Say, I wonder if I should have saved this one for my Keaton discussion? Anyway, it's a shame gags like this did not appear in Keaton's own talking MGM films! They certainly would have suited him. The mechanical beds popping in and out of the walls with kids of several different nationalities getting lost is again, very Keatonian. Groucho taking one look at the family and asking Armetta if he has any other hobbies is an all-time favorite Groucho moment of mine. Harpo pulling out the back seat cushion of a parked car and pulling out every imaginable tool from such a tiny space besides the kitchen sink is also very Keatonian.Īnother part I love is the scene with Henry Armetta and his twelve kids. Reminds me of some gags from Buster Keaton's THE SCARECROW, and I would not be surprised if Keaton had his hand in this. When they see Dumont about to come in, they brilliantly have pulley devices to hide the breakfast inside the desk, get the bed inside the wall, and have the windows look less homey and more professional. I love the way the office starts out as a bed by the wall and eggs cooking and coffee brewing on Groucho's desk. The scene with Groucho and Harpo in their office with Margaret Dumont is a classic. Like I say, there's no such thing as a bad Marx Brothers film, and this one starts out real well only to fizzle out in the end.
THE BIG STORE did gross more than the past couple of films, but only a minor profit. Perhaps MGM figured a team with diminishing box office returns would benefit from sharing a bill with Martin, and the promise of a farewell would surely bring paying customers into the theater as well. Interestingly enough, the first final Marx Brothers film is not just a Marx Brothers film, as they share top billing with leading man Tony Martin. Mayer, tiring of their characters, and weary of a world at war.so I've read. The reasons for the farewell were diminishing box office returns, advancing age (they were in their fifties at this point), an uncomfortable relationship with Louis B.
Their first farewell film, they will correctly state, as they would make two more farewell films after this one! The next film won't be until five years later, and my understanding is that they needed to help Chico pay off some gambling debts. Actually, in the advertising for this film, The Marx Brothers advertised this as a farewell film, as you will see in the trailer above. THE BIG STORE would be the final MGM film for The Marx Brothers.
0 kommentar(er)
