Full Marx – 10 – Go West

Hello, fellow Marxists! This week Ian and Dave sit patiently through the Marx Brothers’ Go West – a film some feel is the best of the late period MGM films; others say, “Meh”. Where do Ian and Dave fall in this controversy? Well, give this podcast a listen and all will be made clear…as mud.

15 thoughts on “Full Marx – 10 – Go West”

  1. Re: Groucho’s name “S. Quentin Quale”

    This is a reference to the term “San Quentin Quail” which is slang for a girl under the legal age of consent, leading to jail. As in, “Don’t even think about getting into her pants, because she’s a San Quentin quail.”

    Seems pretty dicey at best for a Groucho name, and that’s taking into consideration “Ronald Kornblow” soon to make it’s appearance in “A Night in Casablanca.”

  2. Just a note that Groucho’s character name is one that I can’t believe the Breen Office passed. It’s a joke about “San Quentin Quail,” aka underaged girls.

  3. My first viewed Marx movie around age 10-12. I loved the dialog as well as the action paced finale of fine physical gags. Then it was “Races” with similarities but real polish and budget.
    Then in 1981 I viewed a new years eve TV mararthon. The Coconuts to Duck Soup. I then discovered a whole new style in contrast to MGM.
    More theatrical to unrelentingly farcical.
    Thanks for your finely researched podcast about “Growcho, Cheeeko, Herpo” and plain old Zeppo”

  4. Great podcast series, guys! I look forward every fortnight to a new edition.

    I was surprised you didn’t mention the two gags that are my favorites:

    1. Harpo gets so excited at Chico’s piano playing that he hops up-and-down in his seat and then tries to strangle a neighboring woman when he loses control of his unbridled excitement.

    2. During the train destruction finale, Groucho notices the femme-fatale out of the corner of his eye and says “hello” to without once breaking his stride.

    These two gags kill me every time.

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