I assume that the scene where a bunch of black people sing at the stable in some way deals with the situation of the black community at that time. I couldn't follow the lyrics, cause english is not my first language. Can anyone comment on it?
Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.
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The stereotypes are painful, but the number is so good and the performers so talented that it remains a guilty pleasure of mine.
shareFor 1937, this was pretty progressive. At the time, the roles for most blacks were domestics, slaves, or parts in all-black movies like "Cabin in the Sky" or "Hallelujah". The musical number was most likely added to give about 100 black actors, singers, musicians, and dancers a few days income during a time when film work was probably very difficult to find. This wasn't the only Marx Brothers movie to have a largely black cast do a song and dance number. They could have easily removed these numbers which would have prevented possibly a couple hundred black performers from having an income and the credits.
Yeah, take a long look at some of the cast in this film and you'll see why this scene is so good performance-wise. There are a number of very talented performers in this scene. GO LOOK at the cast. Thanks.
This whole scene showing their bearing up under hard times is totally sympathetic (if a bit cloying to modern eyes) and mirrors the main characters' situation at that point, as well as lots of 1930s moviegoers'.
I never cared for the musical numbers (that the brothers aren't directly involved in) in MGM's Marx films, but this is a shining exception. Black talent was criminally underrepresented in these old movies, and Ivey Anderson, the Crinoline Choir, Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, and that big fat dude totally clear my head of the Dudley Do-Right warblings of Allan Jones.
Please tell me what was so "painful" about the stereotypes? I always hear this and wonder why it is any more stereotypical than the ways Italians and Irish were represented in those days. Or even Sig Ruman as an Austrian.
Many poor blacks of the time dressed and lived in conditions like those portrayed. To me, the supposed stereotypes are portrayed as poor people who found great joy in music and dancing. What is so "painful" about that?
And lets not forget, this was a musical comedy so "reality" was not at the forefront of Hollywood's creative process.
Lets stop all the politically correct platitudes and enjoy the music and talents of these great black performers.
Many poor blacks of the time dressed and lived in conditions like those portrayed. To me, the supposed stereotypes are portrayed as poor people who found great joy in music and dancing. What is so "painful" about that?I agree completely.
I agree with this post. The painful" parts of the movie were the technically good, but plain vanilla boring Allan Jones pieces.
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The stereotypes are indeed painful yet much in keeping with the times, alas. The crap-shootin' and eyeball rolling, etc. and the dancing with hands in the air are very stereotyped "minstrel" style portrayals of African Americans. Yes, there were stereotypes of Italians, Irish, Germans, and others in films of the '30s. But with blacks there was never anything to balance or off-set the ugly images. There was no James Cagney or Spencer Tracy like the Irish had, for instance. There were just a lot of maids and mammies and comic relief dancers.
shareI don't know what all you liberals are complaining about. The blacks in that scene come across as being a lot brighter than the halfbreed black Kenyan communist roach now infesting the White House.
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I wonder if you have the courage to go to the White House and call him that ypurself, Yellowblood.
shareI wonder if you have the courage to go to the White House and call him that ypurself, Yellowblood.
I think your comments are very appropriate. We have to remember the setting.
And, this was for entertainment.
Please tell me what was so "painful" about the stereotypes? I always hear this and wonder why it is any more stereotypical than the ways Italians and Irish were represented in those days.
<and that big fat dude totally clear my head of the Dudley Do-Right warblings of Allan Jones.>
Another thing I noticed was they repeated this ' Harpo goes shucking and jiving with the black folk' in the Circus movie as well.
"Pffft, my suspension of disbelief has higher standards than that"
I've just returned from a screening of DAY AT THE RACES at the Alex Theatre Film Society in Glendale. What a joy to find that the film is still a laugh-packed crowd pleaser in a big theater with a young audience. In addition to Marx grandchildren, two special guests were one of the "Rhythm" dancers, now 91 years old and full of life, and the grandson of the fat guy who danced the split, proud of his family's three generations of SAG cards.
There was no race consciousness in the hall, just pride in the preservation of a lot of extraordinary, joy-filled talent.
That sounds like a wonderful evening! I'm still waiting for "Hellzapoppin'" to show up somewhere so I can see Whitey's Lindy Hoppers in another high-production movie - footage of these folks is a rare and valuable resource.
Also, I'm glad to see the (unnamed) fat guy get the notice he so richly deserves. He totally rules.
1936 was before my time as a moviegoer (Even the Marx Brothers would hardly amuse a three-year-old) but a lot of the black representation in those days showed advancement in portrayal of Blacks. Remember that some of the earliest representations were as villainous characters.
I'm the kind of guy, when I move - watch my smoke. But I'm gonna need some good clothes though.
I'm Black American and I liked that scene. However, the black characters were overly happy and the blackface part didn't help much, but considering that this was filmed in 1937, I enjoyed it, especially Ivy Anderson, Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, the fat guy dancing, glimpses of Dorothy and Vivian Dandridge and Ivy Anderson. It showcased the talents of the Black characters very well.
share'the blackface part didn't help much, but considering that this was filmed in 1937, '
I don't think that part was designed to be derogatory or a joke on black people but to show how the stupid authorities (who were searching for the three brothers) fail to see beyond skin colour. The joke is on the authorities, not on black people.
Regarding the song track, I absolutely loved it and I don't think it was wrong or painful in portraying them as poor.
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It was unexpected, but it jumped off the screen. Much of the sting from these scenes has withered away over the years I imagine. I hope so.
"Hot sun, cool breeze, white horse on the sea, and a big shot of vitamin B in me!"share
Interestingly, I recall that TV prints of this in the 70s would often have the entire shanty scene deleted.
shareI wouldn't be surprised. I don't remember it, but I was just a kid.
I like movies from the 30s a great deal, but the stereotypical characters for blacks and Asians always left me cold.
But now it doesn't seem so pernicious to me as much as it seems kind of ignorant, myopic and unsophisticated.
"Hot sun, cool breeze, white horse on the sea, and a big shot of vitamin B in me!"share
Nothing is said about the paychecks!? I'm sure all the black actors were glad to be working! A job, any job was a godsend in the aftermath of the Great Depression!! Those people that took the lesser roles were the smart ones, earning a living for themselves and their families!!
shareI always thought this was intentional -- that "A Day at the Races" was a double entendre meant to shine a light on race segregation, and the Marx Brothers and Irving Thalberg were geniuses enough to make it look like entertainment while showing their audience that there was another side of the tracks.
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Unless African-Americans singing jazz is offensive, nothing about that scene was racist. And the Marx Brothers putting mud on their faces IS NOT racist, because they were trying to disguise themselves, and did so in a humurous way.
shareMany movies in the 40's when I was growing up had stereotypes, and as a kid I laughted at scenes that struck me as funny, but they never affected my feelings toward blacks at the time. I was friendly with several who were in my school and certainly never considered them inferior or even different from me.
Life, every now and then, behaves as though it had seen too many bad movies
the Marx Brothers putting mud on their faces IS NOT racist, because they were trying to disguise themselves, and did so in a humurous way.
Gee, I dunno. Lets see. You need to remember you were watching a COMEDY. A MUSICAL COMEDY at that. Adn how's 'bout this one. The Marx's Brothers in themselves were portrayed how ? Pretty flattering for all 4 of them huh!
shareDon't forget that to the Politically Correct, comedy ITSELF is wrong. Their philosophy is that people should not watch movies but use their time for socially constructive causes.
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