CriticSociety- film reviews

Review

Horse Feathers

Director

Norman Z. McLeod

Year

1932

Rating

Reviewed by

Gon Curiel a.k.a. Groucho

Review date

Saturday, October 07, 2000

Hey there my friends!!

Here goes my review of one of the Marx Brothers' most memorable pieces of nonsense.

As you may have probably guessed, I'm a huge fan of the Marx Brothers. They were a complete team, a perfect match for one another. In this film, they score again, giving the world more free laughs and uncanny entertainment.

The plot? Professor Quincey Adams Wagstaff (Groucho) is named principal of a school. His first action is quite simple: insulting the trustees with the song "I'm against it." Ha, such a funny song, which also features Wagstaff's son, Frank (Zeppo), in what probably was the funniest Zeppo song ever. Then the song becomes "I always get my man," in which Groucho explains how nobody treats him bad without getting something in return. He insults again but he is praised by everyone.

After that, the lunacy begins as Groucho runs the school through madness. Heck, it's so fun. Professors are insulted, students have some fun. The dialogue is delicious. Harpo's silent action is one of the funniest things throughout.

The speakeasy scene, in which the password is "Swordfish," presents Chico and Harpo, whom are confused by Groucho with two professional football players he wants to hire to beat the rival school. The real players are then hired by the other school, and there is true confusion. The slapstick is inimitable. The comedy is a gem.

The rivalry among the brothers comes when they all fall in love with the same girl, and dedicate "Everyone says I love you" to her in a different way, and with different lyrics. Chico's version is definitely my favorite, especially for the piano solo he plays after that, which not only is great itself, but is in one of the funniest scenes all in all. Later, Harpo plays the song with a harp.

After all the confusion, the film ends with the climatic football game. I don't like football, but I love this scene.

And the very final shot is hilarious.

Try not to miss this film. It's one of their gems, even though it's not remembered as one of their best.

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