Talk:Animal Crackers (1930 film)/Archive 1

Archive 1

Lydia

From which movie was the song, "Lydia, oh Lydia, oh do you know Lydia? Lydia, the tatooed lady."— Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.221.16.102 (talk) 19:07, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

"At the Circus" Shsilver 19:16, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

Unedited "Captain Spaulding"

Quote from the page: The original full version of "Hooray for Captain Spaulding" was edited in compliance to the Hays Code when it was re-released in 1936: the sexually suggestive line "I think I'll try and make her" was removed [...] The only known recording of the original dialogue can be heard on the CD Boxed Set The Marx Brothers Sing & Play issued in 1995 & 2000 by Chansons Cinema, and made from un-edited European prints of the film.

On this advice I recently purchased the album in question, only to find that the version of the song was the commonly heard edit (minus the suggestive line). Is this information thus incorrect, or do the two dates of the album (1995 and 2000) come into play? Is one edition edited, and the other not?

The information about the original recording was added to Wikipedia by user 198.179.227.59 on Dec 17, 2007. Earlier, this page stated that no original versions of the recording survived. My impulse is to revert to that information, but I'd like an explanation from 198.179.227.59. I've long been seeking the unedited recording, and I'd like to know if the fault is somehow mine. Ramapith (talk) 05:38, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

I also have that CD box set, it says produced/copyright 1994 but I assume it was released in 1995 and is the 1995 version. It includes the same cut version we're familiar with. I've been seeking a complete version for years and I'm beginning to doubt it exists. Maybe for the 2000 version they found an uncut version, but I'm doubtful because there's absolutely no information on the net of an uncut version, I've looked many a time. I'm gonna revert the information so if someone puts it back we can at least ask them for a "citation". Yaguchi (talk) 15:54, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

Multicolor image

(the post below, in brackets, was moved from User:Abie the Fish Peddler's Talk Page)

[The scene is from test footage of Animal Crackers. It is at least as relevant as a behind the scenes photo taken at the time, which itself would be interesting. This bit of film in Multicolor is quite interesting to the article about the film. Everything doesn't have to be about the actual released version. The fact that they experimented with filming it in Multicolor is significant. Bubba73 ^{(You talkin' to me?)}, 07:19, 8 February 2010 (UTC)]

Bubba73 has mentioned to me that the multi-colored image is also important because it is from the only known color footage of the Marx brothers. I think this is interesting, but it would be helpful to know whether it's from a test shot or whether it was colorized later. Isn't there some info to cite as a source on this? We need references, or else, I think, we risk being sloppy.--Abie the Fish Peddler (talk) 07:43, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

It was not colorized later. It used the Multicolor process. [This] is a reference, although it is only a website. Bubba73 ^{(You talkin' to me?)}, 07:54, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

I modified the caption to make it (possibly) clearer that this was a frame from a documentary film, not from the Animal Crackers print itself. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 08:09, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

Excellent work, you two. Since the image is valuable, but not really part of the released version, I gave it its own section further on down the article. Hope this works. And yes, that was an excellent source, Bubba73.--Abie the Fish Peddler (talk) 08:29, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

With that name, I have to figure you're a fan:

[Ravelli realizes that Chandler, supposedly an art collector, is actually Abie the fish peddler].

Ravelli: "How did you get to be Roscoe W. Chandler?"

Chandler: "How did you get to be an Italian?"

Ravelli: "Never mind. Whose confession is this?"

←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 10:22, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

No comment. Ahem. Abie the Fish Peddler (talk) 10:49, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

Unfortunately the source says to click on the image to go to another website to see the footage, but that webside has been closed. Bubba73 ^{(You talkin' to me?)}, 15:22, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

I wonder if they were testing whether or not to film the whole movie in Multicolor? Bubba73 ^{(You talkin' to me?)}, 16:24, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

That'd be my guess, but I don't know if I'd say it was "they". It might have been an assistant director, but it might even have been someone unrelated to the film, testing out the multicolor technology.--Abie the Fish Peddler (talk) 16:32, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

The big guy in the background is Hives, the Butler, played by Robert Greig, who (with a beard on) played a professor in Horse Feathers. He spoke in that classically-trained, theatrical style - as did Margaret Dumont. A bit of an aside: Groucho always claimed that Margaret did not understand the jokes. Far as I can tell, that's just Groucho telling a good story. She was an actress, and often when he would insult her, she would give him a reaction "take" and then move right along with the dialogue. Then there's this... The first couple of Marx films had kind of a "stagy" look, but they also had kind of a relaxed feel, as sound film was still in its infancy. In particular, I note in this clip of Chico (and a little bit Harpo) playing the piano [1] that Margaret laughs at some of Groucho's comments, which at least suggests that (1) she did understand his jokes (unless that was also an act); and (2) there may have been some ad-libbing going on there. Also, I had forgotten the line about a female singer sleeping... with a male chorus. How they got that past the censors while losing "I think I'll try and make her", is anyone's guess. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:49, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

If you have refs for any of that, please add it.--Abie the Fish Peddler (talk) 17:04, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

It's the talk page. I don't have to. :) Just watch the clip, for your own enjoyment if nothing else. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 17:07, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

Yes, I agree. I enjoyed the clip, and your comments. I was simply suggesting that other readers might enjoy it on the article page. But, as you say, you're not obligated. Cheers, Abie the Fish Peddler (talk) 17:09, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

I did point out the one fact, of that line being risque for its day (or even now, to a G-rated audience). That's a no-brainer. My other comments about Dumont are my own observations. I have seen critics here and there make the some observations, and I think it's discussed on Dumont's page, but it's a little too finely-grained to be putting into this article. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 17:14, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

Yes, Animal Crackers is basically a film of the stage act that they did before the film. Talkies had just come in at the time. BTW, the scene in Multicolor is near the beginning, just after Harpo enters. It isn't exactly a "behind the scenes" film - it uses approximately the same camera angle as the final film. Bubba73 ^{(You talkin' to me?)}, 18:12, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

This is a longer version of the clip I mentioned earlier:[2] It's got the famous pun-filled monologue about the elephant in his pajamas and so on. I need to find the part that includes the moment depicted in the color photo. Another aside: I wonder if Chico and his composing partner ever thought to sue for copyright infringement, as the song matches up pretty well with "Sugartime", a hit about 3 decades later. I also wonder what the tune is that Harpo is playing in the middle of Chico's sequence. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:51, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

Another one that slipped by, where Groucho keeps saying, "...this magnificent chest..." and points Margaret's way. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:54, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

Also, despite Chico's comment, I'm pretty sure that "Silver Threads Among the Gold" was not written by Victor Herbert. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:00, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

Here is the Multicolor clip. And [here] it is with sound from the released film. Bubba73 ^{(You talkin' to me?)}, 18:56, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

Wow! Thank you, Bubba73! I enjoyed those. Do you all think we should link to these in the externals? I do.--Abie the Fish Peddler (talk) 19:07, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

And I can tell you exactly what that one frame corresponds to: It's at 7:57 of this clip.[3] The color snap is obviously from a dress rehearsal, except Harpo is not wearing his wig, and has a robe on (covering his shorts and T-shirt). Go to about 7:30 and watch Harpo's entrance. The instrumental playing is "Collegiate", which Chico would play on the piano in Horse Feathers.[4] ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:18, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

Man, get me started on the Marx Brothers and there's no stopping. :) Chico playing "Collegiate" for Thelma Todd is one of my all-time favorite Marx moments. They really seem to be enjoying themselves. And knowing Chico's reputation, I wouldn't be surprised if they were "close" off-screen as well. Watch for that little moment near the end, when she leans in and catches his eye. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:30, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

Title ?!

What's the meaning of the title please ? 178.192.223.93 (talk) 10:04, 22 December 2014 (UTC)