Lost Treasure #3: Marx Brothers & Minnie’s Boys (Updated!)

So unless you’ve been living under, as they say, a rock, you’ll know our country’s facing serious troubles right now. Unemployment is the worst it’s been in years, with career fair lines stretching around the corner, eerily reminiscent of the bread lines of the 1930’s Great Depression. No, we’re not quite that bad off yet (::knock wood and thank God::). Still, Americans have every right and reason to be nervous, and feel betrayed by their government, not to mention the wealthier class.

According to the newspapers, Americans are diligently sending out their resumes and cover letters, only to find that millions of other Americans are too. Competition is stiff, to say the least. The present we live in is full of uncertainty and resentment. And the present is really all we have. Americans everywhere are asking, what will we do?

Fortunately the present has a friend, called the past, to learn from. Eighty years ago (not so long ago in the grand scheme really), we faced the same fear and uncertainty when the stock market crashed in 1929. People turned to a lot of things to escape the Great Depression, but by far the most remembered is the entertainment.

Is it really a coincidence that the time of the Great Depression was also the Golden Age of Hollywood? Not really, when you consider the intricacies of human nature. Why do we enjoy movies? More importantly, when do we enjoy them? When things are good? Well occasionally yes. But on the other hand, when things are good, we have family and friends to hang out with. We have jobs to go to and ways to keep busy. Movies are then just the background soundtrack of our lives. In reality, I think we mainly seek entertainment when things are at their worst.

When lonely, we turn to fictional characters to keep us company. When feeling the pains of injustice, we watch socially conscious movies to motivate us. When depressed, we look to comedy to make us laugh. As the documentary Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? put it, “The lean, mean 30’s when America laughed…to keep from crying!”

And is it also a coincidence that 1929 also saw the beginning of the film careers of The Marx Brothers? The zany comedy quartet took on the pompous, greedy establishment of the 1930s, not only with their biting yet witty remarks, but with their ability to laugh gleefully in the face of their troubles.

Author Glenn Mitchell once explained that the brothers’ films reflected the different ways audiences responded to the Great Depression as the years went by, going from intellectual cynicism to cheerful rebellion. In the beginning, audiences sought to voice their resentment towards the establishment (which the Marx Brothers were very adept at doing!). But as things began to improve and people just wanted to be cheered up “it made better economic sense for comedians to be lovable, rather than the hard boiled cynics they’d been…” No matter what the state of affairs, The Marx Brothers were truly the perfect comedians for the turbulent 30’s.

While many critics view the brothers’ change in attitude on film as a problem, I personally see it as a strength. Groucho Marx often said that he and his brothers wished to reach a broad audience with their work. And with their films they managed to inspire everyone affected by the Depression, from the disillusioned artists to the disenfranchised laborers. Eighty years later, the Marx Brothers’ humor and remarks on society are still fresh…and we need them more than ever.

In 1970, the musical Minnie’s Boys was created, based on the brothers’ early careers and the inspiration of their ambitious but loving mother Minnie. Back when the brothers were Julie (short for Julius), Leo, Adolph and Herbie, instead of Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo. 

I call Minnie’s Boys a “Lost Treasure” because unfortunately the show failed to find an audience at the time for a variety of reasons. Today it’s very difficult to find an inexpensive CD of the soundtrack. Still, don’t think that means it’s not worth seeing. Having had the pleasure to see one of a three-night production of the show at The York Theatre a few months ago, I can assure you this was not the case. The actors portraying the brothers and their mother were both witty and heartfelt. You laughed with them, felt their pain and cheered them on from beginning to end.

Not only did it feel as though I were witnessing a new Marx Brothers movie, but for the first time I got to experience them in what was probably their best venue, the stage. For the Brothers truly are meant to be seen with a loud, cheerful and very satisfied audience. : D

Of course, it also had the drawback of the stage, in that I could not take the show home with me on DVD. Still, perhaps the gods of classic comedy were trying to teach me a lesson we all could use in these modern times–enjoy the moment. Even without DVDs, I’ll never forget the experience. If you have a chance to see a production near you, I highly recommend. ;) 

Just a few updated notes here, Groucho (at this point still named Julie) was played as a sort of long-suffering, frustrated, brooding intellectual. Nursing unlikely dreams of becoming a doctor, Julie is forever embarrassed by his lot in life as a Vaudeville performer, subject to the boos and hisses of fickle audiences and the tyranny of theatrical big wigs.

At one point, Julie and his brothers are forced to make a hasty and humorous retreat from a burly bully, taking a quick detour through a stage show already in progress. Trying to crouch out of sight, Julie, quite unintentionally, creates the famous “Groucho walk” in the process!  The incident is later mistaken for a comedy routine and a theater manager urges the boys to add some funny to their act. Mr. Theater Manager particularly urges Julie to include that hilarious “walk you do.” Young Julie is decidedly not amused!

Still, by the end, Julie finally embraces his comedic destiny. In creating his soon-to-be famous screen character, Julie cheerfully brainstorms, “Ok, I’ll walk with a crouch!”, sarcastically adding, “Ya know…the ‘walk I do.’ ” ; )

Over the course of the play, we come to understand the source of at least some of Julie’s tension. Older brother Leo is a charming yet all too frequently absent figure in their lives, too busy placing bets and chasing the chicks (hence his soon-to-be moniker, Chico). An attractive female presenter is all the motivation Leo needs to abruptly abandon his brothers on stage, two seconds before their first number!

It’s not really that Leo’s bad, just clearly very coddled by his doting mother Minnie, who finds every reason to excuse or ignore his irresponsible behavior. His uncanny ability to turn up prospects and faithfully bolster the brothers’ career also serves to distract from his annoying habit of losing the family’s money (and at times their clothes) in gambling sprees. Still you genuinely feel the family’s continual frustration and disappointment, familiar to any parent or sibling dealing with the pains of addiction.

Leo’s undeniable loyalty to the group is proven yet again in the end as he arranges their comeback performance; but sadly his gambling issue is never really resolved (as it never really was in real life). What comes to mind here is a comment made by one Marx Brothers fan on the website FindaGrave.com. Sort of a virtual cemetery to pay your respects to the dearly departed, including public figures. This fan’s tribute to Leonard “Chico” Marx reads: “I am so sorry your life was marred by gambling and you may have been able to live better than you did. I hope you are at peace and away from the bookies!” I think most Marx Brothers fans would concur. : )

Minnie’s Boys makes it clear the brothers Marx never had success handed to them. They struggled for years to stay afloat in Vaudeville, their career marked with letdowns, setbacks and disappointments. Coming from humble beginnings, they didn’t have much to lean on when things got tough. All they really had was their family, their individual unique talents and, as I said, the ability to keep going and laugh at their troubles.

I was fortunate enough to find a relatively inexpensive record album of the original Minnie’s Boys soundtrack (thanks Amazon!). I’d like to share a couple of the more memorable songs. The first number comes at a point where the boys have missed out on a great opportunity and are left stuck in a boarding house with no income, less food and even less hope.

Here the boys glumly reflect on the qualities that make each of them special and unique, and should make them successful.  But they are just kidding themselves. They were foolish to think brains, talent, looks, humor and chutzpah matter anything in this world. As they cynically observe, despite all the gifts they possess, they “blew the one thing you need to get by.” Namely, that elusive thing known as luck.

Anyone who has ever job hunted can identify with their pain. How many job seekers sent out solid, eye catching, even ideal resumes, only to have them discarded for simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time? And in an economic recession, the challenges become even more formidable. Here now, the young Marx Brothers voice the frustration of job hunters everywhere who send out their resumes time and again to rejection, and wonder…

Where Was I When They Passed Out the Luck?

Adolf/Harpo: Just think…a few more months and we might have played at The Palace.

Leo/Chico: Yeah, and Mom had to louse it up…Of all the dirty rotten luck!

Julie/Groucho: Is there any other kind?….Where was I when they passed out brains? Right at the head of the line! Where was I when they passed out talent? Right up front in line! But when it came to the line where they handed out the luck, where was your smart, clever friend? Back showing off his talent and brains to the bums lining up at the end!

Herbie/Zeppo: Where was I when they passed out looks? Needless to say I was there. Who’ll deny in the charm department, Herbie got more than his share? But when the time rolled around and they handed out the luck, where was your good looking clown? Out trying out my profile and charm on a girl in a neighboring town!

Adolph/Harpo: We all got a great sense of humor…

All: Ah ha ha…

Adolph/Harpo: …the day they were passing the pot. We all got a great sense of humor.

All: Ah ha ha….And we need all we got!

Leo/Chico: Where was I when they passed out guts? Mister, I opened the store! I’m the guy who invented chutzpah, show me a guy who’s got more! But when they yelled, ‘Get yer luck cause it’s running out fast! Step up and get your supply!’ Me with my guts and chutzpah…

Julie/Groucho: And me with my brains and talent…

Herbie/Zeppo: And me with my charm and profile…

Adolph/Harpo: And ha ha ha…

All: …Blew the one thing you need to get by! Where was I? Where was I? Where was I?

Music by Larry Grossman. Lyrics by Hal Hackady. Original album: Music Publisher: Sunbeam Music, Inc./BMI/A Metromedia Company. Copyright 1970 Project 3 The Total Sound Inc. 1270 Avenue of the Americas/New York 10020.

What I love most about the Marx Brothers’ films is that the brothers aren’t impervious to trouble.  Despite their bravado and fierce independence, things don’t always go well for them. Nor are they entirely unsympathetic when an innocent is suffering. In their films there is always a bully somewhere to pick on the weak. And many fans insist the brothers’ greatest strength, whether on stage, film or real life, is their ability to remain tough and cheerful despite the cares of the world. When you think about it, it takes more guts to be optimistic when things look bleak, than it does to be a downer.

In Minnie’s Boys once again, the family must decide to take a risk in order to get their careers back on track. Nothing is certain. They may fall flat on their faces. On the other hand, they might get back up only to become the best classic comedians of all time! Here, their mother Minnie insists life is worth living, and success is worth obtaining, even if you must suffer a bit on your way there. In the same way, job hunters might suffer rejection again and again, but taking a chance on just one more application could mean the difference between success and failure. Perhaps this job will go through! And if it doesn’t, hey you’ve still got your solid resume! There will always be troubles in life, recession or no. What matters is how you chose to deal with them. You can let them defeat you…or you can laugh them gleefully in the face. : D

One final number from that Lost Treasure Minnie’s Boys, as Mama encourages her boys to just…

Be Happy

Minnie: It’s your life, not my life. You have to live it, not me. All I want, all I ever wanted, is for all my boys to be…happy. Life’s a beautiful mess, but live and nevertheless, be happy. Life is full of regrets, but let’s forget ‘em and let’s be happy. Life’s a joke but you know, the laugh’s on all of us so be happy, happy. You can like it or not, but a lifetime’s all that you got to live.

Time keeps ticking away and soon we all gotta pay the piper. People starve on the route because they wait till the fruit is sweeter, riper. Life’s the bat of an eye. You’re born, you life and you die, so be happy. Look, you never could tell, why you’re here might as well be happy. If life is a mistake, it’s one we all gotta make, be happy, happy. Life is over before you get your foot in the door, my sons.

So go and blow your balloon and never worry how soon you’ll break it! Life’s the shell or the nut, it all depends upon what you make it. One thing everyone knows, you get a thorn with the rose so take it, take it. Life is little to spare, find your happiness where you can. Find your happiness where you can…

Adolph/Harpo: Life’s a pie in the face, but getting hit’s no disgrace, be happy.

Herbie/Zeppo: Life’s a song and a dance, come on and give it a chance, be happy.

Leo/Chico: Life’s a toss of the dice, you want a gambler’s advice? Be happy, happy.

Herbie/Zeppo: Life is all that we got, but that’s a hell of a lot, my friends.

All: Let’s go and blow our balloon and never worry how soon we’ll break it! Life’s the shell or the nut, it all depends upon what you make it. One thing everyone knows, you get the thorn with the rose. But take it, take it. Life is little to spare, find your happiness where you can. Find your happiness where you can.

Music by Larry Grossman. Lyrics by Hal Hackady. Original album: Music Publisher: Sunbeam Music, Inc./BMI/A Metromedia Company. Copyright 1970 Project 3 The Total Sound Inc. 1270 Avenue of the Americas/New York 10020.

While we’re waiting for things to cool down in the present, let’s take a cue from 1930s Americans, who sought and found their refuge in the sometimes sad, sometimes funny, always entertaining silver screen.

Mitchell, Glen. Commentary from A Day at the Races DVD. MGM 1937. Warner Home Video 2004.