The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection (The Cocoanuts / Animal Crackers / Monkey Business / Horse Feathers / Duck Soup)

Rating:
Summary: Low Marx for MCA
Review: Apart from the Universal horror classics, MCA Home Video cares little about its vintage film library. Why else would they release this slapdash DVD collection of the Marx Brothers' finest films. The "extras" are pathetic and the long-awaited restoration is nonexistent -- especially on "Horse Feathers" (1932), which remains incomplete. If MCA had any integrity, they would recall this overpriced set and start from scratch. Save your money and track down the VHS releases.

Rating:
Summary: PRINT OF HORSE FEATHERS IS TERRIBLE
Review: First let me add to the chorus that these five films are all classics. Other than "A Night At The Opera", the Marx Brothers were never again to reach such heights.

As for the DVD set itself, it is certainly welcome and the graphic artist who designed the package did a fabulous job. It looks splendid!

But as mentioned countless times, the discs themselves contain only the films (sometimes from inferior prints or poorly mastered), trailers but nothing else(except for the paltry but still enjoyable twenty minutes on an extra disc). The booklet is ok but pretty flimsy.

Despite some legitimate complaints, most of these prints are very watchable.

With one major exception.

Below is an email I just fired off to Universal Studios:

"re: Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection

I purchased this item via Amazon.com recently. This handsomely packaged set is certainly not perfect but it is largely fine.

HOWEVER, I am very unhappy with the print used for the film HORSE FEATHERS.
There is a five minute sequence about half way through (i.e. scene with the Marx's in Thelma Todd's apartment) that is chopped up, diced up, scratched, unwatchable and absolutely appalling! I previously had MCA's VHS release of HORSE FEATHERS (which I stupidly gave away upon buying this DVD set) and NONE of this damage was on the print. The splices, missing dialogue, grainy image, and horrendous quality during this five minute sequence is INEXCUSABLE. This is the type of low quality product more usually associated with bargain basement companies that put out cheap public domain prints. NOT the work of a major company like Universal.

I certainly expect that UNIVERSAL will be remastering HORSE FEATHERS from a superior print for the DVD set as a FREE REPLACEMENT COPY for its customers. No doubt there are other complaints to made about this set but the problems I mention about HORSE FEATHERS are really unacceptable and should be rectified.

Otherwise this customer(and no doubt others) will certainly avoid purchasing Universal products in the future.

I should also mention a similar instance in the past few years that I purchased a badly mastered CD from Blue Note Records (Bobby Hutcherson's "Dialogue"). That company immediately sought to rectify the situation and remastered the CD from superior materials and sent out replacement copiees to its thousands of loyal customers.

I should expect nothing less from Universal.

Thank you for your attention to this matter."


Rating:
Summary: Found picture quality beautiful
Review: Having only known the early Marxian masterpieces on VHS and TV, I can tell you the image quality on these DVDs is excellent. I recall no promise from Universal about a "restoration" on these films, so I'm not sure why anyone was expecting them to look like "Schindler's List."

Having seen many other films of 1930 (Mammy, Show Girl in Hollywood, Morocco, They Learned About Women, etc etc), I can tell you that "Animal Crackers" looks rich and gorgeous in comparison.

Holding out for some magical frame-by-frame restoration, or the return of footage cut ages ago from "Crackers" and "Feathers" means you will be missing these great movies from your collection for a Loooooooooong time.

Rating:
Summary: You don't want this one for your collection
Review: I received the set for Christmas...being an avid Marx Brothers fan, I was appalled. The sound quality was awful...very muffled and many times not even understandable. The films were chopped up, I thought commercials were coming up. The worst part is that parts of the picture at the bottom were chopped off, some of the best parts were no longer there. I have these on VHS that I recorded from TV and the VHS recordings are better than these DVD's. At least the VHS has all the scenes and the bottoms of the screens are there. From now on, I will read these reviews before purchasing or asking for something for Christmas. Everyone who bought this should get a replacement with the films fixed.

Rating:
Summary: Classic comedy and some dated material inside
Review: If you are a Marx Brothers fanatic who does not own a copy of their Paramount comedies on DVD, you do not need to read another amateur reviewer's opinion on their movies. For you, the only caveat about this collection is that it has no background material, and contains a worthless "special feature" disk consisting of mindless interviews on the Today Show. Clearly, the producers of this disk were not interested in providing useful new information about the Marxs' films and careers, and I was somewhat turned off by this.

On the other hand, if for any reason you're not sure whether you want to invest in this collection, here is one person's opinion on these films. First, I think the Paramount films represent their best work. By the time they produced "Night at the Opera" for MGM in 1935, they were reusing story formulas from the Paramount movies with mostly inferior writing. The typical Marx brother formula consists of Groucho in some undeserved position of authority (hotel manager, president of a country, college president), Chico and Harpo playing impostors of some sort, creating havoc for everyone, and Zeppo, the only bit player ever to receive star billing in a film. They are also typically surrounded by folks who take themselves too seriously -- the best example being Margaret Dumont -- and a couple in love is sometimes thrown in in order to bring some relief from the chaos.

The 5 Paramount films fall into two groups: the first two, which were cinematic renderings of their stage musical comedies, and their last three, original stories made only for movies. Although the Hollywood movies had the advantages of improvements in sound technology by 1931 as well as a less "stagey" look and feel by not being stage adaptations, I find the stage adaptations (Cocoanuts and Animal Crackers) to be their best work. Perhaps it was the biting wit of George F. Kaufman that made the difference, perhaps it was the fact that they had over a year of rehearsing each one on stage that sharpened their deliveries, but these films are remarkable accomplishments, and are in my mind the best of the box.

The Cocoanuts features Groucho at his wittiest as a hotel manager in 1920s Florida, and contains some of the best encounters with his brothers. The funniest starts when Chico utters those immortal words "Alright, why a duck?" Chico's clueless but arrogant demeanor at trying to cope with language is completely believable and shows how flawless Chico could be with good material. Groucho pauses before responding, no doubt to wait for the laughter to die down, but it also conveys his disbelief at hearing anyone utter such a question. Their exchange is comic acting refined to perfection. The banquet scene, where Harpo, unable to cope with the sequence of lame speeches, hunches his shoulders, grits his teeth, and staggers to the punch bowl, is also flawlessly executed.

The formula is repeated in Animal Crackers, with slightly better execution, better music and a slightly more digestible "romantic couple". The interplay between Groucho and Margaret Dumont, whose inability to grasp the brothers' anarchy makes her a perfect foil for their antics, is one of the constant highlights of this movie.

Monkey Business strays from the Marx formula by not putting Groucho in some position of authority, which rids him of a primary source of his humor. Some of the visual sequences are also becoming stale, as in the scene in which the brothers take a stab at imitating Maurice Chevalier. Harpo's best scene is in a punch-and-judy show. Horse Feathers is a slight improvement, with humor emerging from their parody of college life. Duck Soup is perhaps the most polished of these films (direction by Leo McCarey) but by now many of the visual gags are forced, as when Chico and Harpo attack Edgar Kennedy's Lemonade stand. The final scenes of the last 3 films devolve into some form of anarchy, and are not completely satisfying.

On the whole however, for fans of classic film comedy, there is much to gain from owning this collection.

Rating:
Summary: Consider a used copy, but only if you must
Review: If you're reading this review, you are probably already a Marx Brothers fan. As such, any description of their five Paramount films or the four brothers' comedic style is unnecessary. You probably also want to replace your battered VHS copies of these films with nice shiny DVDs.

If you buy this set, you will get DVDs that look about as good as your VHS's. That should satisfy you if it is all you are looking for, and you have money to burn. You may stop reading and ignore my critique. If you're looking for something more, or are on a budget however, there's no way I can recommend this without several qualifications. Bear in mind that I love the Marxes as much as anyone.

Firstly, there's no restoration work done on these films. To be honest, "Coconuts" and "Horse Feathers" have deteriorated to such a degree that restoration is probably next to impossible. But work could be done on the remaining three movies. I'm not asking for the unreasonable, such as 5.1 surround sound or the inclusion of deleted scenes. I'm simply asking for the pops and crackles on the soundtrack to be reduced and for some work to be done on improving the contrast and toning of the existing black and white images.

Secondly, at this price, where are the extras? True, all the actors who appeared in these films are long dead, along with the writers and producers. But that didn't stop Warner Brothers from adding commentary tracks to "A Night at the Opera" and "A Day at the Races" for their boxed set. Are there no film critics or comedy writers willing to contribute their talents here? Even Frank Ferrante - who is the only Groucho impersonator authorized by Groucho's heirs and the star of a successful one-man Groucho show - would be welcome here, to share his insights. I don't expect deleted scenes or outtakes but, again, Warner Brothers made up for this by including short subjects and cartoons to sweeten the package. Universal chose not to. I'm sorry, but 20 minutes worth of Today Show interviews and a few coming attractions doesn't qualify.

Finally, is there any reason to spread five films (three of which are little more than an hour) over six DVDs? When Universal released their Abbott and Costello films on DVDs, they packed several short feature films on each DVD. Abbott and Costello are also black and white movies, and similarly feature mono sound. If you are going to skimp on the extras, then release these movies as a 3 DVD set at a lower price, so that the consumer gets what he or she paid for.

Its ironic that the Warners set, which features inferior movies, should not only be a better bargain but also more thoughtfully constructed. Universal did the right thing with their Monster Movie rereleases, featuring reasonably priced packages that were intelligently and caringly selected. This one, despite its lavish booklet, can't compare.

Rating:
Summary: Classic Comedy, Not-so-classic Package
Review: It's great to have the Marx Brothers' complete film collection available now in two boxed sets. This Universal release contains their first five films and a bonus disc. It took three movies for the brothers to really hit their stride:

"The Cocoanuts" has its moments but suffers a bit from staginess and the limits of early talking-film technology. Still, it sets up the classic Marxian anarchy and comedy bits, like the wordplay between Groucho and Chico in the "Why a Duck?" routine. ***

"Animal Crackers" is an improvement, but contains a little too much silly subplot around a stolen painting, and scenes we endure just to wait for the brothers to show up. The musical numbers with Groucho as "Captain Spaulding" are fun ("Hooray for Captain Spaulding" would become Groucho's theme song).***1/2

In "Monkey Business", they create havoc as stowaways on a cruise ship, and the film is chock-full of very funny scenes, including the "Maurice Chevalier" bit and Harpo's hilarious encounter with a puppet show. It's also the first of two films featuring blonde bombshell Thelma Todd, and her scenes with Groucho are brimming with innuendo. ****

"Horse Feathers", set on the campus of fictitious Huxley College, is even better, with Groucho as a college president. The "speakeasy" scene is one of many highlights. ****1/2

And finally, there's "Duck Soup", their satiric masterpiece, a scathingly funny send-up of diplomacy and war. Whenever I see the musical number "We're Gonna Go to War", I can't help thinking of a certain current administration. And the "mirror sequence" with Groucho and Harpo is one of the funniest and most brilliantly-choreographed scenes ever put on film. *****

The boxed set comes as a handsome fold-out package with a booklet which doesn't contain much background information. And the bonus disc is very skimpy, containing only three 5-to-10-minute video clips featuring Groucho, Harpo, and son William Marx on old "Today" shows. These could have easily been included on any of the other discs, but more bonus material would have been nice. Also, the prints used are choppy at times, especially one scene in "Horse Feathers" which is so cut-up that it is almost unwatchable. Maybe it's due to lost footage, but according to other reviewers, there have been better prints available elsewhere. So this set is definitely worth getting, especially if you're a "Marxist" like me, though Universal could have put more work into producing a better package.




Rating:
Summary: Good films, mediocre package
Review: Like many Marx Brothers fans, I waited for some time for a box set of their first five films made for Paramount from 1929 to 1933. Happily, this set was released and provides long-suffering fans a set that offers mostly satisfactory results.

The films themselves are the highlights of the set. There's "The Cocoanuts," their first release from 1929. While dated by today's standards, there is enough humor from the brothers to offset the bland and uninteresting supporting cast (save for the always excellent Margaret Dumont). One complaint about the DVD for this film is the constant change in clarity and sound quality. One scene will be crisp and clear; another will be fuzzy and murky. This happens several times throughout the DVD, and the film is in obvious need of a full restoration. This haphazard approach makes it difficult for the viewer to fully relax and enjoy the film. Most Marx Brothers fans will be delighted; the casual viewer will see this early talkie mostly as a curio.

"Animal Crackers" from 1930 offers a change in quality as far as the DVD goes. Most of the film is consistent in shading and light, although there are still some glitches that could have been digitally improved. Of course, the film is seventy-five years old to begin with, so most fans should be satisfied with this DVD.

"Monkey Business" is the first Marx Brothers film to be written especially for a movie (the first two were from their Broadway shows). The four brothers cavort and wreak havoc onboard a liner with happy results. The DVD quality is very good.

"Horse Feathers" has some scratches and hisses, and a few dialogue breaks. Some of the film probably has been missing for decades. Still, most fans will be happy with this DVD in the set.

"Duck Soup" is the final film in the box set and perhaps the most popular. The film showcases the brothers at their anarchial best. The DVD is fairly crisp and clean.

An extra disc reveals the mediocrity of the package. It is only twenty minutes long and has a few "Today" show interviews. Surely, with all the appearances of the brothers on TV, a longer bonus DVD could have been released. In addition, a film historian's persepective of the brothers' influence on film comedy would have been welcome. The "extras" on this DVD could have fitted quite easily on one of the other discs.

A booklet is also included, but it does not divulge any new information; it seems to be aimed more at younger film audiences who don't know the Marx Brothers well. There is no solid exposition in the booklet to merit repeated readings.

I give this set four stars for the indispensible films. Perhaps a better package, with the films remastered, will be available in a few years.

Rating:
Summary: Great films in a disappointing package
Review: The first five Marx Brothers Films, unavailable for over ten years, are among the best comedies ever put on celluloid. They are also the only five films to feature four Marx Brothers, as Zeppo left to pursue other interests after the box office failure of "Duck Soup." (He was actually a "replacement" brother - eldest brother Gummo had been the straight man in the brothers' vaudeville act, but he left before they started making films to start a theatrical agency, and eventually, Zeppo joined him in this venture for a time.)

The films themselves stand up quite well, but no attempt has been made to improve either the picture quality or the sound. In fact, if you don't have a decent equalizer on your home entertainment system, you may find it very difficult to understand much of the dialogue on some of these discs, especially on their first film, "The Cocoanuts."

There are no commentary tracks, and the only extras are three brief vintage interviews, which I still can't believe they put on a disc by themselves. The entire set could easily have fit on three DVD's, rather than the six they released it on. The packaging is lavish, but the book sheds little light on the films.

I love these films, and feel they truly deserve a better treatment by Paramount - or whoever designed and mastered this package. I gave 3 stars because the films deserve 5, but the DVD set deserves zero.

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing DVD Set
Review: Universal's "The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection" gathers Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo's first five films: The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, and Duck Soup. All of them are fantastically funny films, with the brothers in fantastic comic form. There is a loose, improvisational feeling to these films that is lacking from their later work, and the good feeling exhibited by them is downright infectuous. The weakest, the stagy and awkwardly paced "The Cocoanuts," still has many great moments, and the best, "Duck Soup," is a hilarious political satire that holds its own against the best movies ever made.
The high quality of these movies makes the incredible lacklustre boxed set a great disappointment. The image quality is mediocre at best, with tinny sound, blurry picture, scratches, vertical lines, and heavy grain. While it's true that some of these problems are due to poor source material (particularly in the case of "The Cocoanuts"), they're practically inexcusable in "Horse Feathers" and "Duck Soup." Obviously no restoration whatsoever was made to these films.
The biggest disappointment is in the extras, or lack therof. The "entire bonus disc of additional materials" amounts to nothing more than three short "Today Show" interviews with Harpo (in mime), Groucho, and William Marx, Harp's son. While the interviews are amusing, their combined running time is less than twenty minutes and hardly qualify for an extra disc. Also scattered amond the individual discs are trailers for "Animal Crackers," "Horse Feathers," and "Duck Soup." Films of such high regard cry out for documentaries and commentaries similar to the ones on Warner Brothers' other Marx Brothers set.
One nice thing about the set is its packaging, which is handsome and elegant (although perhaps too elegant...something the brothers might have mocked in one of their films). With the packaging is a 40-page booklet, a large chunk of which is made up of mundane things like the chapter listings for each film. The historical information in the booklet is perfectly adequate, but hardly as "spectacular" as the box claims.