IMDb RATING
7.5/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Quincy Adams Wagstaff, Huxley University's new president, accidentally hires bumblers Baravelli and Pinky to help his school win the big football game against their rival, Darwin University.Quincy Adams Wagstaff, Huxley University's new president, accidentally hires bumblers Baravelli and Pinky to help his school win the big football game against their rival, Darwin University.Quincy Adams Wagstaff, Huxley University's new president, accidentally hires bumblers Baravelli and Pinky to help his school win the big football game against their rival, Darwin University.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 2 nominations total
Groucho Marx
- Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff
- (as The Four Marx Brothers)
Chico Marx
- Baravelli
- (as The Four Marx Brothers)
Harpo Marx
- Pinky
- (as The Four Marx Brothers)
Zeppo Marx
- Frank Wagstaff
- (as The Four Marx Brothers)
Bobby Barber
- Speakeasy Patron
- (uncredited)
Reginald Barlow
- Retiring College President
- (uncredited)
Vince Barnett
- Speakeasy Patron
- (uncredited)
Sheila Bromley
- Wagstaff's Receptionist
- (uncredited)
E.H. Calvert
- Professor in Wagstaff's Study
- (uncredited)
Edgar Dearing
- Speakeasy Bartender
- (uncredited)
Robert Greig
- Biology Professor Giving Lecture
- (uncredited)
Theresa Harris
- Laura - Connie's Maid
- (uncredited)
Edward LeSaint
- Professor in Wagstaff's Study
- (uncredited)
Florine McKinney
- Peggy Carrington
- (uncredited)
Nat Pendleton
- MacHardie - Darwin Player
- (uncredited)
Featured reviews
Fun and hilariously amusing comedy in which the Marx Brothers attempting to win a Rugby major championship for getting fame and fortune to save the University . Relentlessly comical and outrageous comedy with musical interludes that still works very well . The first to follow ¨Monkey Business¨, one of their biggest success and use a variation on its formula . Amusing and entertaining Marx Brothers picture , it has a lot of funny material and unfortunately intrusive songs . Groucho's wisecracks and the incomparable Chico and Harpo carry the movie . Profesor Wagstaff (Groucho Marx) has just been installed as the new but corrupt president of Huxley College , and he has to beef up its football team to win the championship game which has been rigged by local gamblers in the opposition´s favor , as he knows just how to do it . His rightness attitude toward education is not reserved for his son Frank (Zeppo) , who is seeing the college widow , Connie Bailey. Frank influences Wagstaff to recruit two football players who hang out in a speakeasy, in order to beat rival school Darwin . Unfortunately, Wagstaff mistakenly hires the crooks and hilarious Baravelli (Chico) and Pinky (Harpo). Finding out that Darwin has beaten him to the "real" players, Wagstaff enlists Baravelli and Pinky attempt to kidnap them. They go collegiate-and change "rah-rah" into "ha-ha-ha!"Mirth's Four Horsemen run wild thru a college of love-thirsty co-eds. Lunacy becomes a pleasure as these nuts go collegiate! They turn dear old Darwin into a monkey asylum-twist rah! Rah! Into ha! Ha! -and have a swell time while the school burns to the ground!
Amusing and fun Marx movie with a series of incidents which lead to an anarchic football end . Features some of the brothers´s classic routines and the songs : ¨Whatever it is , I´m against it¨ , ¨Everyone says I love you¨. Classic Marx film with many funny sequences , this is the most sustained bit of insanity , full of crazy gags , antics and amusement , being now deemed a satiric masterpiece and one of the biggest hits . Though not as mercilessly hilarious and outrageous as other films , it results to be , nonetheless , an agreeable movie . The Marx Brothers were still at the peak of their fame in this Paramount Pictures musical/comedy. Although it suffers from excessive musical comedy plotting , but it gives the zany threesome plenty of comic elaboration . It works very well , which , unfortunately and sadly , did not prove to be the case with most of the Marx Brothers pictures that went on . Enough gags for give several movies , but our favorite is still as Harpo gets to win the match . Despite the abundant songs , the movie maintains itself very well . Excellent Harpo Marx , as usual , he even did many of his own stunts , he later said it was a silly thing for a 47-year-old .This is the second Marx Brothers film made with brother Zeppo Marx, it started a new trend of The Marx Brothers movies featuring a Zeppo-like supporting character who carries the love story and sings the song . If previous Marx films were M. G. M. Lavishly financed by Max Siegel and Irving Thalberg , from now on, their movies produced by Paramount Pictures and Herman J. Mankiewicz . The motion picture was well directed by Norman Z MacLeod . He was a perfectionist filming very charming scenes . Don't miss it , one of the funniest picture ever made by Marx Brothers.
Other important films starred by Marx Brothers -many of them Broadway farce plays transfered by scenarists into vehicle for the Brothers- , they are the following ones : ¨Animal crackers¨, ¨Duck soap¨ that was a flop when first released but today considered a masterpiece , ¨Horse Feathers¨, ¨At the circus¨, ¨A night at the Opera¨,¨Day at the races¨ , ¨Room service¨ , ¨Go West¨, ¨Love Happy¨ and ¨Night in Casablanca¨, though in 1946 the Marx formula was weak and wearing thin. Any film with Groucho , Chico , Harpo and Zeppo is well worth seeing .
Amusing and fun Marx movie with a series of incidents which lead to an anarchic football end . Features some of the brothers´s classic routines and the songs : ¨Whatever it is , I´m against it¨ , ¨Everyone says I love you¨. Classic Marx film with many funny sequences , this is the most sustained bit of insanity , full of crazy gags , antics and amusement , being now deemed a satiric masterpiece and one of the biggest hits . Though not as mercilessly hilarious and outrageous as other films , it results to be , nonetheless , an agreeable movie . The Marx Brothers were still at the peak of their fame in this Paramount Pictures musical/comedy. Although it suffers from excessive musical comedy plotting , but it gives the zany threesome plenty of comic elaboration . It works very well , which , unfortunately and sadly , did not prove to be the case with most of the Marx Brothers pictures that went on . Enough gags for give several movies , but our favorite is still as Harpo gets to win the match . Despite the abundant songs , the movie maintains itself very well . Excellent Harpo Marx , as usual , he even did many of his own stunts , he later said it was a silly thing for a 47-year-old .This is the second Marx Brothers film made with brother Zeppo Marx, it started a new trend of The Marx Brothers movies featuring a Zeppo-like supporting character who carries the love story and sings the song . If previous Marx films were M. G. M. Lavishly financed by Max Siegel and Irving Thalberg , from now on, their movies produced by Paramount Pictures and Herman J. Mankiewicz . The motion picture was well directed by Norman Z MacLeod . He was a perfectionist filming very charming scenes . Don't miss it , one of the funniest picture ever made by Marx Brothers.
Other important films starred by Marx Brothers -many of them Broadway farce plays transfered by scenarists into vehicle for the Brothers- , they are the following ones : ¨Animal crackers¨, ¨Duck soap¨ that was a flop when first released but today considered a masterpiece , ¨Horse Feathers¨, ¨At the circus¨, ¨A night at the Opera¨,¨Day at the races¨ , ¨Room service¨ , ¨Go West¨, ¨Love Happy¨ and ¨Night in Casablanca¨, though in 1946 the Marx formula was weak and wearing thin. Any film with Groucho , Chico , Harpo and Zeppo is well worth seeing .
One of the better Marx Brothers movies. This one came right in the middle of their prime, between Monkey Business and Duck Soup (probably their two best films). While Horse Feathers isn't quite as funny as either of those, it still has plenty of laughs. The Marx Brothers were still young, but they knew what they were doing now. Again they take advantage of the film medium to do things they never could have done on stage, like the wild football finale. The involvement of the supporting cast is also kept to a minimum, which is always a good thing in Marx Bros. films. They do go back to relying on too many musical numbers. Groucho's opening song "Whatever it is, I'm Against it" seems awkwardly out of place, but it's interesting to see all four brothers do their own version of "Everyone Says I Love you." It's not their very best work, but it's not far from it either.
Hilarious Marx Bros. film with Groucho as the new president of Huxley College and Zeppo as his son, who convinces his dad to recruit professional football players to help the college's losing team. Groucho sets out to do just that but instead of getting two pros, he recruits speakeasy 'icemen' Chico and Harpo. Chaos naturally ensues at the college leading up to the big football game, which has to be seen to be believed.
All of the brothers are in top form here, with the main three getting lots of funny bits and Zeppo getting possibly his best role from any of their films. Thelma Todd appears in her second Marx Bros. movie, playing the girlfriend of villain David Landau who sets out to seduce Zeppo and winds up seducing the rest of the brothers, too. Sadly there's no Margaret Dumont this time. This is probably the best Marx movie that didn't feature Dumont. Nat Pendleton plays one of the football players on the opposing team. Look out for Walter Brennan as a commentator on the big game. Some funny tunes and several great gags, including "The password is swordfish," the crazy football game, Groucho teaching a class, and all those funny things Harpo pulls out of that coat of his. It's one of the Marx Brothers' best. Definitely recommended.
All of the brothers are in top form here, with the main three getting lots of funny bits and Zeppo getting possibly his best role from any of their films. Thelma Todd appears in her second Marx Bros. movie, playing the girlfriend of villain David Landau who sets out to seduce Zeppo and winds up seducing the rest of the brothers, too. Sadly there's no Margaret Dumont this time. This is probably the best Marx movie that didn't feature Dumont. Nat Pendleton plays one of the football players on the opposing team. Look out for Walter Brennan as a commentator on the big game. Some funny tunes and several great gags, including "The password is swordfish," the crazy football game, Groucho teaching a class, and all those funny things Harpo pulls out of that coat of his. It's one of the Marx Brothers' best. Definitely recommended.
There's a lot of good material in this Marx Brothers feature, with just enough plot to hold it together and to set up a very entertaining final sequence. As usual, there are a number of memorable scenes to choose from when picking your favorite parts of the movie.
This time the brothers are let loose on a college campus that is getting ready for a big football game. Groucho and Zeppo are the new college president and his son, while Harpo and Chico arrive from a nearby neighborhood in time to add their own kind of confusion. The campus setting allows them to satirize many aspects of college life, and there are some good off-campus scenes as well, most memorably the 'swordfish' scene in the speakeasy. It's capped off with a hilarious football game that is one of their best sequences.
This ranks highly on almost anyone's list of favorite Marx Brothers features - if you're a fan, make sure to see it.
This time the brothers are let loose on a college campus that is getting ready for a big football game. Groucho and Zeppo are the new college president and his son, while Harpo and Chico arrive from a nearby neighborhood in time to add their own kind of confusion. The campus setting allows them to satirize many aspects of college life, and there are some good off-campus scenes as well, most memorably the 'swordfish' scene in the speakeasy. It's capped off with a hilarious football game that is one of their best sequences.
This ranks highly on almost anyone's list of favorite Marx Brothers features - if you're a fan, make sure to see it.
While this film ISN'T as famous as DUCK SOUP or A NIGHT AT THE OPERA, it's my personal favorite. I think it's probably because unlike these other two pictures, there isn't all the singing and dancing in HORSE FEATHERS plus it has at least as much energy as any other film they made. Plus, unlike THE COCOANUTS and ANIMAL CRACKERS, there is a real honest-to-goodness plot!!! So, it's not just one gag after another after another.
Groucho is wonderful as the incompetent and perpetually horny Professor Wagstaff at Huxley College. Plus, as idiots mistaken for professional ringers, Chico and Harpo are at their best. Oh, and I guess Zeppo is in the movie, but as in all their early Zeppo films, he is pretty much a non-entity. You can really see why he never caught on as one of the Marx Brothers (nor did his other brother, Karl, who was by far the LEAST funny Marx Brother).
About the only negative about the film is the climactic football game. Even for a Marx Brothers film, this does get a little too stupid! But, the rest of the movie is so good, you really don't mind.
UPDATE: I just saw this film on the big screen and upon viewing it again, I am reducing the score to 8. Yes, it is good for the Marx Brothers but the plot, such as it is, is barely a plot at all, the film's ending is bizarre and senseless and a few of the jokes a bit less funny after re-watching. Still good and still worth seeing if you just turn off your brain and enjoy all the nonsense.
Groucho is wonderful as the incompetent and perpetually horny Professor Wagstaff at Huxley College. Plus, as idiots mistaken for professional ringers, Chico and Harpo are at their best. Oh, and I guess Zeppo is in the movie, but as in all their early Zeppo films, he is pretty much a non-entity. You can really see why he never caught on as one of the Marx Brothers (nor did his other brother, Karl, who was by far the LEAST funny Marx Brother).
About the only negative about the film is the climactic football game. Even for a Marx Brothers film, this does get a little too stupid! But, the rest of the movie is so good, you really don't mind.
UPDATE: I just saw this film on the big screen and upon viewing it again, I am reducing the score to 8. Yes, it is good for the Marx Brothers but the plot, such as it is, is barely a plot at all, the film's ending is bizarre and senseless and a few of the jokes a bit less funny after re-watching. Still good and still worth seeing if you just turn off your brain and enjoy all the nonsense.
Did you know
- TriviaDuring filming, Chico Marx was in a car accident and shattered his kneecap. In some scenes, he can be seen limping.
- GoofsAfter Huxley kicks an extra point following Pinky's touchdown, Darwin kicks off to Huxley.
- Quotes
Professor Wagstaff: Baravelli, you've got the brain of a four-year old boy, and I bet he was glad to get rid of it.
- Alternate versionsThere is an Italian edition of this film on DVD, distributed by DNA Srl: "PIUME DI CAVALLO (I fratelli Marx al college, 1932)" (in double version 1.33:1 and 1.78:1), re-edited with the contribution of film historian Riccardo Cusin. This version is also available for streaming on some platforms.
- ConnectionsFeatured in L'univers du rire (1982)
- SoundtracksWhatever It Is, I'm Against It
(1932) (uncredited)
Music by Harry Ruby
Lyrics by Bert Kalmar
Sung by Groucho Marx and Chorus
- How long is Horse Feathers?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $208
- Runtime1 hour 8 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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