The approach taken with these films is fairly formula, but it was a different formula than the beginning of the Marx Brothers' career. Each of these films wraps the boys' misadventures, comedic barbs, and musical gifts around some established story. Perhaps with straight-man Zeppo gone, the idea of having characters that normal people could relate to was appealing. Thus we get the intrigue of Nazis and a misunderstood US serviceman hunting for lost treasure in "A Night In Casablanca," or the lovestruck kids trying to make a future for themselves in "At The Circus." Other than the villains, these straight characters don't spend any more time on stage than necessary to become a foil for one or more of the brothers. The villains draw the bulk of the brothers' ire, directly from Groucho and indirectly from Harpo. Leading ladies didn't really lead as much as parade through the frame periodically to much eye rolling from Groucho or fawning from Chico, but faces like Eve Arden, Lucille Ball, and Maureen O'Sullivan were instant crowd pleasers. At some point in every film, Chico finds a piano and bangs out a rendition of "Tea for Two" or something similar, in a highly dramatic fashion. Harpo would also somehow happen upon instruments, as in the harp tucked away behind the wall in an elevator shaft in "A Night In Casablanca." Hearing any of the brothers sing, and watching them play their instruments, you realize that they were true talents. We don't have too many examples of this kind of multifaceted entertainer anymore, but some comedians at least attempt to make a go of acting. The TCM Greatest Classic FIlms Collection shows the Marx Brothers doing their version of acting, which was mostly a vehicle for comedy. Even today, with most of the cultural references null and void, it's amazingly funny.
Each film is about 90 minutes, and is shown in black-and-white. The prints are high quality, but the sound is spotty. You'll find yourself turning up the volume for dialogue and turning it back down when things start crashing around on the set, or when a musical number begins. This may have more to do with the technology available at the time for recording, than with the transfer to DVD. Captions are included, which is a nice feature to have in an older film. The more politically-correct viewer may be surprised at how many outdated cultural references are here, but it's important to forget that the newest film here is "A Night In Casablanca" from 1946. Racial stereotypes, smoking, and attitudes toward women are just as you would imagine they'd be in the '30s and '40s, but look past this to enjoy the great entertainment on offer from some true masters. TCM Greatest Classic FIlms Collection: Marx Brothers is a chance to see a blend of entertainment that just doesn't happen much today. The comedy ranges from sophomoric wordplay to downright racy, and the musical numbers are still impressive by today's standards. Even if you've seen every movie in the Marx Brothers canon by this point, the load of period shorts, cartoons, and features makes this a great excuse to add these four films to your permanent collection.
