One of the more controversial things I've posted on this blog is the following chart…
I posted it some time ago and some people still want to argue that Duck Soup is a better movie than the two I listed above it. They want to argue this even though it's not a list of what I (or anyone) would say are the best Marx Brothers movies in order of their merits. This a list of my personal preferences and telling me I'm wrong is like saying I'm wrong that I like McDonald's more than Burger King.
I might entertain an argument that I don't prefer Room Service enough to put it at tenth place. I recently tried to watch it again and if I'm ever dumb enough to post an update on this list, I'll probably move it down a few notches. How could such a funny play be turned into such a not-funny Marx Brothers movie?
Also, I still get the occasional e-mail from someone who wants to argue that Love Happy is not a Marx Brothers movie and should not be identified as a Marx Brothers movie. To them, I can only offer this incontrovertible Perry Mason-solid proof. The opening titles of Love Happy say this…
See that? "Starring The Marx Brothers." That makes it a Marx Brothers movie, end of argument. In fact, if Francis Ford Coppola had put that title card on Megalopolis, that would make Megalopolis a Marx Brothers movie. And someone might even go see it.