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Post by mrmeadows on Jan 3, 2011 22:17:02 GMT -5
I understand why it was used, but it was still played for laughs. . .which you couldn't really couldn't get away with nowadays, unless you were being ironic about it (see the TV show "Stella").
It only bothers me in the sense that it harkens back to a time of minstrel shows where black people were portrayed uniformly as bug-eyed buffoons. On the other hand, I know that the Marx Bros themselves were not racists. Groucho, in fact, was a supporter of civil rights during his "You Bet Your Life" days, and I've actually heard that he was furious at "Races" director Sam Wood because of the way he treated some of the black actors in the film (not sure how true that rumor is...but I have heard it).
And if you look at "Races" relative to today, the INTENT of the jitterbug sequence was probably considered "progressive" at the time, in that the Bros. were aligning themselves with the poor black people in the slums and their children, and in fact they imply that they share their winnings with them at the end when they join the victory parade. I'm no historian, but aside from the out-of-date stereotypes, I don't think there is anything blatantly hateful about the sequence.
Still, I think Opera is funnier. :-)
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Post by angilasman on Jan 24, 2011 14:02:19 GMT -5
And if you look at "Races" relative to today, the INTENT of the jitterbug sequence was probably considered "progressive" at the time, in that the Bros. were aligning themselves with the poor black people in the slums and their children, and in fact they imply that they share their winnings with them at the end when they join the victory parade. I'm no historian, but aside from the out-of-date stereotypes, I don't think there is anything blatantly hateful about the sequence. That's basically my thoughts on that sequence.
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Post by mrcleveland on Feb 25, 2011 18:56:47 GMT -5
I could use some quotes from Marx Bros. films so I can give any sarcastibitches a run for their money.... You can now refilter the word that rhymes with witch as something else...I get it!
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Post by frankenforcer on Mar 3, 2011 15:55:28 GMT -5
And if you try to cry/ I'll stick you in the eye/ We'll line you up against the wall/ And Pop goes the weasel.
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Post by Chuck on Mar 3, 2011 20:12:07 GMT -5
I understand why it was used, but it was still played for laughs. . .which you couldn't really couldn't get away with nowadays, unless you were being ironic about it (see the TV show "Stella"). It only bothers me in the sense that it harkens back to a time of minstrel shows where black people were portrayed uniformly as bug-eyed buffoons. On the other hand, I know that the Marx Bros themselves were not racists. Groucho, in fact, was a supporter of civil rights during his "You Bet Your Life" days, and I've actually heard that he was furious at "Races" director Sam Wood because of the way he treated some of the black actors in the film (not sure how true that rumor is...but I have heard it). And if you look at "Races" relative to today, the INTENT of the jitterbug sequence was probably considered "progressive" at the time, in that the Bros. were aligning themselves with the poor black people in the slums and their children, and in fact they imply that they share their winnings with them at the end when they join the victory parade. I'm no historian, but aside from the out-of-date stereotypes, I don't think there is anything blatantly hateful about the sequence. Still, I think Opera is funnier. :-) Opera is funnier because Irving Talberg died during the production of Races, and the pall over the studio was palpable. The Marx Bros. ALWAYS used minorities. They insisted on it. (Being the "have-nots" during their early years gave them big hearts when it came to humanity.)
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Post by mrcleveland on Mar 13, 2011 13:51:45 GMT -5
And if you try to cry/ I'll stick you in the eye/ We'll line you up against the wall/ And Pop goes the weasel. A good one for my enemies who try to cross me...but since that sarcastibitch blocked me...I'll use it for the next sarcastibitch!
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Post by angilasman on Aug 15, 2011 15:11:47 GMT -5
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