(Victor Heerman, 1930)
Jed: The classic madcap Marx Brothers muscial comedy is really strange and very well staged. Margaret Dumont as Mrs. Rittenhouse is incredibly expressive and is a good counter point and straight-woman to Groucho's Captain Spaulding. This is pure oddball, sexy, madcap comedy and all of the Marx Bros. turn in great performances. Chico's piano performance and Harpo's Harp playing are genuinely innovative and engaging both visually and musically. Lillian Roth is hot news! and it makes sense she was married eight times! The sets and staging are amazing-- but the plot is simply a backdrop upon which the Marx Bros. weave their zaniness. A fun movie even if a tad predictable. See it. (6/7)
Lillian Roth (image courtesy Wikipedia)
Trailer on TCM
Shock Corridor
(Samuel Fuller, 1963)
Jed: This a fairly psychedelic film. The social commentary on race in America is particularly poignant (Hari Rhodes as Trent is incredible). It is better than Shutter Island. . . (winks). That is all that need be said. Check it out on the Criterion Collection Release. (6/7)
Classic Trailer
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