Home :: DVD :: Musicals & Performing Arts  

Ballet & Dance
Biography
Broadway
Classical
Documentary
General
Instructional
Jazz
Musicals
Opera
World Music
The Marx Brothers Collection (A Night at The Opera/A Day at The Races/A Night in Casablanca/Room Service/At the Circus/Go West/The Big Store)

The Marx Brothers Collection (A Night at The Opera/A Day at The Races/A Night in Casablanca/Room Service/At the Circus/Go West/The Big Store)

List Price: $59.92
Your Price: $44.94
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 >>

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: all wrong
Review: A Night At the Opera is the only classic here. The three M G M films are horrible and the other two are OK. What is needed is a box of the five Paramount films, five of the funniest ever made. Get the single DVD of Opera and wait for the Paramounts.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "There ain't no Sanity Clause!"
Review: Well, my sanity for one, is finally back to normal (if such a thing is possible with the Marx Brothers) with the release of this Warner Bros. set. I was knocked out at how great the transfers looked on DVD. I thought the audio was GREATLY improved as well, (Harpo's playing is even MORE beautiful-didn't think that could be possible) but yet the original charm of the movies is there as well, not an easy task to achieve. I didn't mind the extras. It made me feel like I was back in the 30's and 40's, in a movie theater seeing it all for the first time. My faves in this collection: "Opera","Races","Casablanca", and "Circus". But, one of my favorite scenes is when Chico and Harpo have a piano duet in "The Big Store". Take a close look at those two. If you can't see how much those two brothers loved each other, then you need spectacles! Of course, then they try to outdo each other, as all siblings do.......... that scene is so funny, never fails to get a laugh out of me. There are so many moments, such as "Tootsie Frootsie Ice Cream" in "Races". Can't even begin to discuss them all. Out of this set, if you are new to the Marxes, start with "A Night at the Opera", to get a feel for them. And yes, I also wish the first 5 Paramount films would be re-released on DVD PROPERLY this time around, but of course, we're talking about two totally different film companies. But as a purist, I think it's about time to see those films done properly. Universal should take a LONG look at how Warners' did this set. We Marxists deserve better (are you listening Universal?) OK. Rant over. Buy this set. You won't be disappointed. These are truly comic gems from an era when movie makers didn't think that you needed to use a string of four-letter words and bathroom humor, to be hilarious. I'd take ONE of Groucho's stinging one-liners ANYDAY over the garbage that people try to pass off as humor nowadays. These movies hold their own after 70 years. There's a reason for that.....it's because the Marxes were truly comic geniuses, ahead (way ahead) of their time, and that NEVER goes out of style. "And make that three hard-boiled eggs!"

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Hello Hugo Z. Hackenbush
Review: I purchased the box set of the Marx Brothers movies issued by Warner Brothers. I must say that "Night At The Opera" is the obvious superior movie in the set. "Day At The Races" is funny also along with "Go West" which is often underrated. I would have given the set 5 stars, but I was a little disappointed by Warner Brothers lack of packaging for these films. It would have been nice to have had a small booklet giving a brief history of the Marx Brothers. I know the movie is the most important, but still, it would have been nice.
I read the reviewers who moan about the perfect set should include "Animal Crackers/Duck Soup along with "Night At The Opera", but those films are under Univeral Pictures and were released on DVD back in 1999-2001. They can't be included for obvious reasons.
Someone being introduced to the Marx Brothers, "Night At The Opera" is the best to start out with in this set. Other than the packaging being a bit on the cheap side, the set completes their best movies on film (including the Universal films--Animal Crackers, Duck Soup, Horse Feathers). Its great to have the Marx Brothers on DVD. Hopefully, future generations will enjoy them.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Congrats to Warners on an excellent set...
Review: OK, A word on the Paramounts 1st. We in the UK have had the Paramount Box Set on catalogue for 6 months now from Universal. It's fantastic. 4 films excluding 'Cocoanuts' (presumably because the print quality is awful). I don't know what is keeping Universal from issuing a similar set in the US, but it must be on the way soon...

On to the MGM set and its an excellent job. The extras I found strange at first. I think the idea was to replicate the 'feel' of a 30's / 40's movie experience i.e. you watch the cartoons then the 'short' then the 'main feature'. Its a nice idea but to honest, how many of us will actually program our DVD's to play in this way? Interesting idea though... As one reviewer commented there are plenty of cartoons that paid homage to the Marxes and (depending on copyright ownership) couldn't these have been included instead?

The commentary tracks are just what you'd expect. Maltin your enthusiastic, chatty American on 'Opera'. Mitchell, your reserved, academic Englishman on 'Races'. Both are worthwile additions.

I must contest the reviewer who called the tranfer to DVD 'inconsistent'. I found the quality far surpassed my expectations. We have to remember that these films are 60 years old. Any flaws in the master prints are probably there to stay. The M-G-M films were never in bad condition anyway, compared to the Paramount's. The simple truth is, that The Marx Brothers catalogue will never be of major worth to its owners, therefore will never undergo some full scale restoration project as befits 'important' films.

Warners deserve the credit for getting this out and for considering the demands of their audience...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Too much filler
Review: The boxed set includes cartoons, short films, and other featurettes. I thought these had something to do with the Marx Bros - after all, they have been satirized in many cartoons. In fact, these "bonus" items have nothing to do with the Marx Bros. There is a Bugs Bunny cartoon involving a circus lion, but no obvious reference to the Marxes; there is an Our Gang comedy, with no connection. Joe McDoakes short - no connection. And on and on. While I enjoy the Marx Brothers' movies, I could not tell from the description on the packaging that these bonus features - touted on the main box and the individual disc boxes - would be cinematic non sequiturs.

As other reviewers have noted, the actual Marx movies are splendid. I am simply recommending that buyers beware of the bonus items.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Marx Brothers!! Well, Almost!!!!!
Review: If you have never seen a Marx Bros film do not start with this box set! Wait to the first five movies come out on dvd later this year?
The Marx Bros comedy was met to be rhythmic and wacky ; not reserved like their later movies were. Chaos was major in the early movies because that is the way they were in real life; just goofy characters that you could not help but like; going up against high society!!

We could sure use a comedy team just like them now!

Do buy A Night At the Opera separately!!

Just wait for the real Marx Bros movies to come out!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Marx Box - A box of mirth for a steal!
Review: What a great deal and what a great collection! OK, I understand those who moan that the Paramount years of the Marx Brothers have not received the same royal treatment on DVD, but hey -- if you can't get happy over these gems being released at such a good price, you're a chronic sourpuss and probably related to Margaret Dumont's Mrs. Upjohn or Mrs. Claypool.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Make Mine Marx!
Review: Both "A Night at the Opera" and "A Day at the Races" are wonderful vintage comedies that sell themselves. They are also hilarious! The rest of the films included here all have their moments, especially if you are a fan of Groucho, Chico & Harpo. Honestly, if you've got more than a passing interest in the Marx Brothers, you will probably end up buying this set. The image and sound quality is first-rate, and Warners did a good job putting together commentary tracks and bonus documentaries. This is especially nice to see, because these films are well over 60 years old and any "lost" scenes are by now permanently lost. The cartoons and short subjects are a nice added touch, although I would have preferred to see Marx-themed cartoons. But why complain? As a rule, movies of this vintage are poorly served by major studios and allowed to fall into public domain and inferior releases. Warners did the right thing with the Marx Brothers, and I hope this is part of a new trend that shows greater respect for all good films made before 1970.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Another Generation Hooked!
Review: I pre-ordered this set as soon as I heard it was going to be coming out. My three teenagers unanimously approve. We've only had the DVDs for a week, and my youngest has watched them all three or four times. It's almost as fun hearing the kids laugh at the Brother's antics as it is to see the movies again. The DVDs are excellently put together, with fine sound and video. The wonderful and bounteous extras are icing on the cake. For $42.00 dollars, this set has to be the steal of all time. Now, if they'll just package the other six Marx Bros. movies the same way, for a similar price...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 7 Marx Brothers films for $41.94 -- Don't gripe!
Review: For any true Marx Brothers' fan, parting with four Alexander Hamiltons and a couple of Washingtons for 7 of their films is a no-brainer. Amazon is offering a true bargain.

Even though my two favorites are not included in this collection, watching these guys from the old Upper East Side (when it wasn't so swank) just reminded me of their bursts of brilliance. I could do without one or two of these films, but at least I have them should I want to watch them again. And the added shorts, interviews, etc., are extra gravy.

And as we enter a new economic collapse, the relevance of some of the Depression-era humor hits home. Take this example from "Monkey Business" when the boys are captured as stowaways:

GROUCHO: We're not stowaways. We're stockholders.
CREWMAN: You look like stowaways.
GROUCHO: Yes, but the stockholders of yesterday are the stowaways of today!

Cough up the $41.94. It won't be worth much for long, anyway.


<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates