directed by: Leo McCarey
written by: Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, Arthur Sheekman, Nat Perrin
starring: The Four Marx Brothers, Margaret Dumont, Raquel Torres, Louis Calhern
comment: 31st March, 2017
I think someone or something is keeping the source of amusement in this film as a secret from me. Some gags are comprehensible and functional, some feel a bit cheap to me and some are on their way to upset me - but what if I simply just don't get them? My auxiliary chart is set up this way: if it reminds me of Buster Keaton, it's surreal humour, if it resembles Chaplin, it's humanistic humour, and Harold Lloyd stands for family fun. And I have no idea where on my chart should I pin these brothers.
I feel like I don't understand the basis of their anarchy, if anarchies can even have bases. What is their starting point and where to they aim? Do they have moral high ground? Are they being political or are they just manufacturing fun? For example, Chaplin's The Great Dictator answers all my questions, whereas Duck Soup leaves my analytical little brain confused. Are they Monty Pythons of their time or are they more like predecessors of Sacha Baron Cohen? Did the viewer at the time of film's release understand their hidden intentions or there weren't any and I'm not supposed to wonder about these things? My oh my.
And by the way: Why are all the women wearing only tiny dressing gowns, visible bras and dresses with maximum cleavage showing? Because, you know, the men are only ever showing off their knees. And nobody gropes them in silence. Less underwear, more horseshoes, please.
