Difference between revisions of "Groucho Marx"
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| − | '''Groucho Marx''', born '''Julius | + | '''Groucho Marx''', born '''Julius Henry Marx''' (October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977), was a [[Jew]]ish-American [[vaudeville]] comedian. He is most famous for his appearances with his brothers Chico and Harpo as the "Three Marx Brothers". |
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
| − | As a young [[Jew]] growing up in [[ | + | As a young [[Jew]] growing up in [[Manhattan]], Julius Rosenberg and his four brothers — Leonard (Chico), Arthur (Harpo), Milton (Gummo), and Herbert (Zeppo) — followed their uncle's footsteps into [[vaudeville]]. Each brother developed a [[characteristic]] stage persona; for example, Groucho wore a greasepaint [[mustache]] and smoked a fat [[cigar]] in imitation of a college professor, while Harpo rarely said anything except through a [[horn]]. Chico's stage persona was that of an [[Itali]]an immigrant. Chico's "ancestry" became a running gag in the Marx Brothers' act. For example, at one point in the film ''Animal Crackers'' Groucho turns to Chico and asks, "When did you become Italian?". |
==From vaudeville to film== | ==From vaudeville to film== | ||
| − | Beginning with | + | Beginning with 1929's ''The Cocoanuts'' and followed in 1930 with ''[[Animal Crackers]]'', the Four Marx Brothers took to the screen for a series of long-running and widely acclaimed musical comedies. Their 1933 ''[[Duck Soup]]'', which took [[pot]]shots at the tinpot [[dictatorship]]s of prewar [[Europe]], was loved more at home than overseas and may have contributed to the arms race between [[Great Britain]] and [[Germany]] in the years leading up to [[World War II]]{{fact}}. |
| − | While Chico's | + | While Chico's Italian-immigrant character and Harpo's silent clowning translated easily to the cinematic medium, Zeppo Marx's clean-cut and boring "straight-man" persona did not fare so well. Audiences didn't respond to Zeppo's light touch, preferring the more slapstick comedy of Groucho, Chico, and Harpo — although Zeppo's lighter brand turned out to be quite popular with [[troops|American servicemen]] overseas. After the success of ''Duck Soup'', Zeppo left the act for good. |
The Three Marx Brothers made a few more films with RKO, such as ''A Day at the Opera'' and ''Westward Ho!'', but the act's back was broken and the brothers split up soon thereafter. | The Three Marx Brothers made a few more films with RKO, such as ''A Day at the Opera'' and ''Westward Ho!'', but the act's back was broken and the brothers split up soon thereafter. | ||
Revision as of 19:22, November 15, 2008
Groucho Marx, born Julius Henry Marx (October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977), was a Jewish-American vaudeville comedian. He is most famous for his appearances with his brothers Chico and Harpo as the "Three Marx Brothers".
Early life
As a young Jew growing up in Manhattan, Julius Rosenberg and his four brothers — Leonard (Chico), Arthur (Harpo), Milton (Gummo), and Herbert (Zeppo) — followed their uncle's footsteps into vaudeville. Each brother developed a characteristic stage persona; for example, Groucho wore a greasepaint mustache and smoked a fat cigar in imitation of a college professor, while Harpo rarely said anything except through a horn. Chico's stage persona was that of an Italian immigrant. Chico's "ancestry" became a running gag in the Marx Brothers' act. For example, at one point in the film Animal Crackers Groucho turns to Chico and asks, "When did you become Italian?".
From vaudeville to film
Beginning with 1929's The Cocoanuts and followed in 1930 with Animal Crackers, the Four Marx Brothers took to the screen for a series of long-running and widely acclaimed musical comedies. Their 1933 Duck Soup, which took potshots at the tinpot dictatorships of prewar Europe, was loved more at home than overseas and may have contributed to the arms race between Great Britain and Germany in the years leading up to World War II[Citation Needed].
While Chico's Italian-immigrant character and Harpo's silent clowning translated easily to the cinematic medium, Zeppo Marx's clean-cut and boring "straight-man" persona did not fare so well. Audiences didn't respond to Zeppo's light touch, preferring the more slapstick comedy of Groucho, Chico, and Harpo — although Zeppo's lighter brand turned out to be quite popular with American servicemen overseas. After the success of Duck Soup, Zeppo left the act for good.
The Three Marx Brothers made a few more films with RKO, such as A Day at the Opera and Westward Ho!, but the act's back was broken and the brothers split up soon thereafter.
Solo career
Groucho went on to host the game show You Bet Your Life and appear on Dick Cavett.