The DVD Review

THE MARX BROTHERS COLLECTION

Universal. Animal Crackers / Horse Feathers / Duck Soup Available to buy now.

A trilogy of early Marx Brothers classic movies made when the trio of Groucho, Harpo and Chico were actually a quartet and included their often forgotten brother Zeppo. Comprising Animal Crackers (1930), Horse Feathers (1932) and Duck Soup (1933), these were the brothers second, fourth and fifth movies respectively. Offering a major chance to see the Brothers in full flight these movies may seem a little dated to modern tastes used to the likes of LXG or X-Men but to anyone with even a vague interest in the history of cinema this collection is essential.

ANIMAL CRACKERS has the most disjointed plot basically a collection of sketches strung together that sees Groucho playing Captain Jeffrey T. Spalding returning home from Africa to attend a party at the home of Arabella Rittenhouse(Margaret Dumont, who was Groucho’s main foil in the majority of their films) only to find the evening targeted by thieves after a valuable painting.

HORSE FEATHERS is rightly considered one of the best Marx Brothers movies, fresh, anarchic, surreal and enormous fun, Groucho plays Quincy Adams Wagstaff  principal at a college that desperately needs to win at football only to find his key players are Chico and Harpo.

DUCK SOUP one of the best know Marx Brothers movies, Soup is a satire on the politics of the day with Groucho starring as President of Fredonia Rufus T. Firefly (the names in any Marx Brothers movies are always a major joy). Firefly is having a major fued with the President of Sylvania , Trentin (played by Louis Calhern) who sends Chicolini ( Chico ) and Pinky (Harpo) to Fredonia as Spies.

This set is the perfect primer for the brothers particular brand of insanity.