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

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There will be a debate of which 2004 DVD collection of Marx Brothers films was better. This Universal release of the better known Paramount-produced films are the only ones starring all four brothers: Groucho, Chico, Harpo, and Zeppo. The Warner collection contains less-vital films, but is loaded with extras and commentaries. The Universal collection contains only 20 minutes of interviews from NBC's Today Show--interesting but short--with Harpo, Groucho, and Harpo's son Bill from the '60s and '70s. All of the films in this collection were released on DVD by Image Entertainment in 2000 and the prints look the same, which isn't necessarily bad; one just wishes a major restoration had been undertaken.

The films--packaged handsomely with a booklet--are essential Marx Brothers, their first five films made from 1929 to 1933. The least timeless is their first, The Cocoanuts, based on their Broadway hit. The film--one of the first full talkies--takes place in a hotel with owner Groucho out to grab every dollar. Animal Crackers is the brothers' first classic, a lickety-split comedy about an art theft being investigated by Groucho's alter-image, Captain Spaulding. For introducing youngsters to the work of Marx, Monkey Business is the best way. The shenanigans start right at the start as the brothers stowaway on a luxury liner. It's their first film that wasn't based on a play, as they endeavored to find new material. Horse Feathers gave them more fertile ground plus a sure-fire Hollywood director at the helm (Norman McLeoad). Their fantasia of college life includes the riotous football-game finale. Music, always a key part of their plays and films is given more weight here and includes Groucho's theme, "I'm Against It." Music is again key as the musicals of the era are spoofed in the brothers' undisputed masterpiece, Duck Soup. From a land called Fredonia, Groucho plays a slapdash ruler who rewrites the rules of governing, leading to a most memorable war with Sylvania (so war gets lampooned. too). Duck Soup also boasts the most famous Marx brothers sketch: Groucho trying to fool his mirror. --Doug Thomas

Description

Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the greatest comedy act in history with The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection. This essential DVD set features the legendary four Marx Brothers in five of their most acclaimed and best loved films - Duck Soup, Horse Feathers, Monkey Business, Animal Crackers and The Cocoanuts - the only five movies ever made with all four brothers together: Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo!

Customer Reviews:

The Best of the Best Comedy EVER.......2007-09-03

These five Marx brothers movies are their most famous and absolutely the funniest. The mirror scene in Duck Soup is a classic. This new generation(maybe the last three generations:teens, twenties, and thirties somethings) need to watch these. Well worth the money: 5 movies for $40 and some change. Many other comedy shows on TV just were weak copy cats. Lucille Ball did the mirror scene on her show and the Marx brothers appeared there to show their support. Harpo's silence is outstanding. Chico's play on words, and Groucho invented innuendo. There is another set of seven movies but only three are worth seeing. But this box set of five, set the standard for zanyness and great skits within skits. Now that I am older I think they are even funnier and my teens and twenty something children watch them all the time.

Marx Brothers.......2007-08-28

Still entertaining - Groucho was a master of innuendo - Harpo a wonderful musician, Chico a fine musical technician. The group worked well together on the screen and I never tire of their antics.

5 for the movies/2 for the package and extras.......2007-08-11

The first five Marx Brothers movies are classics but unfortunately the box and the very few extras on here are pretty forgettable. This was a quick release to cash in on the rerelease of The Warner Brothers box set of the Marx Brothers later movies(IE A Night At The Opera, A Day At The Races and so on). That box set has the later movies with great extras, bonus features and is packaged better. The other box set also has cleaned up prints. Still, if you don't have these movies, pick this up. Made in Mexico.

Marx.......2007-07-02

These movies prove that you dont have to get hit to be funny. I always love to see Grucho on the screen. He talks so fast and his sexual innuendos are so funny that I cant believe they never got banned. Harpo and Chico always do a good job together. Zeppo...anyways, the only downside to the set is the speical features. The bonus disc is a joke. The transfer of the films to me seems fine, maybe because ive watched so many comedys from that era. I know some people complained about it. These movies are well worth buying but dont expect anyone to get hit with a hammer.

Marx Brothers Collection.......2007-06-21

Still one of the funniest vaudeville acts ever to grace stage, television, or silver screen, The Marx Brothers pioneered an antic, anarchic style of gut-busting entertainment that left audiences of the 1930s howling with delight. Even today, the hilarious mix of song-and-dance routines like "The Monkey Doodle-Do" and "Shirt Song"--accompanied, of course, by Harpo's harp, Groucho's guitar, and Chico's expert ivory-tinkling--combined with the sheer nuthouse fervor of their adventures simply dazzle. In fact, "Duck Soup" was a political farce so extreme that Mussolini banned it . This "Silver Screen" set collects the Brothers' early, outré Paramount outings, the only films where all four funnymen appeared together. Will social satire ever be this goofy again?

Average customer rating:

An Antique Worth Its Cinematic Weight in Gold
And They're Off...
The first Marx brothers I saw and loved it!!
It's one of the best
well it's my favorite

The Cocoanuts
Starring: Zeppo Marx , Groucho Marx , Harpo Marx , Chico Marx , and Oscar Shaw
Director: Robert Florey , and Joseph Santley
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
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ASIN: 6305080240
Release Date: 1998-07-08

Description

In the Marx Brothers' first feature film, Groucho portrays a hotel owner out to fleece everyone, from innocent bellboys to wealthy society types. Chico and Harpo are along for the ride as Groucho's accomplices. Featuring the music and lyrics of Irving Berlin.

Customer Reviews:

An Antique Worth Its Cinematic Weight in Gold.......2006-05-20

Sadly, Hollywood lost all of the original and production prints. This DVD apparently was assembled from a tape, itself assembled from damaged remnants. As an artifact, it reveals the almost humorously primitive film technology of early 1929. There's atrocious editing, and film quality varies wildly even within the same scenes. It's suspected that many original portions are missing. In any case, it's still grand fun, if for nothing else than a look at a plot right out of Victorian theater and a number of scenes in which on-film cuties are caught looking at the cameras. It's hard to tell today, but in '29 this was a landmark film: all-talking from beginning to end, one of the first movies with full-length audio and Paramount's very first 100% talkie. It's a fairly faithful filming of the Marx Brothers' huge Broadway stage success, done during weekdays at Paramount's Astoria, NY studio while the Marx's played their next Broadway hit at night. You can even see bits where the actors get their lines confused. The absurdist humor, though borrowed heavily from Vaudeville, was revolutionary in its day. Some of the old routines (the Viaduct and auction bits) no longer work, but there are still plenty of laughs to go around. The comedy bits set patterns for every future Marx film: rooms with multiple doors and weird entrance/exit schemes (culminating in a Night at the Opera), Chico/Groucho non-logic (later perfected in the Tootsy-Frootsy bit in A Day at the Races), musical numbers from Harpo and chico, and the earliest appearance of the priceless Margaret Dumont. Most supporting roles are taken by stage/radio stars. One of the jewel thieves is Kay Francis, a popular actress who made dozens of films and earned a symbolic star in the concrete of the Hollywood Walk of Fame (it's hard to tell here, but Kay had a speech impediment that earned her the nickname, "the wavishing Kay Fwancis"). Her partner in crime is Cyril Ring who played in many silent and sound films and finally entered the screen writing business. The hotel detective, Basil Ruysdael, was a radio, stage and film mainstay for many years, later appearing in hits like "Prince Valiant", "The Last Hurrah", Perry Mason episodes, and a voice in "1001 Dalmations". The ultimate fascination is the heartfelt but truly klutzy script by George S. Kaufman and really corny music from Irving Berlin, both of whom would later offer much, much better material. The antique choreography right out of the original play's staging is by Erna Kay, a Broadway veteran who has no other film credits -- but you'll see plenty in these comically antique production numbers that set the tone for the dance extravaganzes of the 1930's. Even with poor quality media, which is often dreadful, you can still sense the initial impact made by the Marx Brothers, who in the late 1920's took the comedy world by storm and turned it, in their inimitable way, upside-down and inside-out.

And They're Off..........2004-12-04

The Cocoanuts" was the Marx Brothers first screen production after a successful start on the stage. I understand that their stage productions were known for the brothers's ability to ad lib in every preformance. Their first movie was a great success but you can tell that they were (by THEIR standards) a bit reserved. It has all of the classic Marx Brothers situations; a smart alec Groucho chasing after a rich Margaret Dumont, Chico who never quite gets things correctly understood, Harpo's pantomime routines, Chico on the piano and Harpo on the harp.

The plot is simple enough. Groucho operates a hotel in Florida and is trying to strike it rich in a questionable real estate deal. Plots only serve as an excuse for comedy in a Marx Brothers movie and the brothers keep things pretty zany throughout the movie. The music isn't half bad from the rest of the cast. My favorite song was "I Lost My Shirt" sung to the tune of "The March of the Toreodors".

This is a great beginning for the Marx Brothers with lots of good laughs. This is the movie with the "Why a Duck" routine between Groucho and Chico and it's one of their all-time best. Some of their later movies were of limited entertainment value but all of their first seven movies are top-notch.

The first Marx brothers I saw and loved it!!.......2004-08-15

This was the first Marx brothers movie I had seen, and coincidentally their first release, and it cracked me up. Harpo is in top form here, the scene near the end at the party is hilarious, especially when Harpo walks into the party wearing a hat with the strap around his nose and the expression on his face is priceless. Also Harpo's facial expressions after hearing the boring speeches given at the dinner table are classic. The back and forth between Groucho and Chico are great.. "Viaduct?, I don't know why a duck?" If you want a good dose of the Marx Brothers earlier energy and hilarious antics then this movie is a must see, many of their skits are repeated in later movies. I highly recommend this movie first before any of their others.

It's one of the best.......2004-04-15

First off, lets get some stuff straight. This is a great start for the Marx Brothers. Second, The sound can get bad but please still buy it. Third, Zeppo does not star in it. He's in it for like 4 minutes and then he doesn't say anything. After 10 minutes of the movie he turns into Harpo. Fourth, this can be interrupted by some dances.But this is an awsome movie, and I recommend it.

well it's my favorite.......2003-08-23

No kidding. I like the late-20s feel it has, the dancing, the slicked back hair... and the Marx Brothers, to me, are at their funniest, especially physically. I've watched it so many times I've lost count. I've memorized big chunks of the dialogue. Sure it's stagey, with its non-moving camera, but it also gives it the flavor of what it must have been like to see them on stage at that time.
"Horse Feathers" is a near second, though.

The Cocoanuts [Groucho Marx and Harpo Marx]

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The Cocoanuts [Groucho Marx and Harpo Marx]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

W.C. Fields Comedy Collection, Vol. 2 (The Man on the Flying Trapeze / Never Give A Sucker An Even Break / You're Telling Me! / The Old Fashioned Way / Poppy)

ASIN: B000F02XXC

Product Description

Historical slapstick comedy revolving around Florida real estate was enormously successful when released. Although primitive in execution, it's still a draw for fans of classic comedy, wacky routines.

Lee Ritenour and Friends - Live from the Cocoanut Grove - Vols. 1 & 2

Average customer rating:

Correction to dgates review
OUTSTANDING
Lee Ritnour at Cocoanut Grove
A real package deal !

Lee Ritenour and Friends - Live from the Cocoanut Grove - Vols. 1 & 2
Starring: Lee Ritenour , Bob James , and Tuck and Patti
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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Lee Ritenour - Overtime

ASIN: 630566949X
Release Date: 2000-01-11

Amazon.com

Filmed in Los Angeles in 1990, the complete Live at the Cocoanut Grove will do nothing to alter indifference from jazz purists toward fusion guitarist Lee Ritenour. But hardcore Rit fans and other viewers without a jazz-pop ax to grind will find this concert a particularly stimulating, wonderfully textured musical event built around the star and a parade of international talent.

Highlights abound, including a few streamlined numbers featuring Ritenour and his core band, the best of which include the former's solo work on his composition "Up-Town" and bassist Brian Bomberg's complex contributions to "24th Street Blues." The guitar-and-vocals duo Tuck & Patti provide a stylistic spine to the second set of the night, joining the band for three tunes, including a rousing finish on "Everything's Gonna Be Alright." Brazilian composer, guitarist, and singer Joao Bosco is another triple threat, his early appearance for a dreamy, solo take on the bossa nova "Pret-a-Porter de Tafeta" being a real jewel here, and nicely followed by collaborations with Rit and band on "Odile, Odila" and "Latin Lover." Vocalist Phil Perry proves ubiquitous throughout the first half of the show, bringing loads of personality to an excellent cover of "Harlequin" and "Asa," the latter also goosed by strong guitar work from guest Steve Lukather. Bob James helps close the shop by coming 'round for late-evening performances of his "Restoration" and "Westchester Lady." From top to bottom, this is a pleasant, pleasurable entry in the Ritenour canon, though the uninitiated will find plenty to enjoy, too. --Tom Keogh

Description

Jazz guitarist extraordinaire Lee Ritenour has gathered a few of his friends--some of the finest jazz musicians around--for an intimate concert at the famous Cocoanut Grove. Among those joining Ritenour on stage are Bob James, Tuck and Patti, Phil Perry, Harvey Mason, Ernie Watts and Joao Bosco, with both parts of these concerts on one DVD. Set list: Night Rhythms, Harlequin, Malibu, Up-Town, Preta Porte De Tafeta, Odile Odila, Latin Lovers, Etude, Cause We Ended as Lovers, Asa, 24th Street Blues, Stolen Moments, Love is the Key, Better Than Anything, Everything's Gonna Be Alright, Restoration, Westchester Lady, Bahia Funk. 118 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

Correction to dgates review.......2002-07-20

Trust me, this CD is NOT in Japanese. Both Joao Bosco and Phil Perry sing BRAZILIAN songs sung in the native tongue of Brazil. And I don't remember Lee singing at all, not even backup.

Not mentioned is two tunes featuing Rit and Steve Lukather (of Toto). They both light up "Cause We've Ended as Lovers" and finish with a BRAZILIAN song sung by Phil Perry.

Some cool tunes with Tuck and Patti and a couple of tunes from "Stolen Moments."

OUTSTANDING.......2001-08-27

Outstanding- Lee Ritenour has come a long way he always shows great musicianship.I've been a fan of this guy for years,if you look at this line up then you'lle agree that this was actually the start of "Fourplay" Bob James,Harvey Mason and Lee Ritenour only one guy joined later and that is Nathan East.But these cats are always together and they are some of the best muzos around the world.Buy this DVD because there are so many extras in the line up Paulino da Costa,Joao Bosco and Anthony Jackson.As music lovers we have to understand that you can not buy a 80's recording and expect it to sound like it was recorded today enjoy the music.

Lee Ritnour at Cocoanut Grove.......2001-05-22

This DVD is terrible! It's in Japanese.... the tunes are cool, but I did not know that Lee spoke Japanese. It's not Japenese overdub, he's actually singing in Japenese. It was just TOO wierd to watch. So, unless you like cool Jazz sung in Japensese, don't get this one

A real package deal !.......2000-05-16

This DVD of Rit's is both a potpouree of who's who in his many earlier cd's, and a real treat for those who have not seen them together live.He has the usual group of "technicians" in the sets, but he adds Joao Bosco and Paulinho da Costa, from the "FESTIVAL" CD sessions, and makes it all come alive. That set alone makes this a MUST to "Captain Fingers" fans. It is, a must amoung the sadly small choices of great jazz music dvd's. You'll love it, and it's 2 for 1 ! WOW!

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