It was shown in 1959, and at that time all of them seemed reasonably healthy, but there was an atmosphere (at least from the point of view of the public) that this was it. THE INCREDIBLE JEWEL ROBBERY can be seen as the first "short subject" Marx Brother film made since the 1930s, or as their last get together. For it is their last get together. And while it could have been better, it was far from their worst.
Except for a small piece of dialog at the tail end, it was a silent Marx Brother movie - the only one except for the still missing HUMORISK. Chico and Harpo are planning a jewel robbery, in which they are disguised as policemen. Some of the humor at the beginning is when they are getting their disguise police uniforms and when they are making their car look like a police car (I recall a bit dealing with a rather pragmatic use of a salami to draw a perfect circle that was cute). They eventually rob Benny Rubin's jewelry shop wearing masks that look like Groucho. But in the getaway, Chico's mask falls off and Rubin is able (later on) to recognize him. They are making a getaway, when a young woman in distress flags down the police car to get to a hospital. Subsequently they are caught by the police due to an error in their disguise. They are brought into the station, and put into a line-up. Chico is identified by Rubin, but Harpo is not identified. Suddenly Groucho is brought in, and Rubin identifies him. Groucho, united with his brothers says, "We won't say a word until we speak to our lawyer." The "Groucho-looking" bird from YOU BET YOUR LIFE descends, and the episode ends.
Because it is so trite, the episode is dismissed by Marx fans as trivial, but as the last piece of celluloid that the boys did together (except for a failed television pilot, "Deputy Seraph") that was widely shown on television it is important. They were still popular enough to merit a reunion show, and one on GENERAL ELECTRIC THEATER. It meant they still had potential clout. But aside from the failed pilot, and the plan by Billy Wilder to use them in a film about U.N. diplomacy, nothing else came out. It was an amusing half hour - but as I said there was that intangible feeling that this was their farewell. Certainly no DUCK SOUP, but better than say LOVE HAPPY.
Except for a small piece of dialog at the tail end, it was a silent Marx Brother movie - the only one except for the still missing HUMORISK. Chico and Harpo are planning a jewel robbery, in which they are disguised as policemen. Some of the humor at the beginning is when they are getting their disguise police uniforms and when they are making their car look like a police car (I recall a bit dealing with a rather pragmatic use of a salami to draw a perfect circle that was cute). They eventually rob Benny Rubin's jewelry shop wearing masks that look like Groucho. But in the getaway, Chico's mask falls off and Rubin is able (later on) to recognize him. They are making a getaway, when a young woman in distress flags down the police car to get to a hospital. Subsequently they are caught by the police due to an error in their disguise. They are brought into the station, and put into a line-up. Chico is identified by Rubin, but Harpo is not identified. Suddenly Groucho is brought in, and Rubin identifies him. Groucho, united with his brothers says, "We won't say a word until we speak to our lawyer." The "Groucho-looking" bird from YOU BET YOUR LIFE descends, and the episode ends.
Because it is so trite, the episode is dismissed by Marx fans as trivial, but as the last piece of celluloid that the boys did together (except for a failed television pilot, "Deputy Seraph") that was widely shown on television it is important. They were still popular enough to merit a reunion show, and one on GENERAL ELECTRIC THEATER. It meant they still had potential clout. But aside from the failed pilot, and the plan by Billy Wilder to use them in a film about U.N. diplomacy, nothing else came out. It was an amusing half hour - but as I said there was that intangible feeling that this was their farewell. Certainly no DUCK SOUP, but better than say LOVE HAPPY.
