Although three brothers formed the core of the Marx Brothers comedy team, there were originally five: Leonard (Chico, 1887–1961), Arthur (Harpo, 1888–1964), Julius (Groucho, 1890–1977), Milton (Gummo, 1893–1977), and Herbert (Zeppo, 1901–1979). The five began their comedy career in music hall and vaudeville (see entry under 1900s—Film and Theater in volume 1). After Gummo left the act around 1918, the remaining four began to develop the comic routines for which they became famous. The Marx Brothers are best known for the absurd films they made for Paramount in the 1930s. With their combination of slapstick, music, and Groucho's hilarious one-liners, features like Monkey Business (1931), Horse Feathers (1932), and Duck Soup (1933) are among the finest comic films ever made.

The first Marx Brothers film, based on their hit Broadway stage show, The Cocoanuts, appeared in 1930. All the films follow a similar pattern. Fast-talking, wisecracking, penniless Groucho pursues rich, older Margaret Dumont (1889–1965), who constantly has...