22 "1934"

No, it’s not a sequel to “1917”, but something even better! This month we discuss the year that the Marx Brothers didn’t do anything besides lose Zeppo. After finishing “Duck Soup” in late 1933, the team was without a studio contract, and in no hurry to make another film…in fact, they weren’t certain they wanted to remain in Hollywood at all. We examine the internal and external forces which led them to MGM and Irving Thalberg. We’ll also talk about Groucho’s heretofore unknown solo project, “A Night at the Brothel”. Name-checked in this episode: Mickey Rooney, Katherine Hepburn, Hitler, Alec Baldwin.