Episode 34: Our Dinner with Deezen

EDDIE DEEZEN IS BELOVED NOT ONLY FOR HIS HILARIOUS PERFORMANCES IN SOME OF OUR FAVORITE FILMS, BUT FOR HIS DELIGHTFUL ALL-CAPS PRESENCE IN THE MARX BROTHERS COUNCIL FACEBOOK GROUP. AND NOW, HE JOINS US FOR A BREAKNECK ROMP THROUGH THE BROTHERS' THIRTEEN FILMS. TURN DOWN THE VOLUME AND ENJOY!

Official description: "ACTOR AND VOICE ARTIST EDDIE DEEZEN (GREASE, 1941, WAR GAMES) JOINS US FOR AN INDESCRIBABLE 90 MINUTES OF FREE FLOWING AND POTENTIALLY LITIGIOUS TALK ABOUT THE MARX BROTHERS.

"EDDIE RANKS THE MARX FILMS, OBSESSES ON CHICO’S SEXUAL PROWESS, AND GENERALLY TRIES TO STEER THE CONVERSATION TOWARDS THE BEATLES, MARTIN & LEWIS, AND THREE STOOGES WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

"EDDIE’S UNIQUE TAKE ON THE BROTHERS, PLUS SOME MIND-BOGGLING THEORIES, MAKE FOR UNFORGETTABLE LISTENING.

 

"NAME CHECKED IN THIS EPISODE: RON PALILLO, JULES WHITE, ROWAN & MARTIN."

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Footnotes:

• The Official Eddie Deezen Website

Bonus Minicast: Adamson in Casablanca

But wait -- there's more! For our recent Night in Casablanca episode, we'd intended to include a segment with Joe Adamson, in which he'd discuss his evolving feelings about the film since his book was written, as well as the results of some more recent research. But the conversation with Joe was predictably rich enough to be an episode all its own. And so here we are.

Official description: "An addendum to our A Night in Casablanca deep dive (episode 33), Joe Adamson, author of Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Sometimes Zeppo, joins us for a further look. Comparing the finished film to the original script and studio call sheets, Joe theorizes on why changes were made, tantalizes us with scenes that didn’t make the cut, and even mourns a few moments left in. 

"Not joining us for this episode: Scott Alexander."

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Episode 33: The Boys Are Back in Town

Our Night in Casablanca deep dive is a packed episode, featuring not only the second appearance of boldface name Scott Alexander (see?), but Les Marsden himself lending his voice to some more deleted scene recreations. But don't worry; we gave it back to him after the session.

Official description: "Noted screenwriter and Marx devotee Scott Alexander returns, this time for a deep dive into 'The Howl Raiser of 1946,' A Night in Casablanca.

"The Marxes' screen comeback after five years was a triumph both artistically and financially, though not really appreciated until recent decades. With sharper writing and surprising moments of surrealism, it almost feels like a return to Paramount…but, as we point out, the Thalberg softening of the team was still in evidence. We detail our first experiences with the film, point out plot discrepancies, note classic lines, and most importantly, realize the Marxes could defeat the Nazis even without Zeppo. 

"And as a bonus, The Not Ready For Online Players return for two more deleted scene recreations…"

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Footnotes:

• You can get the newly-restored Night in Casablanca from Classic Flix, on DVD or Blu-ray.

Episode 32: I Don't Think This Damn Thing is Safe

The last significant work by Groucho Marx as a performer was An Evening With Groucho -- which is the title of his 1972 concert, and the resulting LP. To the question "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" Groucho provided an irrefutable if unhelpful answer: You reach the age of 81 having been a vaudeville headliner, a Broadway star, a Hollywood icon, a hit on radio and television, a successful author, and a living legend. 

Official description: "Our deep dive into 1972’s An Evening With Groucho LP, and the historic performance at Carnegie Hall.

"To be frank, we’re as conflicted about this as you are…Groucho finally gets the late-in-life showcase he craved and obviously deserved, but perhaps a bit too late for him to take full advantage of. We point out the triumphs, tragedies, and missed opportunities that Groucho dealt with in 1972, culminating with this hit album.

"We detail favorite moments as well as our disparate experiences first hearing this LP, and whether it is a piece of entertainment, a piece of history, or both...

"Name-checked in this episode: Brent Spiner, The Beach Boys, Diane Keaton."

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Footnotes:

• "Groucho Stars in a Night at the Carnegie," New York Times, May 8, 1972
  
  
• "Recordings: From Marx to Merman," New York Times, January 14, 1973
  
  
• Dick Cavett: "They Dressed Like Groucho," New York Times, April 20, 2012
  
  
• Recordings of Groucho at the Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco, August 11, 1972
  
  
• Library of Congress essay by Robert Bader, upon An Evening With Groucho's inclusion in the National Registry of historically significant recordings
  
  

Episode 31: Our BRAIN DONORS Special

Our first episode of 2021 is our best episode of the year thus far! In addition to your faithful co-hosts, it features a couple of genuine comedy legends, and a discussion of the film the Marx Brothers would have made if they had made this film.

Official description: "Imagine a Marx Brothers-like film in 1992, now imagine a really good Marx Brothers-like film in 1992…well, imagine no more because such a film actually exists, Brain Donors. Created by the team behind Airplane! and The Naked Gun films, Brain Donors achieved everything it set out to do…except finding an audience. 

"To explain why, and a whole lot more, we are joined by producer David Zucker and screenwriter Pat Proft, both life-long Marx fans. They detail the making of the film, including the casting of John Turturro as the Groucho-inspired lead. David and Pat also discuss the positive feedback Brain Donors received from the studio, until Hollywood politics reared its head and derailed what could have been a series of faux-Marx films. 

"Surely, one of our most requested topics… 

"Name-checked in this episode: Jason Alexander, Bob Costas, Senator Joseph McCarthy."

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Footnotes:

• Brain Donors on Amazon Prime Video
  
  
• Brain Donors on YouTube
  
  
• David Zucker's new family memoir, Before the Invention of Smiling : The Incredible Journey of the Zucker Family from Horse & Buggy to Indoor Plumbing
  
  
• Karen Philipp, holding her hat, from the M*A*S*H credits:
  
  
  
  
  

Episode 30: K&R vs K&R

The thirtieth episode of The Marx Brothers Council Podcast is also our final episode of the year 2020. This has been a singular year, to say the least, but through it all we've stubbornly persisted in keeping the Marxian conversation going. Thanks to our guests, and especially our listeners, the podcast has been one of the life rafts keeping us going through tough times. We hope it's served the same purpose for you, in some small way, and while we all hope that 2021 is better, we promise that The Marx Brothers Council Podcast will be there no matter what. Now on with this month's show.

Official description: "A holiday extravaganza because we say it is!

"Actor/writer Nick Santa Maria returns for an examination of the Marxes’ two principal writing teams, George S. Kaufman & Morrie Ryskind, and Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby. We compare their styles and strengths, and go off on numerous unrelated tangents. But first, we detour to Kalmar & Ruby’s original vision for the finale of A Night at the Opera, featuring another performance by The Not Ready For Online Players...augmented by Kathy Biehl and Pete Lutz.

"Name-checked in this episode: Parkyakarkus, Carroll O’Connor (twice), Paul Harvey. 

"WARNING: Due to Matthew’s overly-festive mood, this episode contains a moment of adult language."

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Footnotes:

• Nick Santa Maria's website
• Matthew's new book, Dracula AD 1931
• Noah's virtual production Quarantigone

Episode 29: Make That Three Hard Boiled Eggs

Episode 29 is a big one, folks, in which we discuss one of the Marx Brothers' greatest films with a gifted photographer and designer, an accomplished novelist, a fine musician, Groucho's grandson for cryin' out loud, and Gus Kahn's grandson at the same time -- with only one guest!

Official description: "In our NEW longest episode yet, we welcome Groucho’s grandson, Andy Marx, for a deep dive into A Night at the Opera, and a whole lot more…

"Andy recalls growing up with Groucho during the time he went from being a game show host to a legend. We learn about his curious connection to rock stars and speculate on his politics. We also hear about Andy’s other famous grandfather.

"Finally (at 28:40), we turn our attention to what most Marx fans agree is their first film for MGM. We try and make sense out of why this reinvention of the team  works so well…all while doing the unbearable nitpicking we have become famous for!

Name-checked in this episode: Elton John, Richard Nixon, Scott Alexander."

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Footnotes:

• Andy's novel, Royalties
• Andy's photography and design site
• Andy's 2013 Boing Boing article about You Bet Your Life
• Andy's 1999 L.A. Times article, "Growing Up with Groucho"
• Matthew's new book, Dracula AD 1931
• Noah's presentation Home Again: The Marx Brothers and New York City
• Noah's virtual production Quarantigone
• Bob's podcast