Universal has announced an October 18th street date for The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection on Blu-Ray.
All five films (The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers & Duck Soup) were originally released on DVD back in 2004 and are making their Blu debut. An accompanying DVD set hasn't been announced.
Audio commentaries will accompany each feature as a bonus (below). Final artwork is still forthcoming.
The title will retail for 9.98 and is available here at ClassicFlix for only 4.99. However, for three days only (until Friday August 19th), we'll have it for the special pre-order price of 9.98. ORDER TODAY!
--SET CONTENTS--
DISC 1:
The Cocoanuts (1929, 93 min.)
In the Marx Brothers' first feature film, Groucho portrays a hotel owner out to fleece everyone, from innocent bellboys to wealthy society matron Mrs. Potter. Chico and Harpo play resort hotel con men, whom Groucho recognizes instantly when their suitcase pops open--empty. 'We'll fill it up before we leave,' Chico assures him.
When Mrs. Potter discovers that her jewels are missing, Chico and Harpo rescue falsely accused hotel clerk Bob Adams (Oscar Shaw), find the jewels, trap the real perpetrators and unite Bob with his sweetheart Polly Potter (Mary Eaton). Complete with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and one of the first overhead shots of dancing bathing beauties, the non-stop screwball comedy includes some of the Marx Brothers' best stage routines, including Groucho's land auction, the excruciatingly funny 'Viaduct' dialogue and Polly Potter's engagement party.
BONUS FEATURE:
Animal Crackers (1930, 97 min.)
Hooray for Captain Spaulding! Animal Crackers is a classic of screen history, and it's as uproariously funny today as it was 50 years ago. This film introduced Groucho's most famous character, Captain Spaulding, whose song became the theme of his 'You Bet Your Life' TV program. Highlights include Groucho's African lecture ('One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas, I don't know.') and the card game which Harpo and Chico play with the wealthy society woman, Mrs. Rittenhouse (Margaret Dumont).
BONUS FEATURE:
DISC 2:
Monkey Business (1931, 77 min.)
While hiding from the authorities on a luxury liner, the quartet of stowaways become bodyguards of rival gangsters, with the usual hilarious results. And naturally, no woman can resist a shipboard romance with the wily, quick-witted Groucho. Written by S.J. Perelman, this laugh-filled escapade contains some of the Marx Brothers' wackiest routines, including the famous disembarkation sequence where they all pass themselves off as Maurice Chevalier. Take a madcap vintage voyage with the Marx Brothers, where lunacy rides the waves.
BONUS FEATURE:
Horse Feathers (1932, 67 min.)
The quintessential Marx Brothers comedy. Groucho, Harpo, Chico and yes, Zeppo, are at their manic peak in this uproariously anarchic paradoy of college life. As the fun-loving president of Huxley College, Groucho tries to keep the student body in line while attempting to keep his own body near a flirtatious floozie who is secretly trying to rig the big football game between Huxley and arch rival Darwin University. Plot aside ,and it usually is, Horse Feathers contains some of the greatest sequences in movie comedy history, including a classic schoolroom shoot-out between Groucho and students Harpo and Chico, as well as an unforgettable football game finale.
BONUS FEATURE:
DISC 3:
Duck Soup (1933, 68 min.)
A pointed political satire, Duck Soup is the Marx Brothers' funniest and most insane film. Groucho is Rufus T. Firefly, the hilarious dictator of mythical Freedonia. Harpo and Chico are commisioned as spies by Groucho's political rival, the calculating Trentino. The film contains many of the Brothers' famous sequences: the lemonade stand, a masterpiece of slow burn; the Paul Revere parody; the 'We're Going To War' number, a beautiful spoof of 30's musicals; the hilarious mirror scene; and a final battle episode that has been copied by everyone from Woody Allen to Mad Magazine.
BONUS FEATURES: