7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A sporadically good showcase, but mostly for completists, May 6, 2007
This review is from: Marx Bros.: Go West/The Big Store (DVD)
There are Marx Brothers Classics out there and Go West isn't one of them, although longtime afficionados who must have read negative reviews of their latter films somewhere along the way, might be very surprised at the number of clever, successful gags, and energetic performances by the comedy legends.
The somewhat complicated plot (feature comedies in the '40s were big on plots with bad guys and young lovers who are threatened by them and seek the aide of the starring comedy team) involving the search for gold, land deeds, corrupt sheriffs, and a few other things, actually involves the stars (they're not used as "comic relief", a typical device of the times).
The problem is that the good stuff sometimes over-milked, for example, the climactic scene of the Marxs' attempt to keep the train chugging by breaking up the train into little pieces and tossing them into the engine, needed a strong comedy director and editor to keep it from getting tiresome.
There's an entertaining musical number near the end of the film in which Groucho sings and plays guitar - always fun for the fans. Unlike the scene in "Horse Feathers" in which Groucho sings and plays for Thelma Todd, unfortunately the booming baritone of John Carroll is also heard, along with Chico, and a great chance is lost. Okay, Carroll is the handsome co-lead (?) but the credits list GM first, and let's assume that most fans paid to watch Mr. Marx. [Speaking of production numbers, in the 1947 "Copacabana" with Groucho, at center stage he performs a number originally written for Go West!].
Of course, there are depressing aspects to this film, which can be expected for the period - a sequence in which the boys and the lovers stop off on the trail on a Native American "reservation", and, hence, the stereotypically cliched dialogue and situations. However, something miraculous happens, Harpo happens upon a stringed object, transforms it into a harp and plays in duet with the "Chief", who plays a woodwind instrument - it's actually a great scene, which fades with the latter placing his hand gently on Harpo's shoulder. One of those rare, touching moments; the brothers were quite capable of injecting pathos into the proceedings when the moment was right.
The Big Store is contemporary - this time the Marxs' help the lovers retain a huge department store, despite tentative credentials as store detectives. Here's another one which has some good bits and pieces, contrary to the generaln consensus of film critics. We don't have over-milked gags as much as one lost opportunity after another; some of that disappointment actually due to the fact that surreal comedy was really a thing of the past by 1941. For example, in The Big Store we find Groucho asleep in the bed department. The effect is ruined by one of the supporting actors prefacing the scene with mention that Mr. Flywheel was up all night examining the books and it was okay for him to sleep there. Another scene has Harpo dressed in Revolutionary War era attire and playing the harp in duet with himself - a beautifully crafted scene. But, alas, it was in his imagination.
Margaret Dumont is on hand and she's always a pleasure to watch - she's given some decent dialogue in a typically wild courtship scene with you know who.
Both Go West and The Big Store have plenty of music, and that's not a negative, as they successfully showcase the performing talents of the Marxes. It's really astonishing to note that they could perform all kinds of comedy, plus play classical music quite impressively, even kick up their heels - Flywheel's dance moves are absolutely balletic in the otherwiseoverdrawn, impossible "Sing While You Sell" number. The viewer/fan can make up his/her mind with both entries as to whether they're watching a musical comedy, a comedy with music, a comedy, or....the Marx Brothers. For deep fans there will be a plethora of coulda-shoulda(s) - both features are in a completely different cosmos from "Duck Soup". DVD Extra Features are entertaining for both fan and historian, including an apparent radio promo/sketch for Go West.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Comedy!!!, October 10, 2008
This review is from: Marx Bros.: Go West/The Big Store (DVD)
Go West- I'm glad I watched 'A Night at the Opera' because that caused me to want to watch more Marx Brothers movies! Groucho is my favorite, because he's always hilarious in a stressful situation! Groucho plays an embezzler named S. Quentin Quale, who tries to rip off Joseph and Rusty Panello at the train station. Later, they all work together and stop a greedy rich man from building a town on an old man's land. The Marx Brothers help get the deed back and stop the bad guy. I love the awesome show-down on the train and how they tear up the entire framework for more firewood. If you love classic comedy, and The Marx Brothers, you'll love GO WEST!!!
The Big Store- The Marx Brothers get better everytime I see them! Groucho plays out-of-work Detective Wolf J. Flywheel who has been hired to go to The Phelps Department Store and protect Tommy Rogers from being killed. Wolf gets help from Wacky and Ravelli. I thought it was awesome toward the end when they all go through the store on roller skates, trying to stop a bad guy from getting evidence that shows he's tring to kill Tommy. If you love classic comedy, and the Marx Brothers, you'll love THE BIG STORE!!!
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