Difference between revisions of "Marx Brothers"
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The '''Marx Brothers''' were a successful [[Vaudeville]] act who performed on [[Broadway]] and in movies. Most of the time, they portrayed the same characters and wore the same clothes in their movies. So the cigar waggling, heavily moustached Groucho was effectively the same persona<ref>[http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article/?cid=86548&rss=mrqe]</ref> whether his role was Captain Spaulding in "Animal Crackers", college president or a stowaway on board a ship. | The '''Marx Brothers''' were a successful [[Vaudeville]] act who performed on [[Broadway]] and in movies. Most of the time, they portrayed the same characters and wore the same clothes in their movies. So the cigar waggling, heavily moustached Groucho was effectively the same persona<ref>[http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article/?cid=86548&rss=mrqe]</ref> whether his role was Captain Spaulding in "Animal Crackers", college president or a stowaway on board a ship. | ||
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| + | Groucho's puns ranged from the simple to the outrageous: "I'm gonna take you down and show you our cemetery. I've got a waiting list of fifty people down at that cemetery just dying to get in it."<ref>[http://www.marx-brothers.org/whyaduck/info/movies/scenes/whyaduck.htm Why A Duck?</ref> | ||
Groucho was noted for socially conscious wordplay, as in "Monkey Business" (1931): | Groucho was noted for socially conscious wordplay, as in "Monkey Business" (1931): | ||
Revision as of 15:23, December 18, 2008
The Marx Brothers were a successful Vaudeville act who performed on Broadway and in movies. Most of the time, they portrayed the same characters and wore the same clothes in their movies. So the cigar waggling, heavily moustached Groucho was effectively the same persona[1] whether his role was Captain Spaulding in "Animal Crackers", college president or a stowaway on board a ship.
Groucho's puns ranged from the simple to the outrageous: "I'm gonna take you down and show you our cemetery. I've got a waiting list of fifty people down at that cemetery just dying to get in it."[2]
Groucho was noted for socially conscious wordplay, as in "Monkey Business" (1931):
| “ | Madame Swempski: I don't like this innuendo.
Groucho: That's what I always say: love flies out the door when money comes innuendo.[3] |
” |
Harpo never spoke onstage or in movies. He wore top hat, carried a bulb-operated horn, and would often sidle up to a person and get them to hold on to him. He played the harp beautifully, hence his name.
Chico affected an Italian accent, and competed in wordplay with Groucho. He played piano, sometimes ending a glissando by 'shooting' the last note.
Zeppo played the straight man.[4]
| Real name | Stage name |
|---|---|
| Manfred Marx | never performed |
| Chico Marx | Leonard |
| Arthur Marx | Harpo |
| Julius Henry Marx | Groucho |
| Milton Marx | Gummo |
| Herbert Marx | Zeppo |
Notes
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [http://www.marx-brothers.org/whyaduck/info/movies/scenes/whyaduck.htm Why A Duck?
- ↑ Groucho turns innuendo to "in your window". [2]
- ↑ Herbert Marx bio