Marx Brothers, team of American movie comedians. The members were Julius (1890?–1977), known as Groucho; Arthur (1888?–1964), originally Adolph and known as Harpo; Leonard (1887?–1961), known as Chico; and two other brothers, Milton (Gummo) and Herbert (Zeppo), who had both left the act by 1935; all were born in New York City. After starting in vaudeville they made a sensation on Broadway with The Cocoanuts and Animal Crackers, both of which they transferred to film (1929, 1930). Their anarchic, slapstick humor turned dignified settings into playhouses for Groucho's outrageous puns and wisecracks, Harpo's horn honking and girl chasing, and Chico's distorted logic. Zeppo appeared in their first five films as straight man. Their films include Monkey Business (1931), Horse Feathers (1932), Duck Soup (1933), and A Night at the Opera (1935). Groucho enjoyed a solo career as film actor, television game show emcee, and master raconteur in concert.
U.S. comedy team. The original five brothers were Chico (orig. Leonard) (1886–1961), Harpo (orig. Adolph Arthur) (1888–1964), Groucho (orig. Julius Henry) (1890–1977), Gummo (orig. Milton) (1893–1977), and Zeppo (orig. Herbert) (1901–79). They formed a vaudeville act with their mother, Minnie, called “The Six Musical Mascots” (1904–18). Gummo left the act early on, and the brothers later became “The Four Marx Brothers.” They won fame with their first Broadway play, I'll Say She Is (1924), which was followed by The Cocoanuts (1925; film, 1929) and Animal Crackers (1926; film, 1930). They later starred in Monkey Business (1931), Horse Feathers (1932), Duck Soup (1933), A Night at the Opera (1935), and Room Service (1938), among other films, developing a skillful blend of visual and verbal humour, with Groucho supplying wisecracks and a running commentary as counterpoint to the frantic, anarchic activities of the silent Harpo and the Italian-accented Chico. Zeppo left the act in 1934, and the act disbanded in 1949. Groucho later hosted the television quiz program You Bet Your Life (1950–61).
Marx Brothers comedy team; all born in New York City. The three most prominent were Chico (b. Leonard) (1886–1961); Harpo (b. Adolph, but known as Arthur) (1888–1964); and Groucho (b. Julius Henry) (1890–1977). Early in its career, the team included Gummo (b. Milton) (1893–1977) and Zeppo (b. Herbert) (1901–77). Sons of German immigrants, they were pushed on the stage by their mother, Minnie Marx (sister of Al Shean of the vaudeville duo, Gallagher & Shean), and began their career in vaudeville as a musical team before switching to the anarchic, surrealist comedy that became their trademark—a mixture of verbal and physical nonsequiturs. Gummo left the act early on and was replaced by Zeppo. The four hit Broadway in 1924 in I'll Say She Is and went on to make their first movie, The Cocoanuts in 1929. Zeppo left the team after their first five films, but the remaining three had hit after hit until 1950, with Duck Soup (1933) and A Night at the Opera (1935) arguably their best movies. Chico retired early and Harpo cut back to guest appearances on television, but Groucho remained active, appearing in movies and as the host of a popular television quiz show, You Bet Your Life (1950–61). In his later years, Groucho became something of a cultural institution, writing several well-received autobiographical books, and making guest appearances with his much-imitated manner but inimitable quips; he was revered by film buffs and paid homage to by individuals as disparate as Johnny Carson and T. S. Eliot.
Marx Brothers
Bibliography
See autobiographies by Groucho (1959) and Harpo (1961); A. Marx, Life with Groucho (1954) and Son of Groucho (1972); biography of Groucho by H. Arce (1979); Groucho Marx and R. J. Anobile, The Marx Bros. Scrapbook (1973); S. Louvish, Monkey Business (2001); G. Mitchell, The Marx Brothers Encyclopedia (2003).
Marx Brothers
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Groucho, Harpo, and Chico Marx
(credit: The Bettmann Archive)
Marx Brothers comedy team; all born in New York City. The three most prominent were Chico (b. Leonard) (1886–1961); Harpo (b. Adolph, but known as Arthur) (1888–1964); and Groucho (b. Julius Henry) (1890–1977). Early in its career, the team included Gummo (b. Milton) (1893–1977) and Zeppo (b. Herbert) (1901–77). Sons of German immigrants, they were pushed on the stage by their mother, Minnie Marx (sister of Al Shean of the vaudeville duo, Gallagher & Shean), and began their career in vaudeville as a musical team before switching to the anarchic, surrealist comedy that became their trademark—a mixture of verbal and physical nonsequiturs. Gummo left the act early on and was replaced by Zeppo. The four hit Broadway in 1924 in I'll Say She Is and went on to make their first movie, The Cocoanuts in 1929. Zeppo left the team after their first five films, but the remaining three had hit after hit until 1950, with Duck Soup (1933) and A Night at the Opera (1935) arguably their best movies. Chico retired early and Harpo cut back to guest appearances on television, but Groucho remained active, appearing in movies and as the host of a popular television quiz show, You Bet Your Life (1950–61). In his later years, Groucho became something of a cultural institution, writing several well-received autobiographical books, and making guest appearances with his much-imitated manner but inimitable quips; he was revered by film buffs and paid homage to by individuals as disparate as Johnny Carson and T. S. Eliot.
Marx Brothers
the. a US family of film comedians, esp Arthur Marx, known as Harpo (1888--1964), Herbert Marx, known as Zeppo (1901--79), Julius Marx, known as Groucho (1890--1977), and Leonard Marx known as Chico (1886--1961). Their films include Animal Crackers (1930), Monkey Business (1931), Horsefeathers (1932), Duck Soup (1933), and A Day at the Races (1937)
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