Customer Reviews

Why A Duck (Visual And Verbal Gems From The Marx Brothers Movies)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this wonderful book way back in 1972. Today, I still love to grab a quick laugh from it. The contents here are great quotes & Bits from the films of the madcap four, then three {after Zeppo leaves} Marx Brothers. this book use photo-stills taken from the scenes of the movies they are from, matched with the words spoken in those scenes.

Most material used herein is from the brother's earliest movies: "Coconuts" thru "A Night at the Opera", as the final films that the brothers made, have less quality material in the writing department. This is NOT a biography of their movies or personal histories... BUT if you enjoy the great humor of The Marx Brothers, this one is a MUST READ. You are indeed LUCKY that this is still available.

FIVE STARS!!!

I first got this book in high school (early 70's). It turned me on to a life-long love of the Marx Brothers. I even used it for scripts for a student film.

If you want to get a true feel of the wit, timing and marvelous play on words of the Marxes, this is most definitely the place. It is a pity that this book is now out of print. I would give my eye teeth for a copy.

If you enjoy the Marx Brothers you will love this book. It is a collection of the classic scenes from many of their movies. It has the dialog and pictures from the tooty fruity ice cream in "A Day at the Races" to the room packing scene in "A Night at the Opera". It is 288 pages of their greatest scenes.

Book is GREAT,. Alot of laughs,. although not from the book, heres a little bit of Grouchos TV show.

One of my favorite lines that RARELY EVER AIRS.

Groucho is at his desk talking with a lady.

Groucho: "I hear you have 15 children all with the same man"

Lady; "Yes its true,. I have 15 children all with the same man."

Groucho: "Why do you have so many children?" Lady: "because I love my husband"

Groucho, turns, stares at camera for about 15 seconds, then says

"I love cigars, but every once in awhile I take it out of my mouth"

Gee, I wonder what he was refering too.. LOL..

This book contains over 600 carefully selected, cleaned and restored frames from the actual movies, with dialogue captures. A rare find for the true collector.

The Marx Brothers movies are some of the best demonstrations of verbal slapstick ever written and delivered. In this book, some of the best frames from their movies, Cocoanuts, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, Duck Soup, A Night at the Opera, A Day At the Races, At the Circus, Go West and The Big Store are presented. The dialogue associated with the still is included and from it, you can get some of the feel for the verbal bantering that takes place between the characters. While it is impossible for any combination of stills and text to truly capture the action in a Marx Brothers movie, this book comes as close as possible. Reading this book will make you want to rent their movies and watch them once again.

While this book was very useful before you could buy the movies on VHS or DVD, the need for it is somewhere reduced in the 21st century. It is, in essence, a collection of still frames from assorted Marx Brother's movies with some of the dialogue printed beneath the frames.

It is very funny reading and spares you the need to see some of the later films. On the other hand, why not just buy "Duck Soup" and enjoy it first hand?

There is only so much that can be put together and rehashed before it becomes boring to even the most ardent of fans. This book is a compilation of some of their funniest moments in their movies including the famous 'why a duck' scene from 'The Cocoanuts' This book is for the avid Marx Brothers fan who wants to have their famous moments in writing. I was disappointed that it had nothing more than script segments that I already have in other books. Buy this book as a first in your collection, not to finish a collection off.