“That kind of dexterous verbal humor, that’s very, very sophisticated yet shot through with a joyous foolishness.” So why their continuing appeal? It’s their absurd humor and dangerous manic energy, explains author Matthew Coniam from Bath, England, who published “The Annotated Marx Brothers” in 2015 (see “It’s low comedy for people with highbrow tastes,” claimed Coniam. While the brothers only appeared together in 13 movies from 1929 to 1949, dedicated fans throughout subsequent decades have helped maintain the comedy team’s popularity. “I am just a big fan who often tries to hide my lack of expertise by making smart-ass remarks,” said Bob Gassel (on Twitter a career video editor based in Fairfield, Conn., who is also tasked with recording, editing, and publishing the podcast. The hosts examine the films and lives of the Marx Brothers in astonishing academic detail but remain entertaining and amusing. Each is generally led by one of the hosts with the others chiming in as the trio deep-dive into one of the films or some aspect of the Marx canon often joined by special guests. It’s a tradition to welcome the New Year with some old-fashioned Hollywood madcap merriment by viewing several Marx Brothers films including, but not limited to, three of my favorites: “Duck Soup,” “Animal Crackers” and “The Cocoanuts.”Īnd at some point this January, I’ll also enjoy the next episode of the “The Marx Brothers Council Podcast.” It’s a series of monthly podcasts co-hosted by three arts and entertainment veterans who are also noted authorities on the legendary 1930s/40s movie comedy team of Groucho, Harpo, Chico and, in their five early films, Zeppo Marx (see The podcast is an offshoot of the Marx Brothers Council Facebook group which evolved from Matthew Coniam’s blog, “The Marx Brothers Council of Great Britain” launched a dozen years ago, where Noah Diamond and Bob Gassel became regular contributors.
No, it’s not some strange private culinary ritual.
It’s a personal resolution I observe every January: celebrating the New Year with duck soup, animal crackers and, of course, (the) cocoanuts. Editor’s Note: Nick Thomas returns with his monthly column, “Tinseltown Talks.”
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