Episode 38: Help-a Those Kids (featuring Hannah Mira)

School and schoolteachers are a recurring theme in the Marx Brothers' work, from their earliest vaudeville comedy (Fun in Hi Skule), to the zenith of their Hollywood years (Horse Feathers), to the professorial quizmaster of You Bet Your Life and the childhood memoirist of Harpo Speaks. On this episode, our special guest is a real live teacher, who has used the Brothers' films as a curriculum for students in extraordinary circumstances. We say this every month, I know, but this is a good one.

Hannah Mira

Official description: "And now for something completely different...

"After relating our first impressions of the Marxes from way back when, we are joined by educator Hannah Mira, who details her fascinating story of screening Marx Brothers (and other classic) films to incarcerated teenagers, and their surprisingly positive response to them.

"A lifelong Marx fan, Hannah uses the brothers’ antics not only as entertainment, but also as a springboard to introspection. We learn what the most popular gags and scenes are with her students, as well as whom their favorite brother is (spoiler: it ain’t Zeppo). Hannah also tells of a surprising encounter with a Harpo painting.

"Of course, we are on our best behavior with a teacher present, but still find time for a few spitball fights."

Hannah says: "If listeners want to help at-risk youth stay out of juvenile hall / jail, please have them visit Homeboy Industries. It is the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program on the planet and the work they do is incredible. Donations and volunteers are always needed. The headquarters is in Los Angeles but they have outreach around the world."

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Here's the Harpo painting discussed by Hannah in the episode:

Episode 37: Raised Questions (featuring Steve Stoliar)

Last year, we had the honor of sharing, for the first time ever, Jay Hopkins' 1979 interview with the multitalented Steve Stoliar, author of Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho's House. Today, we've got an all-new conversation with Steve.

Official description: "We are honored to welcome Steve Stoliar, author of the iconic Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho’s House.

"Outspoken as ever, Steve is as entertaining as he is candid. But what do you ask a guy who’s been interviewed on just about every podcast known to man (including ours)? Well, we didn’t know either, so we farmed the questions out to our loyal listeners.

"Steve updates us on the Raised Eyebrows movie, and you won’t believe who stays up at night thinking about the casting. He further details life with Erin Fleming, and Groucho’s taste in music, movies, and TV…including a trip to a rock concert. And if you’ve ever wondered what happens when Steve and Dick Cavett get together with a whoopee cushion, wonder no longer!

"To get a personally autographed copy of Raised Eyebrows, go to http://stevestoliar.com/shop."

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Episode 36: We Spit on Lester Cowan (Our Love Happy Deep Dive)

Well, you should have known we'd do this eventually. Please join us -- we're begging you -- for a discussion of the universally beloved classic Love Happy. It may not be everyone's favorite Marx Brothers movie -- it may not even be a Marx Brothers movie -- but you have to admit, it is a movie. 

Official description: "DISCLAIMER: Since producer Lester Cowan defied contractual agreements and billed this as starring 'The Marx Brothers,' we are obligated to do an episode about it.

"The brothers search for jewels as we search for laughs…and though it’s not top-tier Marx, there is still plenty to enjoy as well as plenty to ponder. Matthew tells how Chico was the first to agree to appear in a Harpo solo film, Noah is baffled by how the jewels got into a sealed sardine can, and Bob goes off on Marilyn Monroe.

"You’ll learn about the two versions of the film, and why the shorter, less funny one is most likely what you’ve seen. You’ll learn why Groucho and Chico never appear onscreen together…but you won’t learn what those penguins are saying.

"Seriously, it’s not a bad film…wish we could promise the same about this podcast."

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Make Yourself Listen to Make Him Watch It!

 

Our pal Cinco Paul, screenwriter, songwriter, and Marx Brothers Council Podcast guest (Episode 5), has an excellent podcast of his own, Make Him Watch It, in which Cinco and his writing partner Ken Daurio make each other watch movies and discuss them. During Ken's break from the show, Cinco's been welcoming guest co-hosts, and recently the situation got so desperate that he invited us on! In this episode, Cinco makes us watch Paddy Chayefsky's The Hospital (1971), and we make him watch W.C. Fields' It's a Gift (1934). Give it a listen, and subscribe to Make Him Watch It -- every episode is a great, fun listen, and it really makes you want to make people watch things.

Episode 35: This Magnificent Chest

The most significant release of previously-unreleased Marx Brothers material occurred in 2014, when Shout Factory issued this magnificent chest -- no, this magnificent chest -- packed with over ten hours of (mostly) television appearances featuring Groucho, Harpo, and Chico Marx. The Marx Brothers TV Collection, curated by Robert Bader, has earned its place on our shelves, alongside the Brothers' films. In this epic episode, we examine the set (including the much-coveted bonus disc) in exquisite detail.

Official description: "You want to see Groucho as an over-protective father, Harpo hiding in a Coke machine, or Chico trying to pass himself off as Harpo? Well, you’ve come to the right place as we dissect Shout Factory’s DVD set featuring Marx TV appearances from the ‘50s thru the ‘70s.

"We uncover the many treasures, failures, and sublime moments this collection offers to Marx fans, including Groucho’s rebooting of You Bet Your Life in 1960’s England, Harpo’s lead role in a Twilight Zone-like drama, and Chico’s two short-lived series…both of which were actually pretty good.

"We’ll also dive into the set’s gathering of Marx family home movies, as well as the super rare bonus disc…which may include the best (and worst) clips of all! 

"Don’t miss this show, unless you want to hear good things about Minnesota Fats…

"NOTE: North American fans can access many of these clips and shows for free on shoutfactorytv.com."

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Footnotes:

• Eleven selections from the collection, streaming free at shoutfactorytv.com (North America only)
  
  
• Purchase the collection from Shout Factory

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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