This little movie series is available on DVD as The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection, which comes with a bonus disc of special features. The films were made for Paramount Studios before the Marx Brothers were brought over to MGM by Irving Thalberg for another series of films. Here are reviews in chronological order...
The Cocoanuts (1929) directed by Robert Florey and Joseph Santley
This first Marx Brothers film is based on a stage play with music and lyric by Irving Berlin. Groucho Marx is Mr. Hammer, a Florida hotel owner hoping to make a lot of money selling off real estate lots in nearby Cocoanut Grove. One porter at his hotel, Bob (Oscar Shaw), is in love with Polly Potter (Mary Eaton). Bob hopes to become an architect but that is not enough to impress Polly's mom (Margaret Dumont). She'd rather Polly married Harvey Yates (Cyril Ring). Harvey has a lot of debts and wants to marry Polly for money. He also wants to steal the mother's necklace and has an accomplice in Penelope (Kay Francis), who is in the room next to Mrs. Potter. He enacts both schemes (marrying Polly and stealing the necklace) though he gets frustrated by the interference of Harpo (Harpo Marx) and Chico (Chico Marx).
The movie has the fourth Marx brother, Zeppo, in a minor role as a desk clerk. Surprisingly, the movie features a lot of run time without the other brothers, even though they are the "above the title" stars. There's several dance numbers with troops of female dancers (and no Marx Brothers in sight) and plenty of romantic plot between Bob, Polly, and Harvey (Bob and Polly have a romantic duet that gets a reprise). The film is a good intro for the Marx Brothers and introduces some of their typical routines (an absurd conversation/argument between Groucho and Chico, a piano solo by Chico, a harp solo by Harpo, an elaborate set-piece comedy routine with the three of them (poor Zeppo, already the underused spare)). The show has plenty of funny moments but it is not as great as later films.
Mildly recommended--Marx Brothers fans should watch this at least once.
Animal Crackers (1930) directed by Victor Heerman
Famed African explorer Captain Spaulding (Groucho Marx) has returned and is being feted by Mrs. Rittenhouse (Margaret Dumont) at her estate. She is also premiering a painting by Beauregard brought by a shady collector (Louis Sorin). Two scheming neighbors plan to substitute the painting for a copy made by one of them and thus embarrass Rittenhouse. Mrs. Rittenhouse's daughter Arabella (Lillian Roth) wants her boyfriend John (Hal Thompson) to substitute his own copy of the painting to establish himself as a fine artist, giving him enough of a career to let them marry. This framework provides enough plot to hold together a string of musical numbers and comedy routines. It's the typical anarchy of the Marx Brothers (Chico and Harpo are also guests and involved in the painting thefts; Zeppo is Spaulding's secretary).
The movie is a fun outing for the Marx Brothers, with the standouts being the "Hooray for Captain Spaulding" number and Groucho making fun of Eugene O'Neill soliloquies. Greater works would come later but this is a fine bit of entertainment.
Recommended.
Monkey Business (1931) directed by Norman McLeod
The Marx Brothers are stowaways on a ship headed to New York. While they spend time dodging the captain and his crew, they also wind up embroiled in a gang rivalry. One gangster's wife has taken up with Groucho, mostly in ridiculous dance numbers; the other gangster's daughter is romantically interested in Zeppo. All four brothers are hired as bodyguards, two for one gangster, two for the other. The conflict comes to a head in New York at an "introduction to society" party for the daughter that results in a kidnapping and a rescue.
The plot is a slim excuse for antics by the Marx Brothers, including hiding out in various disguises on the ship, impersonating Maurice Chevalier when trying to disembark, and chasing skirts here, there, and everywhere. While the settings are broader than their first two films (which were originally stage plays), the comedy isn't as strong and the skits are randomly strung together. It's a fun time but doesn't have the sparkle of other outings.
Mildly recommended.
Horse Feathers (1932) directed by Norman McLeod
Groucho Marx stars as Quincy Adams Wagstaff, a man just hired by Huxley College as their president. He has a son (Zeppo Marx) who has been at the college for twelve years and has been dating the "college widow," which seems like an excuse to squeeze in a female character. The college's big problem is their football team, the real source of revenue and prestige (yes, even in the 1930s, it was that bad). Rival Darwin College has beaten them every year for far too long. Wagstaff hires some ringers at a local speakeasy but naturally hires the wrong guys--Chico and Harpo Marx. Chico is a speakeasy employee and Harpo is the local dog catcher. Darwin has hired the real ringers so things don't look so good for Huxley.
The plot is strong enough to hold together a bunch of comedy routines, songs, and musical performances. The comedy is more hit than miss. The songs are unremarkable. Chico's piano playing and Harpo's harp performance are impressive and enjoyable. Overall, it's a good time though there's nothing particularly memorable in this film, other than the password is "swordfish."
Mildly recommended.
Duck Soup (1933) directed by Leo McCarey
Groucho Marx is Rufus T. Firefly, the man destined to lead Freedonia in a time of great trial. The previous ruler has left the country in economic trouble and Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont) wants Firefly to fix it. She also has more affection for him than he probably deserves. Ambassador Trantino (Louis Calhern) from Sylvania wants to marry Teasdale and take over Freedonia. His plans are thwarted by Firefly, who insists on insulting Trantino in any way possible and not taking any guff in return. Trantino hires Chicolini (Chico Marx) and Pinky (Harpo Marx) to spy on Firefly, but they spend more time tormenting a local lemonade vendor (Edgar Kennedy) than undermining the Firefly administration.
The plot strings together a lot of gags, songs, and routines by the Marx Brothers. The outstanding bits are the "Freedonia is Going to War" musical number and the very famous broken mirror scene--Groucho is in a nightshirt and Harpo, after dressing as Groucho and breaking a mirror, acts as Groucho's mirror image. The running gag with the motorcycle and side car works is great too. The film is a lot of fun and doesn't overstay its welcome.
Highly recommended--this is probably the best of the Marx Brothers along with A Night at the Opera.
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