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mikecpa
Reviews
A Night at the Opera (1935)
incredibly funny & entertaining
The running debate over which is best Marx Bros. movie, "A Night" or "Duck Soup" is simply ridiculous. Both are as enjoyable as films can be. I lean towards "A Night" because it is more structured, and has a fantastic range of humorous bits. Of course, everyone has seen the stateroom scene but many other delicacies abound:
- the opening with Margaret Dumont waiting at a table for an hour
while Groucho is romancing a pretty young thing a table away.
- the speech in front of the microphones, the mayor and all of NYC,
in which Chico tells how (as famous aviators) they "flew" across
the Atlantic (which after he finishes, Groucho whispers to Chico that he's going to arrange Chico's bail), and then Harpo, while getting ready to speak, pours an Atlantic Ocean amount of water before he can speak, before finally leaving his beard on the chief of police.
- the contract ripping scene (there ain't no sanity clause).
- the hotel room scene with the moving beds.
- the villain tenor (Lasparri) being chased from the stage ("they threw a tomato at me!" whereupon Groucho says that watermelons were out of season).
- etc., etc., etc.
Even the music was great - "Alone," "Cosi, Cosa" and, of course, the strains from Verdi's masterpiece, "Il Trovatore."
It is a national treasure which still holds up even 70+ years later.
To compare this movie with most of today's so-called comedies (with their filth, puerile themes, bathroom "humor", etc.) is criminal.
The comedic genius, Woody Allen, when asked for his inspirations and favorite comedians of the past, immediately cited Groucho as No. 1, with Harpo next. I feel that some of Woody's early work is Marxian in nature ("Bananas," "Take the Money and Run," "Sleeper" for example). Absurdist humor that really tickles the funnybone.
At any rate, anyone who has not seen any of the Marx Bros. films through 1941's "The Big Store" is in for a treat.
Duck Soup (1933)
This is one fabulous comedy
It is an absolute shame that most people under 40 probably have not seen this comic treasure. You will laugh from the first frame until the credits roll. The Marx Bros., this is the last film with all 4 (Zeppo called it quits after this), just run rampant in this farce, which was way ahead of its time. The Italian dictator Mussolini banned its showing in Italy since he thought they were making fun of him. For myself, I think it was making fun of Hitler years before his invasion of Poland. There are a number of classic scenes, but even many more outrageous jokes and situations. I've said enough since I would exceed the 1,000 word limit by tenfold. Anyone who reads this should also view all of their films thru 1941's The Big Store, especially A Night at the Opera & A Day at the Races. Enjoy, enjoy enjoy!!!!!
Fernwood 2 Night (1977)
Fernwood2Nite/America2Nite
I have been waiting unsuccessfully for many years for the issuance of VHS/DVDs of Fernwood2Nite/America2Nite, an incredibly funny series of "late night" type television shows spoofing Johnny Carson's Tonight Show as well as other similar programs. On TV in the late 70s in its 2 incarnations, the Norman Lear venture had a life of perhaps 60 episodes. It starred Martin Mull as the talk show host, Barth Gimble and Fred Willard as his dim-witted sidekick, Jerry Hubbard. They took pokes at all sorts of people, things and sacred cows. They took on South Park type stereotypes (dullards, racism, religions, and the like) 20 years earlier. The band leader, accomplished songwriter and orchestra leader, Frank DeVol was an unbelievably deadpanned performer, and owner of the "Taco & Run" restaurant. Over the years, I have sent letters to Norman Lear, Martin and Fred, asking what became of the series, will it ever be released to video, etc., without a single reply. It's good to know that there are other viewers who enjoyed this tremendously funny (most of the time) series of late night television shows. It is a shame that this comedy series a