Blu-ray Review The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection Blu-ray Review (1 Viewer)

[David Norman]

Savings are important, but even at full price who can deny that this 5 film package isn't already a steal; especially when factoring in the restoration aspects.

No denying that at all, but owning it for 25 is better than admiring it on a wishlist for $45 esp if you are at best a casual fan of the Brothers

Owning it for $41 on 10/18 vs $32 on 10/20 is also a pretty easy choice for me

 

[PMF]

No denying that at all, but owning it for 25 is better than admiring it on a wishlist for $45 esp if you are at best a casual fan of the Brothers

Owning it for $41 on 10/18 vs $32 on 10/20 is also a pretty easy choice for me

No doubt.

 

[Everett S.]

Don't forget You Bet Your Life still VERY FUNNY!!!!

 

[deepscan]

Universal.

Actually Universal Television. Remember (quick lesson for those just joining us), most of the pre-'50 Paramount stuff went to MCA--their dummy company EMKA [the name a pronounciation of the call letters in MCA] was, and still is, the perpetual copyright holder. EMKA evolved into what is now Universal Television.

However, Paramount Pictures is still the copyright holder for "Coconuts" and "Animal Crackers". They renewed the copyrights prior to their losing the rights to EMKA.

 

[warnerbro]

These films never get old and seem timeless. And I love Margaret Dumont in these. I believe she was a huge part of the genius of the Marx Brothers. She was the perfect foil.

 

[Angelo Colombus]

When Groucho made his Oscar speech for his special award he did mentioned her along with his brothers.

 

[Ethan Riley]

When will we get the rest of the movies? Are they part of the Warner Archive?

 

[Matt Hough]

When will we get the rest of the movies? Are they part of the Warner Archive?

Warner owns the remaining Marx Bros. features. Nothing has been mentioned about a box set from them or any releasing partner like Criterion, but maybe if the Dietrich/Von Sternberg box set is successful, they'll try something similar with the Marxes with Warner's support.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I wonder if Warner would actually allow that many titles to be licensed. It seems like they generally only do it, grudgingly, if either the filmmaker is alive and makes an explicit request that they do so (Before Sunrise/Before Sunset from Criterion, for example, or Heaven & Earth from Twilight Time), or if the licensee has found an element with a third party that is better than what Warner had in their vault (Philadelphia Story).

I'd love to be wrong on all of this, but sadly, Warner titles are often where I stop holding my breath.

 

[PMF]

I wonder if Warner would actually allow that many titles to be licensed. It seems like they generally only do it, grudgingly, if either the filmmaker is alive and makes an explicit request that they do so (Before Sunrise/Before Sunset from Criterion, for example, or Heaven & Earth from Twilight Time), or if the licensee has found an element with a third party that is better than what Warner had in their vault (Philadelphia Story).

I'd love to be wrong on all of this, but sadly, Warner titles are often where I stop holding my breath.

But we're talking about The Marx Brothes, here. How could anyone holding the remaining titles not see their worth for a release?
One would think that the restorations of the first 5 would lead to the remaining.
Certainly, at the very least, "A Night at the Opera" and "A Day at the Races".
But, then again, I only have the mindset of a fan and a consumer.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

It's not that they're not worthy of a release.

It's that Warner has an internal policy of "perfection, or nothing at all."

So right now, we're getting nothing. Hopefully, that will one day change.

 

[PMF]

It's not that they're not worthy of a release.

It's that Warner has an internal policy of "perfection, or nothing at all."

So right now, we're getting nothing. Hopefully, that will one day change.

A valid reminder.

 

[Matt Hough]

To be honest, I love the Paramount Marxes so much that I don't find myself watching their MGM output that much, despite the memorable sequences in Opera, Races, and Circus. I think the last time I watched one of the films from the MGM box was Go West, and that was because I couldn't remember anything about it except the climax where they chopped up a train to keep the engine running.

 

[Randy Korstick]

I actually like all of the MGM titles except for the Big Store as much as the Paramounts. In fact more than Coconuts and Animal Crackers. The 3 Marx Brother films I rarely watch anymore and that I find the weakest are Room Service, A Night in Casablanca and Love Happy.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I find that my sweet spot for Marx Brothers is the last of their Paramounts and the first of the MGMs... basically Monkey Business through A Day At The Races. I realize it's a sort of sacrilege to not hold Animal Crackers in a higher position, but, well, I'm weird.

 

[Randy Korstick]

I find that my sweet spot for Marx Brothers is the last of their Paramounts and the first of the MGMs... basically Monkey Business through A Day At The Races. I realize it's a sort of sacrilege to not hold Animal Crackers in a higher position, but, well, I'm weird.

Those would be my 5 favorites too. I think they were in their peak as far as their films go in those 5 films. A lot to like about Coconuts and Animal Crackers but being early talkies I find both a bit creaky and slow in spots.

 

[Tony Bensley]

I find that my sweet spot for Marx Brothers is the last of their Paramounts and the first of the MGMs... basically Monkey Business through A Day At The Races. I realize it's a sort of sacrilege to not hold Animal Crackers in a higher position, but, well, I'm weird.

I don't think that's at all uncommon, actually.

If I had to choose the weakest, my pick would be THE BIG STORE (1941), although I do enjoy Tony Martin's singing.

I don't really consider LOVE HAPPY (1949) a team film, although the main 3 Marx's do appear.

CHEERS!

 

[Angelo Colombus]

If they release another box set i hope to see the documentary The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell (1982) narrated by Gene Kelly as a extra.

 

[TJPC]

Has any progress been made toward finding the complete cut of “A Night At The Opera”? Apparently any reference to “those happy go lucky care free Italians” was removed during WW II and the cuts are lost.

 

[Malcolm R]

This blu-ray set is currently $14.99 on Amazon's Prime Day deal.