Marx Brothers Movies III Trivia Quiz

Answer: If it was in the east

Just after a shooting in front of the saloon, Joseph tells his brother Rusty (Harpo), "All the people do out here is shoot each other. I'd like the west better if it was in the east." Of course, if the west was in the east it wouldn't be the west, but the Marx Brothers were famous for skewing identities.

Answer: Savings Bonds

Specifically, Wolf named three kinds of bonds, all financial:

WOLF: Martha, dear, there are many bonds that will hold us together through eternity.
MARTHA: Really, Wolf? What are they?
WOLF: Your Government Bonds, your Savings Bonds, your Liberty bonds.

Margaret Dumont always played a wealthy widow in the Marx Brothers' movies, and Groucho was always an opportunistic gold digger who loved her for her money.

Answer: Himself

By playing himself in "Love Happy", Harpo was able to build the Harpo Marx legend even further. The "character" of Harpo differs very little from the characters Harpo had played in the Marx Brothers' other films. He is still a loveable scoundrel with a heart of gold but very unstable ethics.

In fact, it is his personality that gets him involved in the plot, when he steals a can of sardines (that also contains stolen diamonds) to feed a group of struggling actors.

Answer: The building collapsed

When the policeman first approached Harpo, he asked if he thought he was holding up the building, and Harpo nodded yes. Some reviewers felt that the gag was predictable, but I still laughed at it.

Answer: All of these

This toast is repeated several times. After one iteration, Joseph Panello (Chico) remarks that he thought the girls were sisters and Quale (Groucho) replies that they are, but their mother lived in a trailer.

Answer: 7

Margaret Dumont, who was sometimes called "The Marx Sister" because of her frequent work with the Marx Brothers, appeared as Mrs. Potter in "The Cocoanuts", as Mrs. Rittenhouse in "Animal Crackers" (Groucho, who felt that this part did not take full advantage of Ms. Dumont's talents, referred to her as "Mrs. Writtenrotten" in one scene), as Mrs. Teasdale in "Duck Soup", and Mrs. Claypool in "A Night at the Opera", as Mrs. Upjohn in "A Day at the Races", as Mrs. Dukesbury in "At the Circus", and as Martha Phelps in "The Big Store".

She once said of the Marx Brothers, "Those boys ruined my career, and I love them."

Answer: Harpo Marx

Although Groucho was a prolific writer, he did not write the story "Love Happy". Ryskind and Kaufman were both prominent in writing early vehicles for the brothers, but were no longer associated with them later in their careers.

Answer: False

Lyricists Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby had penned "Who's Sorry Now?" in the 1920s as a joke and never intended for it to be released. Ted Snyder added music, and the song was released without permission from Kalmar and Ruby. It became a huge hit, and contributed to establishing their reputations as songwriters.

Answer: A train wheel

During the uproarious "race" scene when the brothers are chopping up the wooden parts of the train to fuel the train's boiler, Rusty's axe apparently becomes dull. He lies down on what is left of the floor and sharpens it against one of the spinning train wheels before returning to chopping the train to bits.

Answer: Marilyn Monroe

"Love Happy" introduced the movie going public to Marilyn Monroe, who played private detective Sam Grunion's (Groucho) client. Ms. Lollobrigida made her debut is the 1946 film "Aquila Nera" (US title "Return of the Black Eagle"). Ms. Loren made her (uncredited) debut in 1950's "Cuori Sul Mare" and first appeared in the US in 1951's "Era Lui . . . Si! Si!" (literally, "It's Him! . . . Yes! Yes!"). Ms. Mansfield's debut was in 1954's "Female Jungle".