Broad Strokes

[allisontooey]

This weekend's review: Animal Crackers.

Like The Cocoanuts before it, Animal Crackers was based off a play that the Marx Brothers had successfully done in the theater. However, the second outing came out a lot better than the first, although it brought some new problems with it. The people involved definitely learned their lessons from the last time

Comments

[klia]

However, I loved the moment where Groucho suddenly started pretending he was in a dramatic play, where he would step away from the scene and address the audience in a monologue.

After making me go o_O for most of my life, I found out a few years ago that that scene is a parody of Eugene O'Neill's Strange Interlude, which has to be the most unintentionally hilarious move I've ever seen (the only good thing about it was the film debut of Clark Gable's moustache).

[allisontooey]

Oh, I see! I'm not surprised that it's a parody of Eugene O'Neill (seems right, from what little I know of the writer), but I had no idea he was actively parodying a movie. That's totally in character for the Marx Brothers, and makes this scene even better. Thanks for the new info!

[klia]

If you've never seen Strange Interlude (or Strange Inner Tube -- check out the beginning of this clip from Me and My Gal), it's quite something. Offensively sexist, and not just because it's from the 30s, but worth seeing once -- preferably while drinking with friends.

[allisontooey]

I may look into it, although I'm not big on overly sexist movies. Still, it might give me an interesting glimpse into a 30's mindset.

(Sorry this was marked as spam; I think LJ didn't like that you linked to a video).

[klia]

I'm not, either. But Strange Interlude is so bizarre, it really has to be seen to be believed. It was "experimental" in the '30s and looks totally whacked-out now -- especially Ralph Morgan's character, Charlie.

I keep trying to imagine how the play was staged, and how the audience could've possibly taken it seriously, and... I just can't.

[allisontooey]

Well, if it falls into the "so awful it becomes oddly hilarious" category, then I might give it a go. Depends if I can track it down on DVD or not.