Humor Risk

Humor Risk, also known as Humorisk, is a lost unreleased 1921 silent comedy short film that was the first film to star the Marx Brothers (Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx and Zeppo Marx).

For the Cass McCombs album, see Humor Risk (album).

Humor Risk
The Marx Brothers in 1921. Pictured left to right: Zeppo, Groucho, Harpo, and Chico
Directed byDick Smith
Written byJo Swerling
Produced byThe Marx Brothers
Al Posen
Max Lippman
Jo Swerling
StarringChico Marx
Groucho Marx
Harpo Marx
Zeppo Marx
Jobyna Ralston
CinematographyA. H. Vallet
Distributed byCaravel Comedies
Running time
2 reels
CountryUnited States
LanguagesSilent film
English intertitles

Production

Humor Risk was directed by comedy film director Dick Smith (1886–1937), and was the first film written by Jo Swerling, who later co-wrote It's a Wonderful Life, Gone with the Wind and many other films. It was filmed in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The film's title was a spoof of the Fannie Hurst drama Humoresque, one of the biggest film hits of 1920.

The print may have been accidentally thrown away when left in the screening box overnight.[1] Another version of the story says that Groucho Marx, unhappy with the film's quality, intentionally burned the negative after a particularly bad premiere screening.

Synopsis

Information about the plot of the film is sparse.[2] It is known that the brothers were working separately, rather than as a team, and did not incorporate their trademark comic personalities for which they later became known.

Harpo played the hero, a detective named Watson who "made his entrance in a high hat, sliding down a coal chute into the basement". Groucho played an "old movie" villain, who "sported a long moustache and was clad in black", while Chico was probably his "chuckling [Italian] henchman". Zeppo portrayed a playboy who was the owner of a nightclub in which most of the action took place, including "a cabaret, [which allowed] the inclusion of a dance number". The final shot showed Groucho "in ball and chain, trudging slowly off into the gloaming". Harpo, in a rare moment of romantic glory, gets the girl in the end.[3]

Cast

Four of the five Marx Brothers are known to have been in this short film. Jobyna Ralston is most often mentioned as the female lead. However, some sources say that Mildred Davis—star and later wife of Harold Lloyd—was also in the film. The websites Marxology and SilentEra both state that the leading lady could have been one of two other actresses, Esther Ralston or Helen Kane.[4]

The Marx Brothers would later find success in motion pictures with The Cocoanuts (1929).

See also

References
  1. Simon Louvish. (2000) Monkey Business: The Lives and Legends of the Marx Brothers, Thomas Dunne Books; 1st U.S. edition.
  2. Getting the Big Picture; The Film Industry Started Here and Left. Now It's Back, and the State Says the Sequel Is Huge.. – New York Times (October 4, 1998). Retrieved on 2011-01-10.
  3. "Humor Risk". Marxology. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
  4. "Humor Risk 1921". Silent Era.
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