (Music by Dana Suesse) [Played as background music]
* * * * *
‘HORSE FEATHERS’ [1932] The film revolves around college football and a game between the fictional Darwin and Huxley Colleges. Many of the jokes are about the amateur status of collegiate football players and how eligibility rules are stretched by collegiate athletic departments remains remarkably current. The Marx Brothers take on higher education and football in this riotous comedy. The newly minted president of Huxley University, Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff [Groucho Marx] is getting pressure from his son Frank Wagstaff [Zeppo Marx] to improve the football squad at the school. Frank thinks his father should recruit two professional ball players so Huxley University can finally defeat their gridiron rival, Darwin Mullen [James Pierce]. But when Quincy Adams Wagstaff hires the wrong guys, suddenly a pair of bootleggers Baravelli [Chico Marx] and Pinky [Harpo Marx] is wreaking havoc as undergraduates, which creates chaos throughout the school.
HORSE FEATHERS MUSIC TRACK LIST
WHATEVER IT IS, I’M AGAINST IT (1932) (uncredited) (Music by Harry Ruby) (Lyrics by Bert Kalmar) [Performed by Groucho Marx and Chorus]
I ALWAYS GET MY MAN (1932) (uncredited) (Music by Harry Ruby) (Lyrics by Bert Kalmar) [Performed by Groucho Marx, Zeppo Marx and Chorus]
COLLEGIATE (1925) (uncredited) (Written by Moe Jaffe and Nat Bonx) [Performed Piano Solo by Chico Marx]
EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU (1932) (uncredited) (Music by Harry Ruby) (Lyrics by Bert Kalmar) [Performed by Chico Marx, Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx and Zeppo Marx]
Bridal Chorus (from “Lohengrin”) (1950) (uncredited) (Music by Richard Wagner)
Wedding March (from “A Midsummer Night's Dream”) (1843) (uncredited) (Music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy)
I’M DAFFY OVER YOU (1930) (uncredited) (Written by Chico Marx and Sol Violinsky) [Performed by Chico Marx on the piano]
BEAR DOWN PALHAM (uncredited) (Music by Richard A. Whiting) (Lyrics by George Marion Jr.)
TRUE BLUE LOU (uncredited) (Music by Richard A. Whiting) (Lyrics by Leo Robin and Sam Coslow)
* * * * *
‘DUCK SOUP’ [1933] When the tiny Kingdom of “FREEDONIA” that has gone bankrupt, its wealthy benefactor, Mrs. Teasdale [Margaret Dumont], insists that the wacky Rufus T. Firefly [Groucho Marx] become the country's president. Sensing a weakness in leadership, the bordering nation of Sylvania sends in the spies Pinky [Harpo Marx] and Chicolini [Chico Marx] to set the stage for a revolution. As Firefly clashes with the Sylvanian ambassador [Louis Calhern], plenty of mayhem ensues, and the countries verge on all-out war. War seems inevitable. But what will the outcome be?
DUCK SOUP MUSIC TRACK LIST
HIS EXCELLENCY IS DUE (1933) (uncredited) (Music by Harry Ruby) (Lyrics by Bert Kalmar) [Performed by Zeppo Marx and Margaret Dumont with chorus]
THESE ARE THE LAWS OF MY ADMINISTRATION (1933) (uncredited) (Music by Harry Ruby) (Lyrics by Bert Kalmar) [Performed by Zeppo Marx and Margaret Dumont with chorus]
THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER (1896) (uncredited) (Music by John Philip Sousa)
THE COUNTRY’S IS GOING TO WAR (1933) (uncredited) (Music by Harry Ruby) (Lyrics by Bert Kalmar) [Performed by Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx and Harpo Marx with chorus]
Military Polonaise in C Minor, Op.40, No.2 (1838) (uncredited) (Music by Frédéric Chopin)
Willian Tell Overture (1829) (uncredited) (Music by Gioachino Rossini)
AIN’T SHE SWEET (1927) (uncredited) (Music by Milton Ager)
GOOD NIGHT, SWEETHEART (1930) (uncredited) (Written by Ray Noble, Jimmy Campbell, and Reginald Connelly)
ONE HOUR WITH YOU (1932) (uncredited) (Music by Richard A. Whiting)
AMERICAN PATROL (1885) (uncredited) (Music by F.W. Meacham)
Light Cavaly Overture (1866) (uncredited) (Music by Franz von Suppé)
FREEDONIA HYMN (1933) (uncredited) (Music by Harry Ruby) (Lyrics by Bert Kalmar)
OH! SUSANNA (1848) (uncredited) (Written by Stephen Foster)
GYPSY LOVE SONG (1898) (uncredited) (Music by Victor Herbert)
SYLVANIA HYMM (1933) (uncredited) (Music by Harry Ruby)
THE SAILOR’S HORNPIPE (uncredited) (Traditional) [Played briefly during the “Freedonia Hymn” sequence]
(I WISH I WAS IN) DIXIE’S LAND (1860) (uncredited) (Traditional) [Played briefly during the “Freedonia Hymn” sequence]
THE OLD GREY MARE (uncredited) (Traditional)
WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD WOLF (1933) (uncredited) (Written by Frank Churchill and Ted Sears)
* * * * *
Blu-ray Image Quality – Paramount Pictures, Arrow Academy and also with a little help from the British Film Institute with an impressive 1.37:1 aspect ratio, but you also experience stunning Black-and-White 1080p ultimate 35mm Safety Composite Fine grain film image quality that have been sourced from a new 4K restorations that were transferred from the elements preserved by NBCUniversal. The original nitrate negatives for these films have not survived very well, so the restorations are based on the best archival materials available. As such, the films regularly exhibit various forms of wear and tear, and also including dirt, debris, scratches, stability issues and occasional damage or missing frames. But one must always remember very importantly that these films are well over 80 years old and especially in the case of ‘THE COCOANUTS,’ the film studios did not treat these films with great respect. To that point, I have little doubt barring the discovery of some immaculately preserved print in a vault someplace, these 1080p restoration transfers will be the best these films can possibly ever look, especially compared to the inferior DVD releases in 2013, and these new 1080p restorations are a marked improvement, especially with the enhance in the image quality that were even better probably than when the films were originally released in the cinema. Extensive efforts were made by NBCUniversal to present all five films in their highest quality possible. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Paramount Pictures, Arrow Academy and with a little help from the British Film Institute, in giving us a superb 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio experience and of course the audio quality hinges on the condition of the original elements that was available for these Blu-ray discs, so all in all the audio for these films has been greatly improved, especially as the amount of hiss has been greatly reduced. Likewise, the original mono soundtracks also exhibit the technical limitations of both the era in which they were recorded, as well age-related forms of wear, such as hiss, noise, occasional clicks and bumps creep in, as they once did with the original films and the audio track also sound as if it has been slightly filtered a bit in allowing the voices to be heard so much more clearly and in some of the films the audio is in really tiptop shape. Again, these are still pretty fantastic audio sound mixes as a number of The Marx Brothers jokes that I had never caught before finally get really revealed and gave me great deal of fresh rounds of stomach-aching fits of laughter.
* * * * *
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
High Definition Blu-ray [1080p] presentations of all five features, transferred from original film elements by NBCUniversal.
THE COCOANUTS’ Special Features
Special Feature: ‘THE COCOANUTS’ Audio Commentary by Anthony Slide [Audio only] [2017] [1080p] [1.37:1] [93:10] With this featurette, we get to hear from Film Scholar Anthony Slide who is an English writer who has produced more than seventy books and edited a further 150 books on the history of popular entertainment. Film Scholar Anthony Slide is a member of the editorial board of the American Film Institute Catalogue. Film Scholar Anthony Slide wrote Letters from Hollywood: Inside the Private World of Classic American Moviemaking for the UK Film Review Magazine from 1979 to 1994, and Anthony Slide wrote a monthly book review column for Classic Images from 1989 to 2001. Anthony Slide informs us that this was the Marx Brothers first sound film and their first released film and as soon as the film begins one is aware of something unusual in the production and nothing to do with the Marx Brothers, but everything to do primary with one of the directors Robert Florey and it was his idea to show the dancers in negative image form so to emphasise the white credit letters in front of the dancers and also to demonstrate how primitive the soul film might be at this point in time, and on top of all that, the camera in encased in a sound proof booth and totally impossible to be moved and Robert Florey was trying to do something totally different, and from then on, Anthony Slide goes into an in-depth history of the film ‘THE COCOANUTS,’ and equally informs us of some fascinating facts about the Marx Brothers and the making of the film ‘THE COCOANUTS.’ As we get near to the end of the film, Anthony Slide points out the Marx Brothers waving goodbye to the audience watching the film, and the final shot of course is not the Marx Brothers, but the loving couple, and that director Robert Florey wrote a letter to Anthony Slide in July 1975, and said that he added a few visual gags to certain sequences in the film and tried to move the camera a little, and also directed ‘THE COCOANUTS’ film to the best of my ability, but under the conditions I was working in, but that is all I could do, and on these words, Anthony Slide says may I also say goodbye to you, and thank you for listening to me, goodbye. At that point this Anthony Slide audio commentary comes to an end.
Special Feature: Inside the NBC Vault: The Today Show Interviews: With this featurette, we have three excerpts from the NBC’s “The Today Show” featuring interviews with Harpo Marx, Groucho Marx and Bill Marx, which are as follows:
Harpo Marx on TODAY [1961] [480i] [1.37:1] [7:12] With this featurette, we have this Harpo Marx interview that was supposed to promote Harpo Marx's biography, yeah, you can guess, they didn't get very far into plugging his latest autobiography book entitled “HARPO SPEAKS!” and most of the time Harpo Marx just fooled around and trying to be funny, but me, not at all very well and still kept up the pretence that he cannot talk. With this featurette, unfortunately the quality of the image recording is totally atrocious.
Groucho Marx on TODAY [1963] [480i] [1.37:1] [4:48] With this featurette, of course anytime you have Groucho Marx on the air, there are going to be some great jokes and amazing stories and appeared on NBC’s “The Today Show” on November 1963, and we are informed that Groucho Marx wanted to liven up the morning TV programme and it is totally audacious and tries to demonstrate his famous “Duck Walk” and fondly reminiscences on auditioning a young Marilyn Monroe. Once again with this this featurette, unfortunately the quality of the image recording is totally atrocious.
William Marx on TODAY [1985] [480i] [1.37:1] [4:35] With this featurette, which this time it is broadcast in colour and a vast improvement in the quality of the image over the previous featurettes, and her we meet Harpo Marx's son William Marx who dropped by the studio for the reissue of Harpo Marx's autobiography book entitled “HARPO SPEAKS!” which was written in collaboration Harpo Marx and Rowland Barber and William Marx talks eloquently about his father and shares some great stories about his father Harpo Marx and what it was like growing up with such a strong musical and comedic talent. William Marx says his father was a true New Yorker and says Harpo Marx was a magical man at home and did some wonderful things and was also a mature and intelligent person, but also acted like a child and would bring back his childhood in sitting in front of the television on Monday to Friday afternoon at 5:15pm watching his most favourite television programme of all time entitled “Time for Beany” which was an American children's television series, with puppet characters like Beany, Captain Huffenpuff, Dishonest John, Hopalong Wong, Honey Bear and Cecil. At the same time we get to view some personal private home movie clips and especially seeing Harpo Marx strutting around a pool in a lady's swimsuit is something to see. Out of the three featurettes, I found this one the most interesting.
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‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ Special Feature
Special Feature: ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ Audio Commentary on by Jeffrey Vance [Audio only] [0000] [1080p] [1.37:1] [98:29] With this featurette, we get to hear from Jeffrey Vance who is an American film historian, producer, archivist, and lecturer, as well as the author of the acclaimed volumes Douglas Fairbanks (UC Press/Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 2008), Chaplin: Genius of the Cinema (Harry N. Abrams, 2003), Harold Lloyd: Master Comedian (Harry N. Abrams, 2002), and Buster Keaton Remembered (Harry N. Abrams, 2001). But most of all Jeffrey Vance is here to talk in-depth about all aspects of the Marx Brothers 1930 film ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ and as the film starts Jeffrey Vance welcomes us to his personal audio commentary for the film ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ and says the film is the Marx Brothers most important and durable comedy film and personally feels it is undeniably the funniest film with many famous lines and classic situations, anarchy and pandemonium. Jeffrey Vance feels ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ stands out for a later Marx Brothers pictures, partly due to the fact that is a Pre-Code Hollywood (1927 – 1934) film, because it was produced and released in 1930 before the The Hays Code was this self-imposed industry set of guidelines for all the motion pictures that were released between 1934 and 1968 was introduced and the code prohibited profanity, suggestive nudity, graphic or realistic violence, sexual persuasions and rape. So the film ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ was removed from American cinemas in 1930 and of course suffered from censorship cuts to the film when it was re-issued and the racier moments in the film was believed to have been lost forever, fortunately, the British Film Institute retained an uncut 35mm negative of the 1930 film ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ and this negative was scanned at 4k for the UK Blu-ray release so that you can enjoy the full uncut version of the film ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS.’ Then Jeffrey Vance for the rest of the audio commentary goes into greater in-depth detail about the Marx Brothers film ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ and also gives lots of in-depth behind-the-scene unique fascinating facts about the film ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS.’ As we get near to the last 8 minutes of the film ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS,’ and Jeffrey Vance says that Chico Marx went onto to do lots of work on radio, stage and television throughout the rest of his career in the 1950’s, until ill health slowed him down. Near the end of the film Chico Marx mentions “Habeas Irish Rose” which Jeffrey Vance mentions that it was a 1922 Broadway play entitled “Abie's Irish Rose” was a commercial hit, running for 2,327 performances between May 23, 1922, and October 1, 1927. At the time, this was the longest run in Broadway theatre history, surpassing the record 1,291 performances set by the Winchell Smith and Frank Bacon 1918 play “Lightnin.” Jeffrey Vance also mentions that it was eventually brought out as the 1928 film ‘Abie's Irish Rose’ and directed by Victor Fleming and was distribute by Paramount Pictures. On top of all that, ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS,’ they learnt a great deal about sound recording technology with a new artistic medium and were learning something new every day, and that is why you are hearing a superior audio performance of ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS,’ Jeffrey Vance says that as we get to the concluding end of ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS,’ in how Harpo Marx is dominating the action in the film with his stupid knife sequence with loads of knives falling out of his coat sleeve and crashing onto the floor and tends to take over the entire ending of the film, and Jeffrey Vance talks about Harpo Marx appearing on the “I Love Lucy” American TV show with Lucille Ball in 1955, but later on Harp Marx recorded three long playing albums with harp music which he took very seriously, and as a hobby he took up serious oil painting. As we get near to the end of the ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ film, we see Harpo Marx spraying with the flit spray item and flattens all of the actors and Harpo Marx himself with chloroform and Jeffrey Vance thinks it is a real knock out performance and also thinks the ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ film is one of the great Marx Brothers movies, and then says, this is Jeffrey Vance and thank you for listening, and of course at the point this is the end of the Jeffrey Vance audio commentary.
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‘MONKEY BUSINESS’ Special Features
Special Feature: Audio Commentary on ‘MONKEY BUSINESS’ by Robert S. Bader and Bill Marx [Audio only] [2017] [1080p] [1.37:1] [77:43] With this featurette, we get to hear from Robert S. Bader [Marx Brothers Historian] and Bill Marx [Son of Harpo Marx] who are here to talk about all aspects for the Marx Brothers 1931 film ‘MONKEY BUSINESS.’ Bill Marx is an American pianist, arranger, and composer. As the film ‘MONKEY BUSINESS’ begins, first to introduce himself is Robert S. Bader and informs us that he is the Author of “Four of the Three Musketeers: The Marx Brothers on Stage” and of course are here to talks about the 1931 film ‘MONKEY BUSINESS’ and also says that sitting next to him is Bill Marx and says that his father was Harpo Marx and is also here to talk about the 1931 film and they say that it was the first Marx Brothers film with a three picture deal with Paramount Pictures and they signed the contract on the SS Paris (1916) which was a French ocean liner built for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France as they sailed to England on the 29th December, 1930 and were to appear in a variety show and the Marx Brothers had just finished a run of their “Animal Crackers” stage show and then they signed the contract they stipulated that all the money should go to Groucho Marx, because if some of the money went to Chico Marx he would gamble all of the money away. When we see the four barrels with all four Marx Brothers inside them, and they say, “how many voices are we hearing,” and there was a lot of speculation if the fourth person singing was Harpo Marx. At one point the captain and crew are chasing the four Marx Brothers and suddenly we see all four play musical instruments and both say, “look at this, they just chose those musical instruments and start playing them without any problems, and are up and running and very musical,” and they say Harpo Marx loved playing the clarinet, and of course could play the piano, but not in this movie, but of course the love of his life was the harp. They also talk about Zeppo Marx and feel he was also a very important in the film, and they say that the much maligned Zeppo Marx is given quite a lot to do in this movie, and is also the romantic lead in the picture, and there had been rumours while making the film that Zeppo Marx was thinking of leaving the other three Marx Brothers, because he felt underutilised, and both commentators felt Zeppo Marx was a very funny guy, and again there were rumours while making the film ‘MONKEY BUSINESS’ he wanted to go into the real estate business, but when in October of 1929, the stock market crashed, wiping out billions of dollars of wealth and heralding the Great Depression and also known as Black Thursday, Zeppo Marx changed his mind and especially when all four Marx Brothers moved out to California and Hollywood, their fortunes, especially for Zeppo Marx, because the two commentators felt Zeppo Marx was a vert talented man. As we are nearing the end of the film ‘MONKEY BUSINESS’ and this audio commentary, and the commentators remarked and wondered what people who had not seen the Marx Brothers on stage, wondered what their act was like. But both commentators say, now people who have never seen the Marx Brothers, can now actually see them perform with viewing these pristine Blu-ray disc releases of all their films, and also see certain scenes that were censored from the original films, have now been reinstated in these Blu-ray disc releases of all the Marx Brothers films and especially with modern technology and modern eyes, and Bill Marx says that he is so grateful to participate with this wonderful tribute to all four Marx Brothers and I want to thank all of your guys and gals out there watching this film now, to know that I have the deepest appreciation and I am so happy that you guys are still watch the Marx Brothers and may they live for a long, long time and thanks again to the restoration people and it is just magnificent, and the last thing I can say is, thank you so much for watching. At that point, this audio commentary comes to an end.
Special Feature: The Marx Brothers: Hollywood’s Kings of Chaos [2016] [1080p] [1.37:1 / 1.78:1] [79:57] With this featurette, we get to view an all-new feature-length documentary about the Marx Brothers and their meteoric rise as Hollywood's masters of comedic mayhem, featuring new interviews with the Marx Brothers family, Leonard Maltin, Dick Cavett, filmmakers and other historians. We also get to view clips from the Marx Brothers films that includes ‘Duck Soup’ [1933], ‘Horse Feathers’ [1932], ‘Animal Crackers’ [1930], ‘Monkey Business’ [1931] and The Cocoanuts’ [1929]. Contributors include: F. X. Feeney [Film Critic], Leonard Maltin [Film Critic / Historian], David Mandel [Executive Producer, “Veep” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm”], Bill Marx [Son of Harpo Marx], Jeffrey Vance [Film Historian], Robert S. Bader [Author of “Four of the Three Musketeers: The Marx Brothers on Stage”], Dick Cavett [Talk Show Host / Friend of Groucho Marx], Larry Karaszewski and Scott Alexander [Screenwriters for ‘Ed Wood’ and ‘Man on the Moon’], Andy Marx [Grandson of Groucho Marx], Anthony Slide [Film Scholar], Dr. Drew Casper [Holder of the first Alma and Alfred Hitchcock Professor for the Study of American Film, USC Cinematic Arts] and Steve Stoliar [Groucho Marx Secretary / Author of “Raised Eyebrows – My Years Inside Groucho's House”]
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‘HORSE FEATHERS’ Special Feature
Special Feature: ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ Audio Commentary by F. X. Feeney [Audio only] [2017] [1080p] [1.37:1] [66:41] With this featurette, we get to hear from long time Film Critic, Film Historian and Screenwriter F. X. Feeney and is here to talk in-depth and all aspects about the Marx Brothers ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ and as the 1932 film starts F. X. Feeney introduces himself and of course is here to talk about the 4th Marx Brothers 1932 Paramount Pictures film which was shot in the Spring of 1932 and was release in August 1932 and says the first two Marx Brothers films ‘The Cocoanuts’ and ‘Animals Crackers’ were based on the Marx Brothers hit Broadway shows, and the other two Marx Brothers films ‘Monkey Business’ and ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ are original films and in these last two films were directed by the talented Norman Z. McLeod and they also had fantastic screenwriters. F. X. Feeney says in the film ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ you have the obnoxious Groucho Marx, the ladies’ man and gambler Chico Marx, and then you have the leading man Zeppo Marx and lastly you have the so called innocent pup Harpo Marx who to me a very obnoxious character who kept chasing women who were not interested in him, and if he did that today in the 21st century would automatically be arrested, but then they had the wonderful actress Thelma Todd who was their wonderful foil actress competing against the three other Marx Brothers. F. X. Feeney says the Marx Brothers had been thinking as early as 1926 of doing a film with a college theme and initially was going to call the film ‘Marx Brothers Go to Yale’ and of course did not come to fruition, because they were very busy with the films ‘The Cocoanuts’ and ‘Animal Crackers,’ and with their spoof gangster theme with ‘Monkey Business’ film, so decided with ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ to send up the academia fraternity and felt the college theme was a better bet. F. X. Feeney said that Groucho Marx was very well read and much more intelligent out of the other three Marx Brothers and decided finally it was the right time to have ago at college life. F. X. Feeney also points out that the film ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ was a very early sound film and also says, put yourself in a position of a rural American somewhere in the deep south and you are listening to Groucho Marx with a Brooklyn accent, and especially with this sound film, because someone in the deep south of America will find Groucho Marx’s voice totally alien to them in 1932, and Groucho Marx is a city slicker wanting to take over the stuff shirts in that college. Again F. X. Feeney mentions that the film ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ was shot in the Spring of 1932 and cost $681,000 and was filmed over a 34 day period and also points out the many talents that also appeared throughout the film ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ and also says that a cheque for $400 was paid to the very famous Busby Berkeley who of course at that period in time was known on Broadway for his over the top elaborate stage musicals and of course moved to Hollywood and produced his elaborate spectacular musicals for the silver screen, and of course around the five minute mark we get to see Groucho Marx starts singing and also does his very erratic over the top dance routine and behind him is all the academia men who also gets up and joins Groucho Marx in his erratic over the top dance routine. F. X. Feeney now says that Groucho Marx trained as a singer as a skilled soprano and when he sings off key it is deliberate, and F. X. Feeney also points out that Zeppo Marx was also trained as a singer and when Groucho Marx was very ill in ‘Animal Crackers,’ Zeppo Marx took over the Groucho Marx character when it came to singing the songs Groucho Marx would of sung in ‘Animal Crackers,’ and when Groucho Marx saw those singing scenes with Zeppo Marx, Groucho Marx was totally spooked out in realising Zeppo Marx was too good. F. X. Feeney points out that the film ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ was a filmed very efficiently and of course it was all down to the professional director Norman Z. McLeod and was educated at the University of Washington and was also a professional boxer who became a two-time welterweight world champion and an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. Norman Z. McLeod spent two years as a fighter pilot in the US Army in France during World War I, and he also actually started out in the film business as an animator, but learned the comedy trade at the Christie Film Co., which specialised in comedy shorts. Norman Z. McLeod first successful full-length film was ‘Taking a Chance’ [1928] for 20th Century Fox. He was one of Paramount Pictures top directors when he shot two early films with the Marx Brothers, ‘Monkey Business’ [1931] and ‘Horse Feathers’ [1932], both considered among the team's best. Other memorable work from Norman Z. McLeod includes ‘Alice in Wonderland’ that was 1933 American pre-Code fantasy film adapted from the novels by Lewis Carroll and starred W.C. Fields as Humpty Dumpty, It's a Gift’ [1934] with W.C. Fields, ‘Topper’ [1937] with Cary Grant and the Danny Kaye comedy ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ [1947], and ‘The Paleface’ starring Bob Hope [1948]. As we get near to the end of the film ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ F. X. Feeney says that with the 1932 film the Marx Brothers were getting quite old and especially with their mad cap physical comedy section of their films, even though they were only in their early 40’s and trying to fool around like they thought they were the age of young children, and on top of all that they had the freedom in not knowing they actually had that freedom, and movies are a collaboration of movie magic and with their talent they really didn’t realise they had it, and when the Marx Brothers looked at one of their films, they suddenly realised that actually had talent, and would say to themselves, “how did we do that,” and they realised that ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ had the apex of spontaneous combustion, and they also made up the rules as they went along in ‘HORSE FEATHERS.’ F. X. Feeney says that he spoke to Arthur Marx, Groucho Marx’s son and made an interesting point that it was very hard to write for Groucho Marx character in his films, and for Groucho Marx you have to have specific rhythm to hit every time, if you are going to make a Groucho Marx come out with his specific lines and of course his timing and basically talking about the weather and it will sound funny and if you hear a line that is actually funny, it tear the roof off, and now you see introduced in the film a dog appears running across the pitch, and where Harpo “Pinky” Marx is the dog catcher is restored and chasing after the dog, and we then see the four Marx Brothers riding a garbage bin, that is ridden like a chariot with a horse, and all hell breaks loose, and F. X. Feeney says there is a funny American football fame you are welcome to try and even try to name it, and making their own rules as the game is being played. At chapter 12 we see the wedding scene with a bride and three Marx Brothers and F. X. Feeney says, “Where’s Zeppo Marx,” and it seems to be someone hidden behind the bride actress Thelma Todd, so maybe he wasn’t available to be filmed that day, and they had a stand-in, but we will never get know as it is the end of the ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ film. At that point we next hear, “my name is F. X. Feeney, thank you so much watching the ‘HORSE FEATHERS’ film with me, I hope you had a good time,” and at that point this F. X. Feeney audio commentary comes to an end.
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‘DUCK SOUP’ Special Features
Special Feature: ‘DUCK SOUP’ Audio Commentary with Leonard Maltin and Robert S. Bader [Audio only] [2017] [1080p] [1.37:1] [68:38] With this featurette, we get to hear from Film Critic/Historian Leonard Maltin and Marx Brothers Historian/Author Robert S. Bader and as the film ‘DUCK SOUP’ begins, first to introduce himself is Leonard Maltin and next to introduce himself is Robert S. Bader and both start to plug the many books they have released, especially about the four Marx Brothers, and they also say that before the film became ‘DUCK SOUP,’ they were originally going to call the film the following title like ‘Grasshopper,’ ‘Crack Ice,’ ‘Firecrackers’ and ‘Ooh La La.’ Both now comments that we are being introduced to the Kingdom of “FREEDONIA,” and they also comment on the one and only wonderful actress Margaret Dumont who of course has appeared in all of the other previous Paramount Pictures Marx Brothers pictures, and they were wondering if the actress spoke in a posh voce in real life, and they also both say the actress Margaret Dumont is virtually indispensable in the Marc Brothers films, and they also feel the actress Margaret Dumont actually gets the sarcastic jokes said by the Marx Brothers, especially Groucho Marx. They also comment on the spectacular sets and also the posh costumes and outfits, and also say everything about ‘DUCK SOUP’ is elaborate, especially the male outfits are very dapper. They also comments on the spectacular white glittering low cut gown that actress Raquel Torres is wearing, and they say that because the 1933 film was made before the Pre-Production Code for the movies was introduced, then Raquel Torres very low cut gown would not of been allowed in the film ‘DUCK SOUP.’ Both of them now comment on Zeppo Marx in saying that he was looking so splendid in the film ‘DUCK SOUP’ in his posh outfit and they also say about Zeppo Marx also gets to some wonderful vocal workout and felt he was a very good singer, and they also say that there was also a lot of negative comments said about Zeppo Marx that he was not very good in all of the five Marx Brothers Paramount Pictures. They also make another comment about the film sets, and that you can tell the film ‘DUCK SOUP’ was made in the “Art Deco” period. At around 7 minutes we finally get to meet Groucho Marx the wacky Rufus T. Firefly and starts rattling off his pathetic non funny sarcastic one liners jokes, but both comment that Groucho Marx in a matter of seconds, presents his character. His reverence, his rapid fire wit and again he comes out with the barrage of so called one liner jokes, that fell flat for me, and they both say they are a laugh a minute. Now both commentators say, has anyone clocked the number of actual laugh lines and in a movie like this, it must be an extraordinary number. As we get near to the end of this audio commentary and of course the film ‘DUCK SOUP,’ and at around 61 minutes, they say, is that a Confederate hat that Groucho Mar is wearing and they also say the uniforms are terrific. They also say something quite interesting, were they say the film ‘DUCK SOUP’ was a box office flop, and would the Marx Brothers be bounced out of Paramount Pictures, but the real truth is that Paramount Pictures breached the Marx Brothers contract and they left the studio, and made a separate deal and came back to make the film ‘DUCK SOUP’ and then the Marx Brothers started to look for a new studio to make more of their films. But Paramount Pictures was very interested in signing a new contract with the Four Marx Brothers in 19434, but unfortunately the box office receipts with their previous four Paramount Pictures films did not do very well, but on the other hand, their previous Paramount Pictures were considered a great success, this had more to do with the depression period in the USA, and they also had similar previous experiences with their Broadway shows, and as with each show, slowly their box office success started to decline, that is why they decided to move to Hollywood to start their new film career. At that point, this audio commentary with Leonard Maltin and Robert S. Bader for the film ‘DUCK SOUP’ comes to an end.
Special Feature: Sibling Revelry [2017] [1080p] [1.37:1 / 1.78:1] [19:50] With this featurette, we get to view a splendid new visual essay by Film Critic David Cairns and covers the lives and long careers of the four Marx Brothers. Contributors include: Steve Stoliar [Groucho Marx’s Secretary] [Author of “Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho’s House”]
Special Feature: MONKEYNUTCRACKERDUCKFEATHERS [2017] [1080p] [1.37:1 / 1.78:1] [27:21] With this featurette, we have another new visual essay by Film Critic David Cairns, this one is much more specifically focused on the films in this Blu-ray set, where David Cairns examines the history of the five films of the four Marx Brothers most loved movies, that includes ‘The Cocoanuts,’ ‘Animal Crackers,’ ‘Monkey Business,’ ‘Horse Feathers’ and ‘Duck Soup.’ And also included is tangential information on why elements for some of the earlier Marx Brothers films were not in the best image condition. Contributors include: Steve Stoliar [Groucho Marx’s Secretary] [Author of “Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho’s House”].
BONUS: FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Beautiful perfect-bound 58-page booklet and featuring new and archival writings on the 5 films. Includes in-depth writings on the following: THE MARX BROTHERS: FROM VAUDEVILLETO HOLLYWOOD by Robert S. Bader. ‘THE COCOANUTS’ by Pamela Hutchinson. ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ by Christina Newland. MONKEY BUSINESS by Kelvin Jackson. ‘HORSE FEATHERS by Michael Brooke. ‘DUCK SOUP’ by Vic Pratt. ABOUT THE TRANSFERS. PRODUCTION CREDITS. SPECIAL THANKS. Also included are wonderful rare Black-and-White images, and beautiful colourful The Marx Brothers Film Posters.
Finally, THE 4 MARX BROTHERS AT PARAMOUNT 1929 – 1933 gives us this really wonderful Blu-ray discs Restored Edition and includes five of the brilliant The Marx Brothers classic comedy films that have never before been released on the Blu-ray disc format in the United Kingdom before and have been digitally remastered from their original film negative elements for improved picture quality. Each film has undergone an extensive restoration process by NBCUniversal that included dirt clean-up, scratch removal and black and white correction. The brilliant restoration of ‘ANIMAL CRACKERS’ was done in collaboration with the British Film Institute.
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
