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The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell

  • TV Movie
  • 1982
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
132
YOUR RATING
The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell (1982)
SlapstickComedyDocumentary

This salute to the famous comedy team of the Marx Brothers shows clips from many of their best-known films, including Duck Soup, Horse Feathers and Animal Crackers. Also shown are rare outta... Read allThis salute to the famous comedy team of the Marx Brothers shows clips from many of their best-known films, including Duck Soup, Horse Feathers and Animal Crackers. Also shown are rare outtakes from their films and interviews with them, in addition to reminiscences and tributes b... Read allThis salute to the famous comedy team of the Marx Brothers shows clips from many of their best-known films, including Duck Soup, Horse Feathers and Animal Crackers. Also shown are rare outtakes from their films and interviews with them, in addition to reminiscences and tributes by Dick Cavett, Robert Klein, David Steinberg and others.

  • Director
    • Richard Patterson
  • Writers
    • Joe Adamson
    • Robert B. Weide
  • Stars
    • Gene Kelly
    • Chico Marx
    • Groucho Marx
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    132
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Richard Patterson
    • Writers
      • Joe Adamson
      • Robert B. Weide
    • Stars
      • Gene Kelly
      • Chico Marx
      • Groucho Marx
    • 3User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top Cast22

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    Gene Kelly
    Gene Kelly
    • Self - Narrator
    • (voice)
    Chico Marx
    Chico Marx
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Groucho Marx
    Groucho Marx
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Harpo Marx
    Harpo Marx
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Margaret Dumont
    Margaret Dumont
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Woody Allen
    Woody Allen
    • Self
    Irving Brecher
    • Self
    Dick Cavett
    Dick Cavett
    • Self
    George Fenneman
    George Fenneman
    • Self
    George J. Folsey
    George J. Folsey
    • Self
    Charlotte Granet
    • Self
    Margaret Irving
    Margaret Irving
    • Self
    • (as Margaret Irving-James)
    Robert Klein
    Robert Klein
    • Self
    Norman Krasna
    Norman Krasna
    • Self
    Arthur Marx
    • Self
    Bill Marx
    • Self
    Bob Marx
    • Self
    Maxine Marx
    • Self
    • Director
      • Richard Patterson
    • Writers
      • Joe Adamson
      • Robert B. Weide
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews3

    8.1132
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    Featured reviews

    boris-26

    A neat documentary on why we laugh outloud with those silly Marx boys!

    THE MARX BROTHERS IN A NUTSHELL is prime viewing for a Marx Brothers fan. It does take the expected route of tracing the origins of the Marxes, from their early days in the New York/Coney Island vaudeville circuit almost a hundred years ago, onto Broadway in the 1920's and finally Hollywood. There are great "chapters" on each brother, including the never filmed Gummo. These insightful chapters give facts such as straight man Zeppo was considered the funniest Marx Brother (He's actually hysterical in ANIMAL CRACKERS) Chico had a gambling problem, and Harpo was a loving family man. There are great film clips, including a seldon seen 1931 short they did at Paramount where the Marxes menace a helpless talent scout. The perfect film to see after HORSEFEATHERS or DUCK SOUP.
    8hayst1

    A wonderful summary

    Even though I had seen 90% of the Marx Brother's films before watching this it was still great to watch. This was first video showed in my Cinema studies class covering the life and works of the Marx Brothers. I was pleasantly surprised to see that instead of addressing the brothers as a whole each brother was described in detail both on camera and off. This is an amazing documentary that clearly shows how the Marx Brothers affected other great comedians such as Woody Allen and Dick Cavett, as well as the impact they have had on a variety of generations. If you ever wanted to know what kind of fast pace intelligent humor you were getting into this would make a great introduction.

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    Related interests

    Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
    Slapstick
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
    Documentary

    Storyline

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    • Connections
      Version of The Unknown Marx Brothers (1993)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 10, 1982 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Las locuras de los hermanos Marx
    • Production companies
      • Jack Rollins & Charles H. Joffe Productions
      • Whyaduck Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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