Results: The Marx Brothers - the first to Parody Current Events, American Culture, and Politics.
Published on 09/27/2024
The Marx Brothers were the sons of a tailor and a domineering stage mother, as well as the nephews of vaudeville headliner Al Shean of the popular team Gallagher and Shean. In 1904 Groucho became the first of the brothers to appear onstage, when he joined a singing trio. He was eventually joined by Gummo, Harpo, and Chico in what, after a long series of incarnations, evolved into a comedy act. For several mostly successful years in burlesque and vaudeville, the brothers’ stage act consisted of songs, dances, musical specialities by Harpo (on harp) and Chico (on piano), and the Marx’s own brand of chaotic humour. They scored a major triumph on Broadway with their musical-comedy revue I’ll Say She Is (1924), by which time Zeppo had replaced Gummo. In what proved to be a turning point in their careers, the show endeared them to Alexander Woollcott, the most prominent and influential drama critic of the time.
QUESTIONS
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Comments
1.
1.
Mr. Hammer runs a bankrupt Florida hotel. He'll try anything to make money, even make love to rich Mrs. Potter. But his main scheme, selling real estate, is in danger of sabotage from zanies Chico and Harpo, who also reduce the schemes of a pair of jewel thieves to chaos. A subplot involves the star-crossed love of Polly Potter and architect Bob Adams. Have you seen The Cocoanuts?
Yes
19%
389 votes
No
59%
1231 votes
Undecided
8%
175 votes
Not Applicable
15%
305 votes
2.
2.
Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff has just been installed as the new president of Huxley College. His cavalier attitude toward education is not reserved for his son Frank, who is seeing college widow Connie Bailey. Frank influences Wagstaff to recruit two football players who hang out in a speakeasy, in order to beat rival school Darwin. Unfortunately, Wagstaff mistakenly hires misfits Baravelli and Pinky. Finding out that Darwin has beaten him to the "real" players, Wagstaff enlists Baravelli and Pinky to kidnap them, which leads to an anarchic football finale. "Have you seen Horse Feathers?"
Yes
21%
436 votes
No
57%
1193 votes
Undecided
8%
164 votes
Not Applicable
15%
307 votes
3.
3.
While stowing away on a ship to America, the boys get involuntarily pressed into service as toughs for a pair of feuding gangsters while trying desperately to evade the ship's crew. After arriving stateside, one of the gangsters kidnaps the other's daughter, and it's up to our unlikely heroes to save the day. Have you seen "Monkey Business"?
Yes
24%
498 votes
No
53%
1112 votes
Undecided
9%
179 votes
Not Applicable
15%
311 votes
4.
4.
In post-war Casablanca, Ronald Kornblow is hired to run a hotel whose previous managers have all wound up being murdered. French soldier Pierre suspects the involvement of ex-Nazis, specifically Count Pfefferman, in reality the notorious Heinrich Stubel. But Pierre himself is accused of collaborating with the enemy, and attempts to clear his name with the help of his girlfriend Annette and cagey buddy Corbaccio. They enlist the aid of Pfefferman's beleaguered mute valet, Rusty, and discover a hoard of war booty the Nazis have cached in the hotel. Have you seen "A Night in Casablanca"?
Yes
20%
426 votes
No
56%
1175 votes
Undecided
9%
198 votes
Not Applicable
14%
301 votes
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