Product Details

• Directors: Richard Patterson
• Format: NTSC
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• DVD Release Date: May 14, 2004
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1559746718
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,867 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

The Washington Post

Madly enjoyable. It is all but impossible to love the Marx Brothers and not enjoy this show.

Product Description

From Robert Weide, the filmmaker of "W.C. Fields Straight Up", comes THE MARX BROTHERS IN A NUTSHELL, a fascinating look at the most beloved comedy team in motion picture history. Exclusive interviews with those closest to the brothers supplement this collection of highlights from their film, theater, and television appearances and offer a compelling look at their lives both on and off-screen. The generous use of rare and unreleased film and TV clips provides new insights for even the well-versed Marx Brothers fax. This definitive documentary begins its study with the Marx family vaudeville act and follows through to their final television work; including clips from Groucho's popular TV show "You Bet Your Life." Fellow comedians and collaborators including Woody Allen, Dick Cavett, George Fennemann, Robert Klein, and David Steinberg examine the hard work and perfectionism that put these comic masters at the top of their game. Using rarely-seen footage derived from their original Broadway hit "I'll Say She Is", and highlights from their best film, home movies and newsreels, this film enlightens as it entertains. A tribute to Hollywood's funniest brothers, THE MARX BROTHERS IN A NUTSHELL is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in these remarkable forerunners of modern screen comedy.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Marx Brothers doc EVER!!, August 2, 2005

By 

Funeegrl (Glendale, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell (DVD)

I don't mean to get personal here, but I can't figure out what's wrong with that last reviewer. Among Marx Brothers fans, it's hardly controversial that "Nutshell" is far and away the best documentary on the Marx boys. In fact, when this film first aired on PBS (I was 12), it made me a lifelong fan. I had this film on VHS for years and was SO happy when it finally came out on DVD last year. No Marx fan should be without it.

Regarding the last reviewer, I wonder if he got ahold of some weird re-edited bootleg. First of all, the "chapters" on the individual brothers only comprise the opening minutes of the show, and it's a brilliant way to familiarize you with their individual personalities, before launching into the chronology of their stage, film and TV career. The weirdest thing he complained about was the repetition of clips. I know this film backwards and forwards and I challenge anyone to find ONE CLIP that repeats itself. There aren't any! What was he watching?? Then he goes on to recommend "Inside the Marx Brothers"?? Ecchhh. Scratchy clips from trailers, re-hashed photos, interviews with meaningless subjects, and NO production value. "Nutshell" was produced when key witnesses were still alive: writers(Morrie Ryskind, Robert Pirosh, Irving Brecher), co-stars, family members. Even George Fenneman from "You Bet Your Life," Dick Cavett & Woody Allen.

This film was obviously authorized by the surviving Marx family, and the filmmakers had access to clips from all their best films, as well as rare clips I've never seen anywhere else. They also let the scenes play out, instead of just excerpting a few seconds for the short-attention-span crown. Most of the prints are beautiful... in pristine condition.

If you look at the credits, the writer and editor was Joe Adamson who wrote the best book on the Marx Brothers ("Groucho, Harpo, Chico & Sometimes Zeppo") and the producer is Robert Weide, the same guy who directs "Curb Your Enthusiasm." According to the IMBd, he's won 3 Emmys and was nominated for an Oscar for a Lenny Bruce documentary. The narrator is movie legend Gene Kelly.

Looking for the one documentary to own on the Marx Brothers? Is this the one? You bet your life! (P.S.: There's a reason this one is more expensive than the other Marx docs: It's WORTH it!)

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Marx DVD Bio Around..., July 10, 2004

By 

Scott "tenaciouscrossfire" (Hazleton, PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell (DVD)

This DVD is fantastic. Of the three Marx Brothers Bio DVD's around (the others being the very good "The Unknown Marx Brothers" & the decent "Inside the Marx Brothers"), "The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell" is definatly the best one. The only down side is that it does not contain any interviews with Marx Brothers themselves (all the interviews are done by Marx family & friends), and there are not DVD extras. But, the DVD itself is just terrific, all great interviews, long clips from their classic movies. It's over and hour and a half long and even though I've seen the movies countless times, I still can't stop laughing at the scenes. This was a PBS special from 1982 I believe their is some new footage added to this DVD. A must for any Marx Brothers fan, and although this may be a bit pricey here on Amazon, believe me it's worth it!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Welcome return to catalogue for the BEST Marx Documentary, January 22, 2004

By 

A LISTER (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This excellent documentary on The Marx Brothers has been unavailable for many years and makes a welcome return. Dating from the early 80's it contains numerous film clips as well as many excellent interviews with surviving collaborators and family members, all of which are relevant and revealing. If you have read Joe Adamson's 'Groucho, Harpo, Chico & sometimes Zeppo' book and share my opinion that is the best book ever written on the Marx's film work, then you'll be pleased to know that Adamson was the key player in this project.

My only minor criticism is that the documentary largely dismisses the Marx Brothers later work. It's true that The Marx's last 'great' film was 'A Day at the Races' but even their weaker, later films contain some fine moments that sadly don't feature here.

If you count yourself as a serious or even semi-serious Marx fan and haven't already seen this documentary then please do so immediately. I promise you won't be disappointed...