Friday morning videos: ANIMAL CRACKERS (1930)
August 1st, 2008 at 09:36am Will Pfeifer
Here’s one of my favorite bits from a Marx Brothers movie: Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho) Â is wooing both Mrs. Rittenhouse (Margaret Dumont) and Mrs. Whitehead (Margaret Irving) when, after mentioning Eugene O’Neill, he breaks from the scene, walks up to the camera, and has a “strange interlude” (which was a reference to O’Neill’s 1928 play of the same name).
It’s vintage Groucho — fast paced, funny and pretty much nonsensical. There are so many great lines packed into this single short scene you can quote them for years. I especially like “Yes, I don’t think I’ve ever seen four more beautiful eyes in my life. Well, three anyway.” And his declaration of “whim wham!” is a great comeback when someone’s talking nonsense.
Entry Filed under: videos, Comedy, Classic movies
3 Comments Add your own
1. Lurid Chief | August 1st, 2008 at 9:59 am
I loves them Paramount Marx Bros flicks!
And isn’t it to Mrs. Whitehead that Chico says “You got “It”–and you can KEEP it!”
2. Will Pfeifer | August 1st, 2008 at 10:12 am
Yep, I’m pretty sure that Chico line is in this movie. ANIMAL CRACKERS has a few slow spots — anytime the romantic leads take the screen or someone other than Groucho sings — but when it’s funny, it’s really funny. I know you agree with me, Chief, that the rougher, lower-budget Paramount Marx movies (THE COCOANUTS, ANIMAL CRACKERS, MONKEY BUSINESS, HORSEFEATHERS and DUCK SOUP) beat the more polished MGM movies (A NIGHT AT THE OPERA, A DAY AT THE RACES) hands down!
3. Lurid Chief | August 1st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Most definitely!
I don’t mind the songs in this one just because I really dig that Lillian Roth!
As Chico would say, she’s got “It!”
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