MovieChat Forums > Love Happy (1950) Discussion > The Marx Brothers' last film: still good...

The Marx Brothers' last film: still good !

posted 20 years ago by GameraMothraGodzilla
6 replies | jump to latest

I always thought that if I had to pick a worst film of the Marxes, that this would be it. But, can I ever say I dislike a movie with Groucho, Harpo, and Chico (and sometimes Zeppo) in it? Hell no! Before I first saw it years ago, I never heard of it before and was really glad that I did, and had to see it. When I did, I wasn't disappointed, considering it was their very last official film together. Most of everyone's last films aren't as good as they used to be, but so what! Enjoy the chance to see them one last time! Recommended to any Marx Bros. fan!

BTW, anyone notice Groucho's moustache and eyebrows in this? They're not the classic grease-paint, he was working on You Bet Your Life at the time, and ditched the fake ones.

Why should I care about posterity? What's posterity ever done for me?
-Groucho Marx

[–] Baravelli_the_ice_lady 19 years ago

I thought I'd hate this movie, but I think it's great! It's not "true" Marx Brothers, but it never tries to be. It's Harpo's movie and I'm glad he got to have one (After all, Groucho got to have Copacabana, A Girl in Every Port, Double Dynamite and Skidoo, why begrudge Harpo his moment in the solo spotlight?).

I also thought Chico was awesome in this; he tended to steal he show. The piano/violin duet had me on the floor.

"And now, I'm going back in the closet...where men are empty overcoats..."

[–] brownrecluse62 19 years ago

I mean, as a comedy it's only so-so, and it's really sentimental and everything, but everyone knows that. It's still good, but one thing really made this movie work for me and that was Harpo's performance. I always found Harpo to have the most touching persona out of all the brothers (at least onscreen), and it's especially true here.

That one scene when it's Vera-Ellen's birthday and Harpo tries to comfort her... it's honestly one of my favorite scenes in film history. This scene fully shows Harpo's incredible talent: he perfectly conveys the lovable funnyman who loves the girl but can never be more than just a nice dependable funnyman to her. When she cries, he shows genuine concern, but he also shows that all he can do for her is do funny eye tricks and play the harp. And do the finger-candle thing and give her the necklace from the sardine tin.

Love Happy has my favorite of all Harpo's harp solos. The intensity with which he plays conveys so much. Just look at his face. It's one of the most powerful things I've ever seen on film. Enough to almost make one cry.

Yes, I know that Marx Brothers movies aren't supposed to be sad; they're supposed to be hilarious. But I love this one for its poignancy. And it's not only Harpo. Chico's wistful, nostalgic "Tootsie-frootsie ice cream..." gets me every time. It's a lovely moment, an almost sad evocation of the sidesplitting humor of the past. In a low-key way, he's brilliant in the movie too, and, as you said, he does kind of steal the show.

"Enjoy the show. For one day, we shall die." --Cirque de Purée guy on The Simpsons

[–] ingemar-4 16 years ago

The piano/violin duet is truly where Chico shines in this movie. It is very good, but there isn't a whole lot more for Chico.

Yes, there is no reason to hate it. It just must be taken for what it is; a kind of extension to the series, and Harpo's almost solo show. Don't watch this as your first Marx.

[–] sarchiorama 16 years ago

just spotted on channel4 this afternoon there all classics no matter how you see 'em

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] 16 years ago

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