The GE Theater: “The Incredible Jewel Robbery”
The Incredible Jewel Robbery stars both Harpo Marx
and Chico Marx. I love that a film titled The Incredible Jewel Robbery
spends a good deal of time showing Harpo and Chico stealing paint and auto
parts and television wire and a bagel and a costume. There is a police officer
always lurking nearby (and of course not another soul in sight). That’s the
first half. The second half is how they use each of the items in their plan,
all without any dialogue. This is from 1959. (The only negative bit is that you
have to suffer through an introduction by that jerk Ronald Reagan.)
The GE Theater: “The Hold-Out”
Groucho Marx and Dennis Hopper in the same program? You
bet. Hopper plays Fred, the boyfriend of Marx’s daughter. Brooke Hayward plays
Margie, the daughter. John (Marx) opposes their marriage, in Groucho’s only
dramatic role.
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
I didn’t even know that the television series Mr.
Smith Goes To Washington existed. In this episode from 1962, Harpo Marx is
mistaken for a famous French pianist and as a consequence invited to play for
the president. He starts on piano but then naturally moves to the harp.
I’ve Got A Secret
There are a few segments from I’ve Got A Secret in
this box set. The first features Chico Marx making a seriously funny guest
appearance. The second features Harpo being interviewed, with the panel having
to interpret his answers (Johnny Carson and Betsy Palmer are members of the
panel). Chico returns for another segment featuring a large block of ice.
Showtime
Chico Marx is absolutely hilarious in this nine-minute
segment from the British program Showtime. Chico plays piano, doing that
wonderful four-handed bit with another pianist sitting in for Harpo. There is
even a surprising marijuana reference. (By the way, in a segment from The
Colgate Comedy Hour, Harpo and Chico do their four-handed piano routine.)
Kraft Music Hall With Milton Berle
This episode features an appearance by Harpo Marx to
promote his record At Work. He plays the clarinet. It’s an incredibly
funny segment. In the second segment, he plays the harp.
Marx Brothers Home Movies
This is one of my favorite items included in this box
set. There is footage from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and it’s narrated
by Harpo’s son, Bill Marx. This is some pretty amazing footage, including Harpo
in a play with Fay Wray, and a shot of Bill performing on stage with his
father. There are a lot of other famous faces in this footage.
Groucho
This is an episode of the British version of You Bet
Your Life from 1965, and it’s hilarious. He asks one guest, “Are you
trying to sell sundials in England?” One guest is from Liverpool, which
leads to some Beatles references. The guy is not a fan, and from the applause,
the audience isn’t either. Odd. The woman mentions “a very new singer that’s
just come out called Otis Redding.”
The Swift Show Wagon
Groucho Marx does a comedy routine, including a joke
about the Red Sox. And there’s a routine with Groucho Marx Dancers leading to
Groucho performing three songs. My favorite is “Dr. Hackenbush.” This is from
1955.
The Dupont Show With June Allyson: A Silent Panic
Harpo Marx appears in a dramatic role as a mute man in a
store window who witnesses a murder. Harpo turns in an excellent performance in
this show directed by Arthur Hiller.
The Martha Raye Show
Harpo appears as an umpire in a very silly skit featuring
Duke Snider and Pee Wee Reese. And Harpo plays “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” on
the harp, which is wonderful.
The Dick Cavett Show
Groucho Marx is a guest, along with Shelley Winters. At
the beginning of the second segment, Groucho sings “Everyone Says I Love You.”
And then the cast of the play based on the lives of the Marx brothers come out
as well, though they have trouble getting in a word. Groucho tells some
excellent and hilarious anecdotes. This feature is approximately fifty minutes,
and for me is one of the set’s highlights.
Commercials
Harpo appears in a series of commercials for Labatt’s
Beer. These are quite odd. In the first, Harpo is pursuing girls while a puppet
talks to him about beer. He also appears in a series of advertisements for
All-Pure Evaporated Milk and Foster’s Freeze. Groucho appears in a Right Guard
commercial.
Most of the stuff included in this set is wonderful.
However, there is also an episode of Celebrity Golf. Harpo is the
celebrity guest, and he makes golf almost watchable. Almost. And then Chico
Marx appears in an episode of Championship Bridge. I’m not sure what
could possess anyone to film a card game or to watch it. And Chico seems to
take the game seriously, so there really isn’t any humor here. And The
Wonderful World Of Toys is an odd and pointless special about toys in
Central Park, starring Carol Burnett and Harpo Marx. But the rest is excellent.
The Marx Brothers TV Collection was released on
August 12, 2014 through Shout! Factory. The box set includes a forty-page
booklet with lots of photos and information on each of the programs included.
No comments:
Post a Comment