The Marx Brothers were a popular comedy troupe in the first half of the 20th century. They worked in vaudeville, on Broadway, in movies, and eventually on TV. The work they are most well-known for is their string of movie comedies in the 1930s.
The Marx Brothers were social anarchists. Their movie plots could be boiled down to a template – the brothers infiltrate High Society in some way than mercilessly mock all of its conventions. Monty Python, Saturday Night Live, the National Lampoon movies, and more were all massively influenced by the Marx Brothers comedy.
All that being said, that was a long time ago. It is a very particular brand of humor as well. I love the Marx Brothers, and this movie in particular, but I can understand why others would not enjoy them.
The Set-Up
The plot in Horse Feathers is just an excuse for a series of gags. Groucho plays Professor Wagstaff the new President of Huxley College. Huxley has been failing and Wagstaff is brought in to help turn it around. Zeppo plays Frank, Professor Wagstaff’s son, and an eight year student of the college. Frank gives Professor Wagstaff the idea that if Huxley can get a better football team, the college overall will improve. Wagstaff goes to a speakeasy to hire some ringers, but hires Bavarelli, an ice man, and Pinky, a dog catcher instead. Baverelli is played by Chico and Pinky is played by Harpo.
There’s really not more story info needed. All four brothers woo the “college widow” Connie Bailey (Thelma Todd). There is a football game. But really it’s about the jokes.
Why It’s Great
It’s not that this has my favorite Marx Brothers jokes or gags in it. It’s that there’s none that I don’t like it. And there are some classic one-liners and gags. Groucho says to Zeppo at one point – “I married your mother because I wanted children. Imagine my disappointment when you arrived.” Groucho and Chico’s “Swordfish” speakeasy password exchange is one of my favorite back-and- forths of any of the movies. This does not’t have the best Harpo visual puns, but at least there are not’t any groaners.
Some Marx Bros fans are critical of Zeppo’s straight man roles, Chico’s piano solos, and Harpo’s harp solos. While, yeah, those can be boring, they are also part of what makes them the Marx Brothers. Horse Feathers has the best Zeppo role, a Chico piano solo that’s actually interesting, and one of the least boring harp solos.
To me this is the quintessential, most consistent Marx Brothers movie. The only thing it is missing is the “fifth Marx Brother” Margaret Dumont in one of her usual rich woman widow roles.
There is no way I can recommend this to everyone. I love the Marx Brothers sense of humor. I love the rapid fire puns and insults, the complete randomness, and their attitude against snobs. But you really have to be on their comedic wavelength. If you’re not you are not going to like it. It’s not going to stand up if you judge it as a situational comedy or a musical.
This is the kind of movie that people either love or they hate.