Page 40 Classic Images May 2016 a crowd- of Content Management about the funding work. Peter is in charge of the group campaign doing the restorations. It was great and are in to hear from Peter that Universal is the midst committed to not only maintaining of fundrais- its archives, but also funding the res- ing. As we go toration and remastering of its “crown to press, he jewel titles.” hopes to have “Our goal is to find the most com- plete versions and make sure they look as close as possible to the day they were originally released.” says Peter. RARE SIGHTINGS The work is very exacting. “In some cases where the film elements are in good shape, we can do a full blown By Robert E. Tevis restoration in a matter of three or A Resurgence in Marxism four months, in more complex situa- tions we can spend as much as five to Before you think I have gone politi- eight months or longer. Each title is cal, let me state categorically that I am unique. In the case of The Cocoanuts not talking about Karl, but Groucho, we started in the second quarter of Chico, Harpo, and sometimes, Zeppo. last year and are, at this point, nine It all started with an evening at the months into it.” Lambs Club in New York City where Noah Diamond, a Marx historian While most Marx Brother’s aficio- and arguably one of the finest liv- ISSI title treatment nados are excited to have better look- ing Groucho impersonators, had just Noah Diamond as Groucho Marx (Photo ing copies, the real excitement arises Cocoanuts (1925) and Animal Crackers courtesy of Don Spiro) given a presentation on I’ll Say She from the rediscovery of lost picture (1928), was never filmed. Is—the lost Marx Brothers musical elements. This will be the case with and their first Broadway production. We talked about how parts of this the play on stage this May at the restored Animal Crackers. The exist- You can be forgiven for not recogniz- little known show have made it into Connelly Theater. If you think you ing copies of the film had displayed ing that title as that show, unlike The films. For example, the opening scene can help, please go to www.illsaysheis. eight jump cuts—corrcorresponding to from the play was filmed as part of a com or contact him directly at noah@ film called The House That Shadows illsaysheis.com. His Lambs Club pre- Built (1931). That film, which was sentation, which I do recommend, made to celebrate the 20th anniver- can be seen at www.Youtu.be/eU8d- sary of Paramount Studios founding, 8FEYn0 . was also intended as early advertis- Besides Noah’s Marxian efforts, ing for their upcoming film Monkey Universal Studios is currently in the Business (1932). process of restoring and remastering In addition, a 1970’s ABC tele- the first five Marx Brothers sound vision, animated special called The films—The Cocoanuts (1929), Animal Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians (1970), Crackers (1930), Monkey Business also incorporated a sequence where (1931). Horse Feathers (1932), and Groucho played Napoleon—with Duck Soup (1933). New 35mm pres- the real Groucho Marx providing the ervation negatives are being created voice. Noah also spoke about the as well as DCPs (Digital Cinema first Marx Brothers silent film—more Packages) for exhibition. Their first about that later in this article. restoration, Horse Feathers, will be shown at this year’s TCM Film Festival Meanwhile, If Noah gets his lifelong which will have occurred in April. wish, he will be producing a revival of Through Mike Feinberg, Manager I’ll Say She Is on the New York stage of Film Preservation at Universal, I Noah Diamond and Melody Jane (Photo spoke to Peter Schade, Vice President Noah as Groucho playing Napoleon courtesy of Don Spiro) this year. They have been running (Photo courtesy of Don Spiro) www.classicimages.com Classic Images Page 41 Horse Feathers frame before restoration and after (Photos provided by Universal Studios) censorship cuts made on the cusp of than anything that has been released made together. The film reportedly does not have the Production Code era. According in recent history. Dust and scratches the group performing their regular to Peter, “We were fortunate to locate have been removed, frame jitter has The film, a play on the contempo- roles. Groucho reportedly plays a vil- a duplicate negative at the British Film been corrected, and contrast has been rary film Humoresque (1920) was the lain, with Chico as his henchman, Institute that was a pre-censorship improved. Universal is currently eval- first silent film the Marx Brothers Harpo as a detective, and Zeppo as a version.” This version included ele- uating home entertainment opportu- made together. It was also the first playboy. Although this is not known ments which were excised in the US nities for restored versions of each of film written by Jo Swerling. Swerling, for certain. To know for sure we need release. This includes several Groucho its Marx Brothers films. you may recall, wrote such notable someone to see the film and describe innuendos, a more complete “Hooray films as Lifeboat (1944), Leave Her to While Animal Crackers will be add- it. for Captain Spaulding” song as well Heaven (1945) as well as contribut- ing truly rare elements, you may be as well as two scenes with Harpo and ing to Pride of the Yankees (1942) and Legend has it that the initial reaction Margaret Irving that were significantly thinking that these five Marx Brothers films are some of the least-rare sight- It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). Swerling from its premiere audience was so altered by censors. These lost elements was an initial investor in a com- poor that Groucho vowed to destroy will now be seen and heard in the ings, as these films have been available pany formed by the Marx Brothers the negative and all prints. Of course, newly restored and remastered film. for years on television, tapes, discs, and streaming media. Nothing, how- called Caravel Comedies. Humor Risk this legend was established by Groucho Content wise, the other four films ever, can be rarer in the Marx canon was their initial, and though it had himself—whose veracity, as well as his do not have any additional footage, than the film Humor Risk (1921)—the announce a few additional pictures, falsity, is sometimes questioned by his but will look much, much better first and only silent film the brothers only production. fans. Monkey Business frame before restoration (note projectionist cue mark) and after (with cue removed) (Photos provided by Universal Studios) Page 42 Classic Images May 2016 Noah pointed me to a website that Perhaps, 2016 will be the year when had an excellent recent article, writ- someone finds this rare film. 16MM FILMS FOR SALE ten by Matthew Coniam in late 2015, JOHN MCKEON 26 CABLE LANE, HICKSVILLE, NY According to Noah Diamond, “One where Coniam writes a detailed and 11801 • 516-996-5969 WHEN YOu CALL, LEAVE AMESSAgE story has it that during the rage around in-depth study of the rumors, facts I HAVE 16MM ELMOS FOR SALE CALL FOR PRICE AND TITLES I’ll Say She Is, Alexander Wollcott, who and fictions behind both the produc- IHAVE MOVIE POSTERS CALL FOR INFORMATION was their biggest cheerleader in the 16mm Sound Projectors Trouble along Way . $450 tion and the fate of the film. (www. Kodak 16mm CT 1000 new . $1200 Blood Alley IB Tech . .$900 press, found out they had made this Elmo CL . .$400 Legend of Lost LPP rare . $900 bretonfilm.com/articles/the-marx- Eiki SSL . .$400 Outer Space Jitters rare . .$300 silent film. He demanded a screening Eiki NT . .$400 Devil’s Brother L&H . $650 brothers-lost-film-humor-risk-getting- and assembled the New York smart set Hokushin X-310 xenon mag opt . .$1000 Saps at Sea L&H . $300 Mexican Hayride A&C . .$300 to-the-bottom-of-a-mystery ). to see it. When they were ready to show Films She Wore a Yellow Ribbon LPP Mint . $1325 it, however, they found that the film Saps at Sea L&H . .$300 Go West Marx Bros . $300 Coniam not only challenges Way Out West L&H . .$300 L&H Bohemian Girl . .$300 canister had just the negative, and no Fra Diavolo L&H . .$600 Casablanca . .$500 Groucho’s claim but puts forth a theo- Blockheads L&H . .$325 Scared Stiff Martin & Lewis . .$300 positive and so the film wasn’t shown. Swiss Miss L&H . $325 A&C Meet Capt Kid color . $300 ry on how the film may have escaped Bonnie Scotland L&H rare . $800 A&C Meet Jekyll & Hyde . $350 I never heard anything else about that Flying Deuces L&H . $400 A&C Meet the Killer . $350 Groucho’s intentions through a com- story, and, as Joe Adamson says, Humor Dirty Work L&H . .$150 Gunga Din . .$300 Sons of Desert L&H . .$400 The Raven Karloff & Price . $350 pany called Reelcraft. I encourage you Risk will probably remain a great film, Mexican Hayride A&C . .$300 Devils Command Karloff . .$400 A&C Meet Frankenstein . $600 A&C Meet Frankenstein . $450 to read his story and check those film until they find it.” Sounds just like Buck Privates A&C . $300 Black Friday Karloff&Lugosi . $450 cans you have to see if you can resolve Charlie Chan in Paris . .$325 The Errand Boy J . Lewis . $350 something Groucho would have said. CC in Egypt .