Episode 25: Send Out the Clowns
About every fourth episode, we devote an entire conversation to a deep-dive exploration of a specific Marx Brothers movie. That being the case, it was inevitable that at some point we would focus on At the Circus, no matter how many people begged us not to.
Episode 21: No Snow and No Ice
Oh, among the mangoes, where the monkey gang goes, you can hear them talking, and talking, and talking about the first Marx Brothers movie (except for Humor Risk), adapted from their first Broadway show (except for I'll Say She Is). It's the first time it's ever been mentioned down here, today. If you're too old to listen to this podcast, get yourself a monkey gland! And then let's go.
Episode 20: The Biggest Place in Town
A deep dive into Groucho’s first solo effort, 1947’s Copacabana, which can be considered both a success and a failure, as well as neither.
Episode 17: Hail and Farewell
Apologies in advance, friends, if we don't dislike Room Service quite as much as you do. We hope this episode doesn't drive you to your death just as it drove Leo Davis.
Episode 13: You'll Duck Soup the Rest of Your Life
"Once upon a time," writes Matthew in the Annotated, "there was a Marx Brothers film called Duck Soup." Nobody disagrees with that, but we do find some points of contrast in this discussion about the Marx Brothers' greatest film, which is not their best work. Of course you know this means war!
Episode 12: We Get Mad Because We Can't Read
We're joined by celebrated screenwriter Scott Alexander for a discussion of two tellings of the Marx Brothers' biography: Kyle Crichton’s 1950 biography of the Marxes, and the unproduced Marx Brothers biopic the world may yet see.
Episode 9: A Good Buy From MGM
Why, we didn't know you cared! But since you do, here's our ninth episode, in which Nick Santa Maria drops by to discuss The Big Store, which we all agree was made by MGM in 1941 and stars the Marx Brothers and Tony Martin.
Episode 7: Too Late, That's Monkey Business Already
Matthew, Noah, and Bob over-analyze Monkey Business. Musicologist and Zeppocologist Andrea Orlando stops by to offer some much-needed informed insight.
Episode 4: Myths, More, and Les
Noah, Bob, and Matthew deflate some Marx myths, then examine the 1969 Marx LP narrated by Gary Owens. Noah talks with Les Marsden, who has portrayed three of the four brothers onstage, and created A Night at Harpo’s.
Episode 3: You Don't Have To Pay Us, But You Can't Fire Us
Frank Ferrante joins us for a deep dive into A Day at the Races. Frank details his personal history with the film, and we mercilessly dissect it. Noah reveals a surprising secret, and Frank answers questions from Council members.