Forum - Marx Brothers Bio Movie"Why A Duck?" @ marx-brothers.org |
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Forum - Marx Brothers Bio Movie"Why A Duck?" @ marx-brothers.org |
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| Author | Topic: Marx Brothers Bio Movie |
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brandt
Big Cheese Posts: 16
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posted 28 February 2000 11:29 PM
Atlong last the Marx Brothers story on the big screen. Bill Marx has confirmed that Danny De Vito's Jersey Films and Universal have been given the green light to produce a movie based on the lives of the Marx Brothers. The deal had been held up by the president of Groucho Marx Productions who finally consented, according to Bill Marx, a week and a half ago. If anyone has connections to Danny Devito or Universal you may want to give them your choices for casting. I nominate Frank Ferrante for Groucho. Any suggestions for the others? ------------------
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Neil
Cabinet Minister Posts: 4
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posted 29 February 2000 12:43 AM
Frank Ferrante would be great in the roll of Groucho. I saw him last year on stage in Animal Crackers and he was terrific. I hope the writers contact Paul Wesolowski. He is the expert on Marx Brothers' history. I hope the movie happens. |
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Tami-o
Big Cheese Posts: 25
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posted 29 February 2000 03:13 PM
FINALLY!!!!! Horray!!! That's it. I have nothing more to contribute except for, um, HORRAY! |
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Ray
Big Cheese Posts: 51
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posted 02 March 2000 03:24 AM
I agree that Frank is a good choice but let's remember that a bio film will be the Marx family as themselves rather than the charecters we see on the movies.this makes casting difficult.I nominate Ron Silver for Harpo, as for Chico ??? |
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rramon
unregistered |
posted 10 April 2000 10:20 PM
Kevin Pollak as Groucho. Vince Vaughn for Chico. Edward Norton as Harpo. |
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roger the saurus
Cabinet Minister Posts: 4
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posted 18 April 2000 07:20 AM
I am not sure about a Marx Brothers bio. I can't help feeling I'll be annoyed because they have left some details out due to the demands of a storyline or something and I'll be disappointed because characters will not be as I see them. This especially applies to the brothers, Minnie and Sam and the Shean branch of the family who I have a sneaking feeling they will leave out altogether. Perhaps we will be better off with our memories and dreams. |
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hayden@africana.com
unregistered |
posted 21 April 2000 02:25 PM
I feel the same way about a Marx Brothers bio movie as I do the upcoming Three Stooges bio tv movie--these guys are so unique as to be unportrayable by any actors now living. I'd much rather see a documentary style movie with film clips and reminisces and comments by modern comedians, who, in this style I think the only ones who can hold or could hold a candle to them would be Robin Williams at his peak or Jim Carrey. |
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Tami-o
Big Cheese Posts: 25
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posted 21 April 2000 03:25 PM
Come on! Of course no movie could capture the reality of the Marxes and will always fall short of how some group of people think of them, but the appreciation of Groucho, Harpo, Chico and sometimes Zeppo is fading from the collective subconcious of our society and any large-scale mention of them would only serve to heighten Marx Brothers Awareness. p.s. Vince Vaughn-Harpo, Ron Silver-Chico, Kevin Pollak-Groucho, Tyne Daley-Minnie |
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Essielewis@aol.com
unregistered |
posted 28 April 2000 05:39 PM
Maybe I've been had. I had no idea there was a big screeb bio pic planned. My brother told me he'd seen an advertisement for a tv mini-series on the lives of our heroes during the ABC stooges movie. That movie, by the way, was quite a disappointment. Many of the facts wrong, ignored or twisted. Cheap production values. How could a devoted stooge fan like producer Mel Gibson let such a thing happen? Chaplin movie from 1992 was better in values and acting but the script was, once again, questionable. This is my major concern about a Marx movie. Because the Marx brother of the screen were so much like the Marx Bros. of the movies (sans costumes) casting is everything. My choices for for characters: Harpo - Johnny Depp (remember Benny & Joon?) or Robert Downey (great Chaplin). Groucho--I have NO idea. Chico--No idea. (Which reminds me, whatever became of Robert Hedges from Welcome Back Kotter?) At any rate, somebody let me know about either a tv or big screen feature. Essielewis@aol.com |
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Tami-o
Big Cheese Posts: 25
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posted 23 May 2000 07:53 PM
I know this is probably going to sound strange, but I think that Jackie Chan would be a GREAT Harpo! |
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srtallio
Big Cheese Posts: 15
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posted 24 May 2000 04:56 PM
Okay, I'm glad that there's a movie being made and all, but I have a few reservations about how I think it's going to eventually turn out. 1. Judging by the fact that he had the longest career of all of them, the movie is probably going to be Groucho-centered. Which isn't a bad thing, just that I'd rather see something of the others. A better title than whatever they've got planned would probably be "You Bet Your Life". 2. There's probably going to be a sappy love interest for Groucho(just look at other real life biopics like "Tombstone" or "Chaplin") that would take things away from the comedy, which should be front and center. 3. I hope this movie does not look back on the Marxes as something in our past. I'd much rather see a brand-spanking new, "Dumb And Dumber" or "There's Something About Mary" type comedy starring The Marx Brothers than a how-they-came-to-be, before-they-became-famous type movie. 4. In the same vein, if this movie does document their lives instead of resurrect them, I at least hope there's some good jokes with relevance and meaning to today; I don't want to watch a movie that shows how funny they were in the Thirties. I mean, that's what the Marx Brothers did in their heyday, didn't they? Pushed the envelope? I don't think that they would be nostalgic about stuff and I hope that this movie isn't either. As for WHO should play the parts, obviously it would help if the actors playing the Marx Brothers' roles had a comedic background, so here's what I think: -That guy who used to be "Pee Wee Herman" would make a good Harpo(I don't remember his real name); I got this idea from watching his role as "The Spleen" in "The Mystery Men". -Joe Flaherty, formerly of "SCTV", would make a great Chico, I think. -Robin Williams will most likely have some kinda role in this movie(he's thrown in too many tributes to the Marx Brothers in all of his movies for Hollywood not to have noticed), but I do NOT think that he would make a good Groucho! Why? For one, he's too stocky to play the slim Groucho(although I've never seen him in Groucho makeup, so...). For another, most of his tributes to the Marxes in his films have been kinda lame, with none of the wit that the originals carried. -Now here's something that I bet NOBODY has thought about! Who's gonna play Margaret Dumont and Thelma Todd? We can't forget them, now can we? I personally think that Drew Barrymore would make a PERFECT Thelma Todd, but alas, I do not have an idea for Mde.Dumont. Anyone out there have any good ideas? [This message has been edited by srtallio (edited 24 July 2000).] |
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fuzzyluv
unregistered |
posted 26 May 2000 08:34 PM
I beleive the Italian actor Robert Begnigni(get it) would be a great Chico. If anyone has seen him in "Johnny Stecchino" he does a great Mirror routine alla Harpo & Lucy. His comic timing is very Marxian. |
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Dan Fahlgren
Big Cheese Posts: 62
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posted 30 July 2000 11:01 PM
Great suggestions. My understanding is that the movie will focus on the early (pre-Movies) Marx Bros. We're more likely to see the casts of 90210 or "FRiends" play the Marxes that Williams or Silver or the other older actors. (I like Joe Flaherty a lot , but he's probably too old to play a young Marx).I'm looking forward to it, I hope it's good. Hail Freedonia ! Dan |
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Sweeney
Cabinet Minister Posts: 3
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posted 07 October 2000 01:42 PM
I don't know bout you guys but if Allen Alda was a cople of years younger he could kill as Groucho. Sweeney |
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