Chico Marx plays "Waltzing Matilda" (1948)

This forum is nearly identical to the previous forum. The difference? Discussions about comedy from the SOUND era.
Richard M Roberts
Godfather
Posts: 2999
Joined: Sun May 31, 2009 6:30 pm

Chico Marx plays "Waltzing Matilda" (1948)

Postby Richard M Roberts » Thu Jul 04, 2024 6:21 pm

Apparently Chico Marx was in Australia in 1948, here he entertains some Aussie Soldiers playing one of John Ford's favorite tunes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwlHNkH-fCY


RICHARD M ROBERTS

Ed Watz
Associate
Posts: 457
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:35 pm

Re: Chico Marx plays "Waltzing Matilda" (1948)

Postby Ed Watz » Tue Jul 09, 2024 11:19 am

Here’s an article about Chico during this visit, from THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY (no doubt the perfect paper to interview him), dated May 22, 1948
“COMEDIAN CHICO MARX IS A CIRCUS IN HIMSELF"
Chico 1948 (2).jpeg
Chico 1948 (2).jpeg (251.38 KiB) Viewed 14222 times
"Of course he smiled -- just like you and me." -- Harold Goodwin, on Buster Keaton (1976)

Richard M Roberts
Godfather
Posts: 2999
Joined: Sun May 31, 2009 6:30 pm

Re: Chico Marx plays "Waltzing Matilda" (1948)

Postby Richard M Roberts » Wed Jul 10, 2024 1:26 am

That's a great article Ed, thanks for posting it. Even in life, all of Chico's "real" personality is there: constantly on the make with women, the gambling, being worse off than his Brothers. One thing you can say about Chico was he was whom he was and made no bones about it, and still charmed the pants (so to speak) off a lot of women and folk.

I was also thinking, watching the clip of Chico playing "Waltzing Matilda", that you can also sing to the same tune:

"Abie the Fish-man
Abie the Fish-man
You look like Abie the Fish-man to me."

RICHARD M ROBERTS

Rob Farr
Godfather
Posts: 518
Joined: Fri May 29, 2009 12:00 pm
Location: Our Nation's Capitol

Re: Chico Marx plays "Waltzing Matilda" (1948)

Postby Rob Farr » Thu Jul 11, 2024 8:19 am

If you've ever wondered what Chico sounded like when he spoke without an Italian accent, here it is. Lots of New York, little or no Italian.
Rob Farr
"If it's not comedy, I fall asleep" - Harpo Marx

Ed Watz
Associate
Posts: 457
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:35 pm

Re: Chico Marx plays "Waltzing Matilda" (1948)

Postby Ed Watz » Sat Jul 13, 2024 5:23 pm

Richard M Roberts wrote:That's a great article Ed, thanks for posting it. Even in life, all of Chico's "real" personality is there: constantly on the make with women, the gambling, being worse off than his Brothers. One thing you can say about Chico was he was whom he was and made no bones about it, and still charmed the pants (so to speak) off a lot of women and folk.

I was also thinking, watching the clip of Chico playing "Waltzing Matilda", that you can also sing to the same tune:

"Abie the Fish-man
Abie the Fish-man
You look like Abie the Fish-man to me."

RICHARD M ROBERTS


Richard, I can imagine Chico singing it now! it would’ve definitely been more tuneful than what we get in ANIMAL CRACKERS!
And in a related footnote, I came across this color photo clipped from an Australian magazine; Chico with another entertainer from his stage tour. Maybe they performed a duet of “The Monkey Doodle-Doo”?
Chico & friend.jpeg
Chico & friend.jpeg (227.86 KiB) Viewed 13864 times
"Of course he smiled -- just like you and me." -- Harold Goodwin, on Buster Keaton (1976)

Ed Watz
Associate
Posts: 457
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:35 pm

Re: Chico Marx plays "Waltzing Matilda" (1948)

Postby Ed Watz » Sat Jul 13, 2024 5:34 pm

Rob Farr wrote:If you've ever wondered what Chico sounded like when he spoke without an Italian accent, here it is. Lots of New York, little or no Italian.


As a kid when I first listened to the Gary Owens LP of Marx Brothers dialogue from their Paramount films, I didn’t immediately recognize Chico’s regular voice when he spoke the line, “Well that’s the last time we deliver the ice unless you pay the bill” from HORSE FEATHERS. No trace of an Italian accent whatsoever.
image-asset+(7).jpeg
image-asset+(7).jpeg (36.42 KiB) Viewed 13862 times
"Of course he smiled -- just like you and me." -- Harold Goodwin, on Buster Keaton (1976)

Richard M Roberts
Godfather
Posts: 2999
Joined: Sun May 31, 2009 6:30 pm

Re: Chico Marx plays "Waltzing Matilda" (1948)

Postby Richard M Roberts » Fri Jul 19, 2024 4:59 pm

Yeah Ed, I was kinda thinking when Rob said "If you've ever wondered what Chico sounded like when he spoke without an Italian accent", just watch the movies. He slips in and out of it so much, you quit paying attention to it. Sometimes he puts the -a- on the ends of words, sometimes he doesn't.

So how many of us have that Decca album? And the W. C. Fields and Mae West ones? I think they were $1.99 remaindered at Publishers Central Bureau for years.

RICHARD M ROBERTS (extra points if you also have their "Boris Karloff and Friends" album)

Dennis Campa
Cugine
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:26 pm

Re: Chico Marx plays "Waltzing Matilda" (1948)

Postby Dennis Campa » Fri Jul 19, 2024 6:15 pm

I have the Marx Brothers LP (and the W.C. Fields & Mae West albums). I've used all of them for my radio show.

Took me many years to find copies of the Marx & Fields albums with the poster included (still looking for a copy of the West LP with the poster).

Don't have the Karloff & Friends album.

I think Chico's variable Italian accent is part of his charm (as is its obvious phoniness).

And thanks Richard & Ed for the fascinating links and fun conversations.

Dennis

Richard M Roberts
Godfather
Posts: 2999
Joined: Sun May 31, 2009 6:30 pm

Re: Chico Marx plays "Waltzing Matilda" (1948)

Postby Richard M Roberts » Fri Jul 19, 2024 7:50 pm

Dennis Campa wrote:I think Chico's variable Italian accent is part of his charm (as is its obvious phoniness).



As Louis Sorin says to Chico in ANIMAL CRACKERS:

"Say, how did you get to be an Italian."

RICHARD M ROBERTS

Tommie Hicks
Capo
Posts: 173
Joined: Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:11 pm

Re: Chico Marx plays "Waltzing Matilda" (1948)

Postby Tommie Hicks » Tue Sep 24, 2024 8:19 am

Publishers Central Bureau: there's a name I haven't heard in a while. They were another money magnet in my youth. I still have the Fields double album, Groucho at Carnegie, and a couple of the George Garrabedian L&H albums, and many books.


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest