47 “Bert & Harry Go West” featuring Scott Alexander

What this episode covers

Not a fan of the Marx Brothers' “Go West”? Wish it had been written by the guys behind “Duck Soup”? Well, that was the original plan. Acclaimed screenwriter Scott Alexander returns to help us examine the film’s early scripts, as penned by the legendary team of Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. Groucho as a leering divorce lawyer, Chico as a phony fortune teller, Harpo chasing women and actually acting like Harpo...who couldn’t love that? Apparently, MGM couldn’t; as they eventually changed everything...including the century in which the film takes place. Scott gives us a screenwriter's perspective on what happened, theorizes why Kalmar, Ruby, and their work were discarded…and portrays Margaret Dumont in a possible career-changing turn. Need we say more?

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Marx Brothers Council Podcast?

This episode is 1 hour and 25 minutes long.

When was this The Marx Brothers Council Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on June 4, 2022.

What is this episode about?

Not a fan of the Marx Brothers' “Go West”? Wish it had been written by the guys behind “Duck Soup”? Well, that was the original plan. Acclaimed screenwriter Scott Alexander returns to help us examine the film’s early scripts, as penned by the...

Can I download this The Marx Brothers Council Podcast episode?

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