gardner the marx brothers as social critics. satire and comic nihilism in their films
TRANSCRIPT
The Marx Brothersas Social Critics
Satire and ComicNihilism in Their Films
MARTIN A. GARDNER
McFarland & Company, Inc., PublishersJefferson, North Carolina, and London
The photographs used in this book are from Photofest
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Gardner, Martin A.The Marx Brothers as social critics : satire and comic nihilism
in their films / Martin A. Gardner.p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-7864-3942-3
softcover : 50# alkaline paper
1. Marx Brothers. 2. Comedy films—United States—Historyand criticism. I. Title.PN2297.M3G37 2009791.4302'8092273—dc22 2009023169
British Library cataloguing data are available
©2009 Martin A. Gardner. All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any formor by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopyingor recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,without permission in writing from the publisher.
On the cover: The Marx Brothers in the 1930s—(clockwise fromupper left) Zeppo, Groucho, Harpo and Chico (Photofest)
Manufactured in the United States of America
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
Contents
Preface 1
1. An Indifferent World 5
2. Triumphs, Tryouts, and Turkeys: The Film Career 15
3. The Writers 27
4. You Can Get Stucco 40
5. Is It Swordfish? 54
6. The Seven-Cent Nickel 63
7. A Job in the Mint 72
8. A Standing Army 80
9. Dear Old Ivy 89
10. A Coed with Two Pair of Pants 97
11. The Whole Wig 102
12. It’s Tough on My Suspenders 113
13. Three Hardboiled Eggs 119
14. Ice Water in 318 127
15. The Main Hungerdunger 136
16. Grand Slam 145
17. A Very Strange Interlude 152
v
18. A Brace of Woodpeckers 164
19. Upside Down 171
20. Whim Wham 174
Appendix: Credits of the Films Discussed 185
Chapter Notes 189
Bibliography 199
Index 209
vi Contents