<<< December 22, 2005 - January 1, 2006 >>>

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So many wonderful things have regrettably disappeared from pictures today, but perhaps the most baffling one is The Comedy Team. As thick as thieves from the 30’s to the 50’s, they’ve been all but extinct from movie screens since the Eisenhower Administration (not exactly a big bundle of yuks itself). So, to celebrate that golden age of hilarity — and provide a welcome Holiday respite to all those depressing Oscar-wannabes showing everywhere else — we present for your big-screen pleasure, two of the best: one quartet and one trio, with nothing in common but their flawless abilities to reduce you to a helpless puddle of guffaws. (Perhaps a result of their differing roots: the Marx Bros. came from Broadway, the Stooges from vaudeville.) And because these movies were meant to be seen in theatres with an audience, their immaculate timing frequently seems off when watched alone on TV. So forsake your DVD player, come to our all-you-can-laugh buffet and load up your plate…and be sure to bring the kids: they’re probably starved for some real comedy!

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA, 1935, MGM (Warner Bros), 92 min. Dir. Sam Wood. The Marx Brothers’ first film for MGM, first without Zeppo, and their biggest box office hit. Heck, you know the plot, so just enjoy the stateroom scene, the contract routine, and tons of great one-liners. And remember: there ain’t no sanity clause! Numerous writers (many uncredited) include George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind, Al Boasberg and even Buster Keaton. With Kitty Carlisle, Allan Jones, Sig Rumann, Walter Woolf King, and of course, Margaret Dumont.

Friday, December 23 – 7:30 PM

Marx Brothers Double Feature!

AT THE CIRCUS, 1939, MGM (Warners), 87 min. Dir. Edward Buzzell. Groucho Marx aka J. Cheever Loophole, shady lawyer, and pals Antonio (Chico Marx) and Punchy (Harpo Marx) try to save the circus they work for when the naïve young manager, Jeff (Kenny Baker) has the business bankroll stolen by dastardly James Burke. One of the boys’ most underrated films, with priceless scenes (Harpo playing cards with a seal and Chico’s adventures with the midgets to name just two!) Co-starring Florence Rice, Eve Arden (as Peerless Pauline), Margaret Dumont and Fritz Feld.

ANIMAL CRACKERS, 1930, Paramount (Universal), 97 min. Dir. Victor Heerman. The Marx Brothers’ second film finds them running amuck at a swanky Long Island estate where a priceless painting has been stolen. This invaluable record of their last Broadway show features Groucho’s immortal theme song, "Hooray For Captain Spaulding," the classic bridge game and dictating-a-letter routines, and delightful support from the legendary Lillian Roth, plus Louis Sorin, Robert Greig, and of course, Margaret Dumont. Discussion in between films by writer, Irving Brecher (AT THE CIRCUS).

Sunday, December 25 – 5:00 PM

Marx Brothers Double Feature!

HORSE FEATHERS, 1932, Paramount (Universal), 68 min. Dir. Norman Z. McLeod. The Marx Brothers’. zaniest film finds Groucho as the new president of Huxley College, where his son (Zeppo!) is romancing Thelma Todd and Harpo and Chico have to kidnap the star football players from rival Darwin. Co-written by S.J. Perelman, whose literate wordplay makes this a special treat, and containing the classic speakeasy and singing lesson routines. With David Landau, Nat Pendleton and Robert Grieg (for once, not cast as a butler).

A DAY AT THE RACES, 1937, MGM (Warner Bros), 111 min. Dir. Sam Wood. The Marx Brothers’ second (and most expensive) MGM film serves up Groucho as Dr. Hugo Z. Hackenbush, who arouses all sorts of suspicion as the new head of a posh sanitarium—and with good reason: he’s actually a veterinarian! Includes the celebrated "tootsie-fruitsie" and examination routines, and a tremendous cast including Maureen O’Sullivan, Allan Jones, Douglass Dumbrille, Sig Rumann, Esther Muir, and of course, Margaret Dumont.

THE COCOANUTS, 1929, Paramount (Universal), 96 min. Dirs. Robert Florey and Joseph Santley. The Marx Brothers’ very first film finds Groucho trying to save his sinking-fast Florida hotel with the aid of Chico and Harpo, but things don’t go the way he planned (largely thanks to his two crazy helpers). Co-starring Kay Francis, Zeppo Marx and of course Margaret Dumont.

Preceded by the Three Stooges short: "You Nazty Spy!" 1940, Columbia (Sony), 18 min. Dir. Jules White. Anticipating Chaplin’s THE GREAT DICTATOR, The Stooges introduce us to Moe Hailstone, supreme dictator of Moronica. Perhaps their most critically-acclaimed short, this has a slightly surrealist feel that’s rare for the boys; it was the personal favorite of both Moe and producer/director White. With Lorna Gray, Richard Fiske and Don Beddoe.

THE THREE STOOGES MEET HERCULES, 1962, Columbia (Sony), 89 min. Dir. Edward Bernds. Newly Restored 35mm print! The boys are druggists in Ithaca (New York), where pal Quinn Redeker has constructed a time machine — which promptly whisks them all back to Ithaca (Greece). From the BEN-HUR take-offs to the two-headed Cyclops to the droll ribbing of sporting events, this is one of their most consistently amusing features (and Larry’s favorite, despite being knocked unconscious during the chariot chase!), with another solid script by Elwood Ullman.

Preceded by the Three Stooges short: "We Want Our Mummy," 1939, Columbia (Sony), 18 min. Dir. Del Lord. The Stooges are detectives sent to Egypt to recover the mummy of King Rutentuten and the treasure therein. (There’s always treasure hidden somewhere in a Mummy movie.) With Bud Jamison, James C. Morton, Dick Curtis and Ted Lorch.

THE THREE STOOGES’ 70^TH ANNIVOISARY! Columbia (Sony), 106 min. We know, we know, just one at a time ain’t enough, so to commemorate their signing with The Torch Lady in 1934, here are six more Stooge epics to keep you " nyuking " through the holidays!

"Men In Black" (1934, Raymond McCarey) brought them their only Oscar nomination and gave the world "Calling Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard!" "Horses’ Collars" (1935) sends them out west to help a sweet young thing recover the stolen deed to her ranch; their only short directed by the legendary Clyde Bruckman. In "From Nurse To Worse" (1940, Jules White), the only way Curly can get health insurance is if he’s mentally ill, so he acts like a rabid dog! "Squareheads Of The Round Table" (1948, Edward Bernds) finds them as medieval troubadours helping blacksmith Jock Mahoney elope with King Arthur’s daughter…or at least trying to. "An Ache In Every Stake" (1941, Del Lord) is a gag-crammed masterpiece in which they play icemen recruited to cook a last-minute birthday dinner for Vernon Dent. And the quintessential "In The Sweet Pie and Pie" (1941, Jules White) concludes with one of the screen’s all-time colossal pie-fights; there’s also a bunk-bed gag later swiped for THE GREAT ESCAPE. Spread out, knuckleheads!

Sunday, January 1 – 5:00 PM

Marx Brothers Double Feature!

DUCK SOUP, 1933, Paramount (Universal), 68 min. Dir. Leo McCarey. What better way to spend New Years than with the Marx Brothers in the AFI’s #5 Funniest Film (and #1 among movies made before 1959). Groucho is newly-appointed Prime Minister Rufus T. Firefly, who promptly declares war on a neighboring country for no particular reason. (Hmm, sounds vaguely familiar.) This absolutely merciless satire was a flop in its day, but by the 1960’s had taken its place as one of the unconditional giants of film comedy. Written by Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby (who also wrote the songs), Arthur Sheekman and Nat Perrin. With Louis Calhern, Raquel Torres, Charles Middleton, Edgar Kennedy, and of course, Margaret Dumont; it was also Zeppo’s last film.

MONKEY BUSINESS, 1931, Paramount (Universal), 77 min. Dir. Norman Z. McLeod. The Marx Brothers’ first original screenplay — by S.J. Perelman and an uncredited Ben Hecht, among others — is perhaps their most bizarre (and the only one in which they have no character names). They’re stowaways on an ocean liner, wreaking havoc and getting mixed up with rival gangsters as well as Thelma Todd. Includes the famous scene where all four try to get through customs by pretending to be Maurice Chevalier. With Rockliffe Fellows, Harry Woods, Ruth Hall and Tom Kennedy (no relation to Edgar).

An Aero Theatre Exclusive!