Wednesday on TCM, they celebrated “Summer Under the Stars” with a 24-hour celebration of the Marx Bros. It is mid-August, but for me it seems like Christmas.
At a time when new comedy films — especially those starring Will Ferrell or Kevin Hart — offer no joy in an unfunny world, along come Groucho to say the secret words: funny is timeless.
I’ve seen some of their films 25 times. “Horse Feathers” holds up better than most, starting with one of their most gloriously silly song numbers (“What Ever it is, I’m Against It”) and never lagging right through their deconstruction of football. In between, Chico, Harpo, and less musically inclined Groucho (the latter on guitar in a canoe) all sing and play the same song and none of it ever gets tiresome. “Duck Soup” paired them with a worthy director (Leo McCarey) and seems more relevant now as an absurd, anti-war film than it probably has since it opened in 1933.
Watching their second feature, “Animal Crackers” (1930), is more fascinating as a recording of a stage play. It is still worth watching for its breathtaking restoration. The digitally remastered print shown on TCM Wednesday looks like it was shot last week, not 96 years ago. “Talkies” had only been shown in cinemas for two years. That actors could talk on screen was quickly embraced, but talk like Groucho and Chico? Astounding. TCM saved their first film, “Coconuts” (1929), for last. Stage-y like no other, their oldest film nonetheless looks like their newest thanks to a glorious digital restoration.
To see the Marx Brothers so young and game in films such as “Horse Feathers,” “Monkey Business” and “Duck Soup” is such a delight. Even in MGM’s “A Night at the Opera” (1935), the physical shtick in the opera house still makes me laugh out loud.
How lucky are film fans that TCM curates the Marxes along with so many other twentieth century talents. Tuesday showcsed the great Barbara Stanwyck. Friday Jack Lemon gets the 24-hour salute. The spotlights last through till the end of the month. Coming up are Natalie Wood (Saturday), Cary Grant (Sunday), Robert Redford (Aug. 18), Marlon Brando (Aug. 20) and Bette Davis (Aug. 27). Brock Peters, who was in everything from “Carmen Jones” to “To Kill a Mocking Bird” (1962) and “Soylent Green” (1973), gets bumped up to the A-list Aug. 28.
advertisement
Between these remastered, uncut, uninterrupted gems TCM adds classic Warner Bros cartoons from the ’40s in crisp, dazzling colour, mixed with short salutes to stars such as Grant being saluted by Tony Curtis. It is enough to make you feel as if we live in good times.
