MovieChat Forums > Go West (1940) Discussion > Go West is great, no!?!?!?!

Go West is great, no!?!?!?!

posted 17 years ago by robbie711
22 replies | jump to latest

Who likes this period!
I think this was the first Marx film I saw and I loved it ever since.
I mean I went on to "discover", in rough order, A Night at the Opera (1935), Duck Soup (1933), Animal Crackers (1930), Horse Feathers (1932), A Night in Casablanca (1946), At the Circus (1939), Monkey Business (1931), A Day at the Races (1937), The Big Store (1941), The Coconuts (1929) when I was about 12ish - 15ish.
and finally Room Service (1938) about three years ago when I was 20.
I am 23 now and still regard "Go West" (1940) as the start of it all for me.
I love this film and it will always be near and dear to me, I know every line and still laugh at the gags.

I am watching it right now as a matter for the fact.

Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang.....there's your seventy...don't bother counting it.....bang, bang, bang.....

hilarious

They are a big part why I went into film.

"I can see a light burning in the window"
"No you can't, the gas company turned it off"

[–] cass0106 17 years ago

I think there's something about the first Marx brothers' movie you see. My first was Duck Soup and A Night at the Opera. I could watch them all day long.

'To the great state of Louisiana....'

[–] thebrow88 14 years ago

I had no idea who the Marx Brothers were until a couple years ago. I had heard the name Groucho Marx thrown around now and then, but as for Chico and Harpo, I was clueless. One day, I went to the library and saw their Silver Screen Collections movies, and my dad had talked about them a few times, so I picked up "Animal Crackers" and "Horse Feathers" for him. I was curious, so I watched Animal Crackers with him, and thought it was one of the funniest moves I had ever seen. It still is to date. Animal Crackers and Night at the Opera, which was probably the 4th or 5th of their films I saw, are definitely my favorites.
Duck Soup is often regarded as their masterpiece...it's funny, but there were no Chico or Harpo songs, which I love to watch.

[–] Strazdamonas 13 years ago

You may have got something there. My first one was Anima Crackers and i think its the best of them all.

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"Common sense is not so common."
- Voltaire

[–] Divtal-1 17 years ago

This was the first Marx Brothers film that I remember seeing on TV. I was about 9, and it was many decades ago. I haven't seen it since, but I have gone on to become a BIG MB fan.

For several years, I have run (rented) MB films on New Year's Eve. Very few are available for rent now...I guess because there's little demand for them at "Blockbuster," and "Hollywood," which have purged their video collection, in favor of DVD's.

I finally decided to buy a MB collection, and Go West, is on it. I can't wait for tomorrow night.

[–] robbie711 17 years ago

one thing is for sure. Go West is very under appreciated.

"I can see a light burning in the window"
"No you can't, the gas company turned it off"

[–] jpaulgagen 16 years ago

Go West and At the Circus were my introductions the the brothers Marx.

I regard them with great affection, although they're not in the same league as Night at the Opera, Horse Feathers and Animal Crackers.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] robbie711 16 years ago

Penello: You count good but where's the change?

"I can see a light burning in the window"
"No you can't, the gas company turned it off"

[–] Magenta_Bob 16 years ago

It's actually one of my least favourites, which doesn't mean it´s bad though

[–] guns_n_roses8487 16 years ago

This film was pitiful. TERRIBLE jokes, actually hang on, the jokes were pretty much non existent. All three of them looked incredibly bored and unchallenged. And no wonder, with a script like this. And to make matter worse, it went on forever and a day. I'm a huge fan of the Marx bros early to mid 1930's work, but I personally draw the line after 'At The Circus'. Groucho looked old and tired and sick of playing the same character, IMO. Sometimes it's better to stop when you're on top, that way fans always remember the best of you.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] speedolitec 13 years ago

I love it man. Anything the Marx Brothers are in I will watch. The only one I didn't like was "The Big Store" and I've still seen it at least three times.

Same here. I'm not even really sure anymore which is the first Marx Brothers movie I saw, since I've been watching them for pretty much my whole life (so far, anyway).

[–] liutenantsalt 15 years ago

>>Groucho looked old and tired and sick of playing the same character, IMO. Sometimes it's better to stop when you're on top, that way fans always remember the best of you. <<

Except that he went on to 'play' the character for many years after in television, in person and on film and people still remember the best of him.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] philkronenberg 7 years ago

I wouldn't say pitiful but I know what you mean. Laurel and Hardy's decline was harder to watch but this film is certainly stale by earlier standards.

As usual, it was populated by unlikeable young lovers

[–] marktayloruk (2375) 2 years ago

Groucho turning sentimental- mistake

[–] steveicm 13 years ago

This is my favorite Marx Brothers film ! I first discovered this film when I was 23 years old (1989). I was working in a detox unit. A bunch of patients were watching late night television (these guys were all sick from drawl symptoms
and needed a good laugh).I remembered my mother always loved the Marx Brothers. So I decided to watch for a few moments. Harpo did an amazing stunt that made every guy in the room burst out laughing! It was the part where the barn house is stuck on the front of the moving train, it's headed straight towards Harpo ! Harpo simply opens the front door (as the train passes) then closes the back door. He was left standing completely unscathed. It was incredible! I have no idea how they did that stunt. Especially back in 1940! Does anyone know where I can find out more ?
I'm a Cinemajunkie !

[–] Henry J Sosenite 12 years ago

Great, indeed. I've yet to watch a Marx Brothers movie I didn't love (Duck Soup, Day at the Races, Night at the Opera, and Go West). I don't understand how anyone could love three of those movies and not the fourth; but I've seen people on some of the other boards singling out Marx Bros. movies as "worse" than the others. Imbelievable!

I'm the smartest guy around: http://meonvarioustopics.blogspot.com

[–] philkronenberg 8 years ago

Easy question with an easier answer. Dreary romantic subplot with boring lovers makes Go West the weakest of the 4. Fewer writers make the material more feeble too

[–] dieBartdie 12 years ago

My dad introduced me to them when I was rather young. 8-9ish I guess? I don't remember the first movies I saw but I think it was something like Go West –
Monkey Business – The Big Store - A Night at the Opera - At the Circus. The "Timberrr!!!" scene with the train ride in Go West ranks at the top of my all time favorite movie scenes. I laughed my ass off at that scene as a kid and maybe it's a nostalgia trigger but dammit– I still do!

[–] MrBullo 11 years ago

My first was "Ä Night at the Opera"and it is probably my favorite. But I like them all.

What a shame that Queen didn't name ALL of their albums after Marx brothers movies!

[–] jvblhc 9 years ago

Go West was also the first Marx Brothers movie I ever saw, and today, it is my least favorite of their films. However, I thought the train chase at the end was funny, and knowing nothing else about the Marx Brothers, I decided that the next time an MB film showed up on TV, I would give it a shot. The next one was The Cocoanuts, which I found hysterical. Then came Horse Feathers, and I was hooked. So, thank you, Go West, for starting me on my way to Marx Brothers fandom.