Horse Feathers (1932)

Director:

Norman Z. McLeod

Writers:

Bert Kalmar (by) &
Harry Ruby (by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

19 August 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

The Maddest Comics of the Screen!

Plot:

Quincy Adams Wagstaff, the new president of Huxley U, hires bumblers Baravelli and Pinky to help his school win the big football game against rival Darwin U.

Plot Keywords:

College | Education | Professor | Widow | Speakeasy

Cast

The Marx Brothers		(as The Four Marx Brothers)
Groucho Marx	...	Professor Wagstaff
Harpo Marx	...	Pinky
Chico Marx	...	Baravelli
Zeppo Marx	...	Frank Wagstaff
Thelma Todd	...	Connie Bailey
David Landau	...	Jennings
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bobby Barber	...	Speakeasy Patron (uncredited)
Reginald Barlow	...	Retiring Collage President (uncredited)
Vince Barnett	...	Speakeasy Patron (uncredited)
Sheila Bromley	...	Wagstaff's Receptionist (uncredited)
E.H. Calvert	...	Professor in Wagstaff's Study (uncredited)
Edgar Dearing	...	Speakeasy Bartender (uncredited)
Robert Greig	...	Biology Professor (uncredited)
Theresa Harris	...	Laura - Connie's Maid (uncredited)
Edward LeSaint	...	Professor in Wagstaff's Study (uncredited)
Florine McKinney	...	Peggy Carrington (uncredited)
Nat Pendleton	...	MacHardie - Darwin Player (uncredited)
James Pierce	...	Ed Mullen - Darwin Player (uncredited)
Frank Rice	...	Doorman at Speakeasy (uncredited)
Syd Saylor	...	Speakeasy Patron at Slot Machine (uncredited)
Arthur Sheekman	...	Typing Sportswriter (uncredited)
Ben Taggart	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Phil Tead	...	Football Broadcaster (uncredited)

Directed by
Norman Z. McLeod		(as Norman McLeod)

Writing credits
Bert Kalmar		(by) &
Harry Ruby		(by) &
S.J. Perelman		(by) and
Will B. Johnstone		(by)
Arthur Sheekman		uncredited

Produced by
Herman J. Mankiewicz	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
John Leipold		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Ray June		(photographed by)

Makeup Department
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Barton	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Harry Caplan	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gene Merritt	....	production sound mixer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Neal Beckner	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
George Bourne	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Francis Burgess	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Daniel L. Fapp	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Gordon Head	....	still photographer (uncredited)
James Knott	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Fred Mayer	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Music Department
Bert Kalmar	....	music and lyrics by
Harry Ruby	....	music and lyrics by

Other crew
Adolph Zukor	....	presenter
Harold Hecht	....	dance director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1932) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Paramount Picture)
• Paramount Pictures (1949) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (USA) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (Spain) (2003) (Spain) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

68 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. | UK:U | Spain:T | Portugal:M/6 | South Korea:All | USA:Approved (PCA reissue certificate no. 1713-R) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Occidental College -1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

According to Groucho Marx, when Thelma Todd fell out of the boat he kept rowing as she cried for help not knowing she really couldn't swim. Crew members got her out of the water.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Just before the brothers board the garbage can chariot, Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, and Zeppo Marx chase Harpo Marx as he runs the wrong way down the football field (chasing a dog). It is clear in this shot that Chico is a stand in. In the following shot, as they ride in the garbage can chariot, the Chico stand-in hides behind The Marx Brothers.

Quotes:

Baravelli:[through speakeasy's door] Who are you?
Professor Wagstaff:I'm fine, thanks, who are you?
Baravelli:I'm fine too, but you can't come in unless you give the password.
Professor Wagstaff:Well, what is the password?
Baravelli:Aw, no. You gotta tell me. Hey, I tell what I do. I give you three guesses. It's the name of a fish.
Professor Wagstaff:Is it Mary?
Baravelli:Ha-ha. That's-a no fish.
Professor Wagstaff:She isn't? Well, she drinks like one. Let me see: Is it sturgeon?
Baravelli:Hey, you crazy. Sturgeon, he's a doctor cuts you open when-a you sick. Now I give you one more chance.
Professor Wagstaff:I got it. Haddock.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: Episode #26.7" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Whatever It Is, I'm Against It

Fun in college with The Four Marx Brothers and Thelma Todd in Horse Feathers

"Whatever it is, I'm against it!" So says Groucho as he begins his term as Huxley's head of the college as he sings to his fellow staff and students which includes his son, Zeppo! This was another hilarious film involving The Four Marx Brothers with Chico and Harpo along to mess, er, help things along. All four also share a song-"Everyone Says I Love You" by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby-with the usual Chico and Harpo solos in piano and harp, respectively, but also with Groucho on guitar which he also previously played briefly in Monkey Business. They all get involved with "college widow" Thelma Todd so basically, they're ALL her love interest! While I thought the whole thing was nearly funny from beginning to end, the climatic football game wasn't as hilarious to me. Still, I highly enjoyed rewatching Horse Feathers again after nearly 20 years and that was good enough for me!