One of the aspects of “Horse Feathers” that I love is that it introduced me to the sheer radiance that is Thelma Todd. Sure, I ride on a bunch of modern beauties, but out of the slew of reasons why I keep going back to “Horse Feathers,” it’s because of Todd who I’ve managed to have a crush on since I first saw this Marx Bros. comedy masterpiece. Many years ago I viewed this for the first time on VHS and understood why the Marx Brothers were immortal. Suffice it to say I was not let down by “Horse Feathers.” At their prime, the Marx Brothers were unstoppable in the realm of comedy, and delivered laughs at a rapid fire pacing.
For seventy minutes I sat laughing in tears watching these four brothers basically wreak havoc on anyone who dared to step in their way, and it’s a real treat for anyone interested in genuine comedy that is broad but suited for anyone who values brilliance over gross out. For people who like sight gags, there’s Harpo who always has a prop in tow for the right occasion (a bum asks him for money for a cup of coffee and Harpo pulls out a cup of coffee from his trousers). For anyone interested in skewed word play there’s Chico (“How about a haddock?” “I had a haddock once.” “What’d you take?” “Some aspirin.”). Anyone in to clever one-liners and utter sarcasm a la Bugs Bunny there’s the ever brilliant Groucho (“You know you’ve got the brain of a four-year old child, and I bet he was glad to get rid of it.”). And of course, for the straight man material there’s Zeppo who is very under appreciated.
Many people under estimate Zeppo, but every comedy team needs a straight man and in spite of his anger about taking on the role behind the scenes, Zeppo keeps the movie afloat with his romantic interludes with Connie Bailey, the shifty romantic interest who is assigned by her boss to romance Zeppo (who plays Frank Wagstaff) to get the secret plays for his college’s football team leading up to the big game. But when Franks dad Prof. Quincy Adams Wagstaff takes hold of the school, he’s ordered to get two professional football players to ensure a win at the game. He enlists Pinky and Baravelli, two lunatics with an eye for Connie. Connie must now try to outwit all four gentlemen who court her with their own instruments of choice, and get the plays before the game. The Marx Brothers are much more than comedians.
They’re artists, actors, and musicians. Zeppo can sing, Harpo is beautiful with his harp, Groucho can play the guitar, and Chico gives an excellent piano solo all to the tune of “Everyone Says I Love You.” While everyone brings up “Duck Soup” as the supreme Marx Brothers entry, my personal preference is for “Horse Feathers” a bonafide cavalcade of hilarious one-liners and double entendres that keep the material dirty enough for only the sharpest of audiences to catch on to. For example as all of the brothers are literally running in and out of Connie’s apartment, Groucho quips “A hot dog place would make a killing here.”
They’re also never afraid to break in to a musical number and tear down the fourth wall as Groucho steps forward allowing the audience to go to the recession stand until Chico is finished with his piano solo to Connie. The lovely Thelma Todd is able to hold her own as the half femme fatale half love interest who endures the insanity of the Brothers with a grin and watches as they woo her with their charms. “Horse Feathers” ends in typical fashion with a hysterical football game that closes with a four person wedding and a frantic groping scene with Todd the ever resistant bride on the tail end. It’s a comedy masterpiece and one I consider the penultimate Marx Brothers madcap adventure, an unparalleled laugh riot you can watch again and again.