Groucho talks about Irving Thalberg & Margaret Dumont

[@jzerony]

Groucho never fails to amaze me with his brutal honesty... that bit about Margaret Dumont was quite touching.

[@66kprdwd]

Groucho was almost 80 when he did this show and he was still sharp as a tack.

[@leafyutube]

What a great voice. He's a pleasure to listen to.

[@libertygiveme1987]

I just LOVED Groucho and Margaret Dumont together!!!! Even if she didn't understand what it was Groucho was saying, they were still MAGICAL TOGETHER!!!! And I think it's pretty neat that Margaret's last televised performance was with Groucho!!!! Rest in Peace Margaret, Groucho, Chico, Gummo and Harpo!!!! Oh, and Zeppo!!!! I think I have them ALL!!!!

[@bluesborn]

When I watch the old Marx Brothers films I'm always amazed at how well the humour has held up over ther decades.The way Groucho delivered his lines seems so contemporary to me even now.They were truly well ahead of their time.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Anarchists. Calling out 💩 will always work because 💩 doesn't change.

[@JavierHuerta]

That's because it's not contemporary. It is timeless.

[@JJONNYREPP]

Groucho talks about Irving Thalberg & Margaret Dumont. 1449pm. 24.8.23. different era, I know, but I can't find anything amusing about the Marc brothers...maybe refer back to his sincere early acting career where he was taken humorously....

[@prunejuicebob]

6:20 "I think women are sexy when they got their clothes on.... And if later they take them off then you've triumphed" Great line! He was still so sharp and funny.

[@michaelbarlow6610]

Groucho frequently claimed that Margaret Dumont never understood Groucho's humor. But she gave an interview once in which she claimed that she actually did understand the Marx Brothers' humor but felt that she had to play her stuffy, high society-type characters in their films absolutely serious in order to provide a sharp contrast to their humor.

[@targetpractice2351]

I have no doubt whatsoever she understood every bit of the humour. She had a wonderful grasp of playing the straight woman. Not unlike the niche Carol Cleveland filled with the Monty Python gang. You could never take anything Groucho said seriously anyway. He was a lot like Robin Williams in that regard. He was always playing a character, even during interviews.

[@targetpractice2351]

@@jamie.777 Probably. Robin Williams was like that too. Clearly he was covering up some deep pain.

[@AlanCanon2222]

I would really love to read that interview. Her timing was just so spot on from Animal Crackers on up, I cannot believe she didn't get the joke most of the time.

[@MrKersey]

@@AlanCanon2222 of course she got all of his jokes, but she played dumb in order to stay in character. In her own words: "I'm not a stooge, I'm a straight lady. There's an art to playing straight. You must build up your man, but never top him, never steal the laughs from him"

[@AlanCanon2222]

@@MrKersey I'd say she killed it!

[@osocool1too]

What a wonderful man...god bless him. 😇

[@noeloneill477]

this man is such a natural story teller.fantastic, unlike today where it's all about me.

[@stokepogue]

Thanks for posting this. Groucho's in fine form.

[@troylowe814]

Groucho was, and still is, the best.

[@vxenon67]

salute to Margaret Dumont.

[@pfelon]

Even the most devout Thalberg historians seem to back up this insane story. Gotta love the Marx brothers!

[@sgrant39]

My father told me this story 50 years ago

[@peterspatz9510]

Yes

[@Lazylizardgear]

That was a beautiful interview. *sniff* I love that man like he was my own grandfather.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Stop sniffing your grandfather, he's dead.

[@MsLilyhorse]

He is such a good source of information about the golden era of Hollywood. And still pretty hip up until the end. So very witty.

[@jamesellsworth9673]

Top Level GROUCHO!

[@gregt2022]

I could listen to Groucho for days.

[@LeonAllanDavis]

Groucho was pulling everyone's leg on this one. Margaret Dumont was as smart as they come. She could not have played off Groucho so magnificently if she was clueless. In fact, she said on more than one occasion that she knew exactly what was going on. In another interview Groucho mentioned that Margaret had done a picture because "she needed the money". That was also an inside joke. The woman was loaded. Richer than all the Marx Brothers put together. She married John Moller Jr in 1910. He was a sugar heir and an industrialist. He died in 1918 of the flu and left her everything. This is probably why in every picture Margaret played a rich widow. Seems to me Groucho portrayed Margaret as clueless to protect her image and memory as a lady of dignity and class. The brothers got pretty raunchy at times and it was better to say she understood none of the off-color lowbrow gags and sexual innuendo. I've always been deeply infatuated with Margaret Dumont and I'm sure Groucho was as well. She was just so perfect.

[@jadezee6316]

after watching this i dont see how you can claim groucho was pulling anyones leg...he definitely wants you to believe he is telling the truth about her...and belittling her with the flower bit..is not the mark of a gentleman...as they say

[@jadezee6316]

you are making stuff up..you don't accuse a woman of being a has been...so depressed she no longer can even get someone to buy her flowers...because you think she is watching you from heaven...even the thought borders on psychotic megalomania...@@specialrelationship

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@ Leon Allan Davis. The story that Margaret Dumont died penniless is probably a myth. From the information you include in your posted comment about her marriage to a wealthy industrialist, she probably died a very wealthy woman and did not need money when she continued performing towards the end of her life.

[@LeonAllanDavis]

@@michaelbarlow6610 Someone should put together a book about all the nonsense movie folks got up to back then. Couple favorite stories to illustrate. Before Talulah Bankhead became famous, she was a "nice girl". The daughter of a famous Alabama politician. Groucho tells the story about his brother Chico who was one of the legendary swordsman in Hollywood. Right up there with Errol Flynn, minus the booze and dope. The Marx brothers were at a fancy affair and Groucho warned Chico to be on his best behavior. Chico promised, scout's honor. Chico meets Talulah and after exchanging pleasantries, says, "I would really like to fuck you!" And Talulah says, "and so you shall, my old fashioned boy! And so you shall!" Second story. In 1940. It seems that Paulette Goddard was having dinner at a fancy Hollywood restaurant with the famous director Anatole Litvak. She crawled under the table and gave him a very noisy blowjob, in front of all the other diners. Waiters had to put up screens to block the view. Litvak was forced to flee back to Europe for a couple years. Sure was fun back in those days....

[@KomradeKrusher]

Exactly. Carny code. Keep the wool over the audiences' eyes even just that little bit to keep up the illusion. As you said, she could not have provided what she did had she not understood Groucho perfectly.

[@heinrichvon]

The wonderful, politically incorrect Groucho! This made my day.

[@diddymuck]

I completely adore this man!

[@soylentteal]

In another version of the potato story, Groucho said that when Thalberg came in and saw them, he laughed and had the commissary send up some butter.

[@cainster]

I can believe both

[@ghostrider-ek8gu]

The one, the only ... Groucho.

[@luishumbertovega3900]

Chaplin envied Groucho's funny, witty eloquency, he told him he wished he had that way with words, Chaplin never felt comfortable in interviews, even when he was plugging his pictures, while Groucho could improvise the most clever comebackers.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

I envy Groucho, too. His wordplay is unequaled.

[@lindaloe]

GROUCHO=GENIUS!!

[@TelecasterLPGTop]

@prodigiesofpeace You've captured how I'm feeling right this second. I'm 57, born in 1953 and I remember sitting in front of the box at my cousins' place (we didn't have TV until 1959) and the people who were on TV then were definitely of a different class. People like Groucho & his bros seemed to have a certain warmth, in fact everything felt different in those days. Probably just me remembering the "good Old days" after all I was 7 yrs old and you "should" feel warm and safe at that age.

[@jaykauffman4775]

Thalberg was a genius and transformed the idea of the producer. He knew he had a short time to live so he crammed in as much as he could

[@davidmazzie]

Well, he gave the wrong character's name. He was Otis B. Driftwood in "Night at the Opera"; "Duck Soup" was Rufus T. Firefly.

[@4thstooge]

An American original. There will never be another "Groucho"

[@michaelvaldez6878]

I'm a huge Thalberg fan! No credit on his films.............How refreshing in this superficial reality world!

[@porcospino289]

I didn`t know he ever did this sort of interview. Great to see. A Planetary Treasure.

[@calisongbird]

There's a whole series of these

[@porcospino289]

Cripes; I just watched this again. Julius Marx was VERY sharp in this, really on. Lots of mutual admiration between him and Cavett. A clip like this really makes me miss Groucho.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

@@porcospino289 If only he'd made movies. So we could remember him.

[@jimnething1264]

@@unowen-nh9ov lol!

[@danielstanwyck2812]

A little disappointing in that he did not say what I have heard him say in interviews before: how wonderful an actress Dumont was and how dear she was to him.

[@stephaniemccoy9602]

+daniel stanwyck id love to watch the interviews that he had nice things to say about her

[@roberthaworth8991]

Those two had been in two hit Broadway shows together -- The Cocoanuts and Animal Crackers. The stage is a much more intimate experience than film, and b/c it's done live you have to really trust the other actors. They trusted each other.

[@potroastpig]

I know he def trusted her, I just didn’t care for how he described her as sad and bought her own roses. I hope he was just attempting a joke. I just discovered these films and I’m loving them.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Yes, if only he'd called her the 5th Marx brother in his Oscar acceptance speech. Like he did.

[@potroastpig]

Actually after watching the Honors Oscar speech he didn’t call her that there, but I know he did call her that in another interview. I’ve now watched four of their films, they’re freaking hilarious. Margaret Dumont is perfect in all of them too. All I was saying was I didn’t care for how he said the story about her by the stage door. Doesn’t meant I think any less.

[@Veggieman87]

I just tried doing "M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I" to the tune of the Mickey Mouse song, like what Groucho was sort of doing, and it actually works! Just thought that was fun.

[@neilmacdonald9843]

Love Groucho

[@jimnething1264]

me too! 😊

[@NancyHey]

Groucho wears the funniest hats!

[@unowen-nh9ov]

On the funniest head.

[@robertcarly9183]

Groucho had worn a toupee and felt it didn't look good on him, so he wore his golf hat instead.

[@RichardHannay]

“When they get rich, they become Republicans” Lol!

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Except nowadays they become Democrats. How times have changed.

[@WildBillCox13]

A unique perspective. WC fields in International House heard heiress Peggy Hopkins Joyce remark "I'm sitting on something" when she plops down into the passenger seat, to which he replied: "I lost mine in the stock market." Perhaps the funniest topical gag ever. That was the same USA Groucho is talking about. Since he grew up in Vaudeville, perhaps he is painting a wash over the real situation.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

What language is this?

[@WildBillCox13]

@@unowen-nh9ov International House: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_House_(1933_film)

[@Lampshade51]

Still in top form here (1969) but soon to have a series of strokes that slowed him down.

[@jessicathethreestoogesfan2635]

I didn’t know Groucho suffers strokes

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Old age gets us all. So what? Enjoy it while it lasts! That's the best you can do!

[@AventuraLuver]

That Margaret Dumont story is so sad :(

[@roberthaworth8991]

Don't cry for her. She was the widow of a wealthy sugar manufacturer who died of the Spanish Flu in 1918; she worked just for the hell of it, and had a great career on stage and screen, both before and after the Marx Brothers. She was 82 when she passed -- not a bad run.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

It would be sad had she not been able to appear. Great woman, great exit. Didn't type lady because Groucho would disapprove.

[@julianmarsh1378]

@@roberthaworth8991 Thank you for that!

[@royrowland5763]

@@roberthaworth8991 The heart attack and dying before the show aired is not necessarily the sad part. What is sad, if it's true and Groucho wasn't just speculating, is buying her own roses and thinking she was still a great contemporary star.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

@@royrowland5763 Happens to us all. Die young. Which is a high price to pay to go out on top.

[@robertwiesler381]

Groucho was a true hero

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

A comedic genius.

[@doctorcraptonicus7941]

At 5:55 Does he say Tommy Smothers insisted on him going to see the musical Hair?

[@landosalemchainsaw]

i was going to comment on that too

[@sgrant39]

Im sorry to all other talk show guests now and for 100 years. Groucho Marx was the funniest, most attuned, best improviser and greatest guest ever.

[@Nicar526]

That really was Margret's charm

[@diddymuck]

I wept like a baby when he passed on.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

So did he.

[@tamerlanenj]

Lol Groucho was Driftwood in Night at the Opera. He was Rufus T. Firefly in Duck Soup.

[@CharlieChaplinsAngel]

@danutcase66 definitly. As you an tell by my username i'm a very avid watcher of Chaplin and discovered the marx brothers quite quickly and I'm the kind of person that when i like something i try to find out as much about it as possible. The first thing i ever read about the marx brothers that really sparked my love for them is the book "Hello I Must be Going". I also read his autobiography and I absolutely loved it. God Bless that man, "I'm going to live forever or die trying," -Groucho Marx :)

[@craigtalbott731]

Someone made a comment on a blogsite (or something similar) who compared my late Auntie, film/TV actress Gloria Talbott, to be the horror film genre equivalent of Margaret Dumont, which seems (@ least to me) like a rather interesting statement, and accessing both of their output I believe I can understand as to why. Dumont was great.

[@CharlieChaplinsAngel]

@wontonton agreed. I was 14 when i found my love for Groucho and Chaplin, havent had a chance to watch woody yet.

[@paulyandle1286]

Watch Groucho and William F Buckley. He was brilliantly articulate. Groucho, not Buckley.

[@loveandpeace3545]

Didn't know he was a Democrat, now I love him even more. When he said once they start making money they become Republicans, that is so true, even until this day.

[@TheSoulMan8]

from what I gather she did get the jokes and was just a good actress, but when the rumour started that she didn't understand the jokes it was just too good a story to pass up for the marx brothers

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Yes. For 7 movies. Or 8. She was the Melania of her era.

[@roberthaworth8991]

Another censored Groucho line was this one in the "Captain Spaulding" number:DUMONT (singing about Africa): "He is the only white man who's covered every acre."GROUCHO (speaking, aside to audience): "I think I'll try to make her!"CHORUS (singing): "Hooray, hooray, hooray!"Groucho's line was routinely cut out in copies distributed prior to the 2000s.

[@Prometheus833]

Smithereen is the derivative of and Irish word that means to break into pieces or fragments.

[@takineko]

4:30 I love when he just goes off on his nutty ramble. He's cute that way. XD

[@takineko]

The fact that the last time he saw her she had bought flowers and had them delivered to herself makes me really sad DX

[@karenkoe7096]

That is HIS story. He has no idea where the flowers came from he was just making that up. Makes a good story.

[@snuggletiger]

Otis Driftwood was in Night at the Opera, and Rufus T. Firefly was in Duck Soup

[@unowen-nh9ov]

While Groucho? Created them.

[@pfflyer3381]

3:40 just like when Bill Maher said.. everyone likes free stuff, referring to Entitlements! He forgot it's from payroll TAX WE PAY now it's a burden on HIS TAX!? Sure now, that he doesn't need unemployment benefits. But I'll bet he'll take it when he's not working! And social security too!

[@danjameson1572]

I went to see HAIR, I left at intermission. I only saw the topless half. I made that up, but there's no one like Groucho, or ever again

[@jumbod]

All I keep thinking about is Gilbert Gottfried’s impression of Groucho 😅

[@honeybeebadger]

1.Laurel Hardy 2.Marx Bros 3.Monty Python 4. Mel Brooks 5.Barry Humphries greatest all time

[@greg19670]

Reading Harpos biography. He was just as crazy as Groucho explained.

[@arlichar11]

there used to be more cavett shows online but now are gone, john houston and robert mitchum were excellent ones..but cant find em anymore..shame

[@Svlli1983]

They're all owned by Ted turner

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Cavett was the best. Bright, not lowbrow, insulting, PC Woke crap.

[@pglanville]

This Potato story changes a bit upon each retelling.

[@charmerci]

Reading the comments about Dumont. I work with a woman who does not get sarcasm or double entendres AT ALL. She's smart enough to understand that it can be humor - but just can't make the connection. That could have been Margaret Dumont.

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

Julius Henry Marx, más conocido como Groucho Marx (Nueva York, 2 de octubre de 1890-Los Ángeles, 19 de agosto de 1977), fue un actor, humorista y escritor estadounidense, conocido principalmente por ser uno de los miembros de los hermanos Marx. Es considerado el cómico más influyente de todos los tiempos, siendo sus frases, a pesar del paso del tiempo, destacadas en la cultura pop por generaciones, incluso en la época actual. Falleció en Los Ángeles a causa de una neumonía. Poco antes de morir, la Academia de Hollywood le había concedido un Óscar honorífico, en reconocimiento a toda su carrera cinematográfica.

[@Hypatia4242]

I don't know if I believe him about Margaret Dumont. I think she understood everything the Marx brothers were doing and reacted with an appropriate level of dismay and curiosity off stage. His final story about her is a bit cold too; it would have been nicer if he had sent her flowers for performing with him.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Flowers? Paycheck(s) not good enough? Without Groucho, would you know who Margaret Dumont was?

[@ManInTheBigHat]

..then you've triumphed!

[@George_Tropicana]

He said he wasn’t meant for that time (the 70’s) imagine how much he’d hate the 2020’s? Too bad time travel isn’t real ☹️

[@patricioberruti2586]

Recuerdo cuando partió el al otro mundo,en 1977,el titular del periódico,decía: Murió Groucho Marx,El Mundo se puso Serio.

[@Jeffdraws101]

Remember those scenes in The Simpsons where grandpa Simpson starts to ramble on about some story no one wants to hear?

[@unowen-nh9ov]

No.

[@morrisspielberg6664]

He was the best but he did screw up since Otis Driftwood was his character in the Night of the Opera

[@CharlieChaplinsAngel]

@prodigiesofpeace i couldnt agree more. Today's entertainment is disgusting...all the comedians base everything off sex and drugs. Groucho would make snide comments but my father said once "the good thing about the marx brothers is that in their movies there weren't tits flying around,". When I'm watching a ridiculous show like Jersey Shore I always mutter "this is disgusting," and people tell me that I sound like someone born in the Golden days of entertainment. Amen to what you say.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

If only you could change the channel. Or something. Amen.

[@adamcolbertmusic]

For a guy that's 5'7", he sure has some pianist fingers!!

[@SecretTimeWarp]

Any interviews from more towards the end - the kind that Gilbert Gottfried always mentions where he'd just ramble?

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Groucho never had to do television commercials. Isn't Gottfried's entire career based on rambling? Groucho's.

[@Veggieman87]

@drunkeneagle That's probably why Dick had him on the show so many times.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Groucho was a comedic genius. One of a kind. His ad libs are as good as anyone today. I'll bet few Millennials or Gen Z have heard of the Marx Brothers, which is a shame.

[@sheilatrachtenberg8997]

Groucho was tops until the stroke that he had around the time of his 82nd birthday. Then it was downhill dramatically.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

What do you expect? Best to go out early. Not suicide, but some spectacular feat. Like disappearing on a trip to the Amazon or something.

[@arlichar11]

6:18 to 6:30 is what i think too...

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

DICK CAVETT 19 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 1936 85 AÑOS (86)

[@robg71]

Rufus T. Firefly !

[@cindymaceda2999]

“As soon as they get rich, they become Republicans.” 😊

[@jessicathethreestoogesfan2635]

The comedian Groucho Marx was actually A JEWISH COMEDIAN BORN IN 1890!?

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

And?

[@tamerlanenj]

Groucho is a little mean to Margaret here. He doesnt even know the name of his character in Duck Soup

[@patriciahealey2927]

He only had young drunk woman , that he cud control

[@scronx]

He's confused, putting down both conservative standards and the garbage that's replaced them.

[@sserpent21]

Doesn't sound like Gilbert. Oh well.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Unrelated to Gilbert. Literally.

[@nataliep.9047]

Groucho was such an ass for perpetuating the myth that Margaret Dumont didn't get the joke.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Why? It's funny. Dumont knew it was funny and it worked, didn't it?

[@madnietzschean]

Quick-witted ...

[@nat00ben06]

As great as Groucho was he was arrogant.

[@Mozart1220]

He earned that right.

[@DM-kv9kj]

Er.. that was a major aspect of his comedy style...

[@unowen-nh9ov]

great=arrogant like Billy Pilgrim=aspirational moron

[@zacredman9137]

That was just his personality!!!😯🙄😂

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Whatever. Millions have heard of Groucho. No one's heard of you. Except your mother, and she's been trying to forget ever since.

[@jadezee6316]

he obviously was attacking Margaret Dumont as he always did...because he never wanted anyone to believe she had anything to do with his success...this was the only avenue he could use and have idiots like the ones here think he didnt mean anything by it...groucho was a small weak man....

[@God-mb8wi]

to my knowledge he only ever complimented her

[@jerryrichardson2799]

No.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Not even Groucho was a small enough weak man that he was a KZbin typist....

[@howtubeable]

@@God-mb8wi You named your KZbin channel God?

[@God-mb8wi]

@@howtubeable you named your youtube channel howard wiggins?

[@02nf2i]

This is okay, but I like Gilbert Groucho Gottfried better

[@unowen-nh9ov]

wtf is "Gottfried butter"? Without Groucho? Gilbert wouldn't exist. Even with him does he?

[@02nf2i]

u.n. owen “Gottfried butter?” Are you going senile like your pal Groucho was in this interview?

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Gilbert like you better, too.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

@@02nf2i Groucho was never senile. Let's see you at 82.

[@bozomonster]

Love Groucho even though he could not escape the cultural pressure to conform and be a "Good Democrat".

[@markxxx21]

Groucho is telling stories here, in many other interviews he said Margaret always knew exactly what was meant.

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

Julius Henry Marx, más conocido como Groucho Marx (Nueva York, 2 de octubre de 1890-Los Ángeles, 19 de agosto de 1977), fue un actor, humorista y escritor estadounidense, conocido principalmente por ser uno de los miembros de los hermanos Marx. Es considerado el cómico más influyente de todos los tiempos, siendo sus frases, a pesar del paso del tiempo, destacadas en la cultura pop por generaciones, incluso en la época actual. Falleció en Los Ángeles a causa de una neumonía. Poco antes de morir, la Academia de Hollywood le había concedido un Óscar honorífico, en reconocimiento a toda su carrera cinematográfica.

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

Julius Henry Marx, más conocido como Groucho Marx (Nueva York, 2 de octubre de 1890-Los Ángeles, 19 de agosto de 1977), fue un actor, humorista y escritor estadounidense, conocido principalmente por ser uno de los miembros de los hermanos Marx. Es considerado el cómico más influyente de todos los tiempos, siendo sus frases, a pesar del paso del tiempo, destacadas en la cultura pop por generaciones, incluso en la época actual. Falleció en Los Ángeles a causa de una neumonía. Poco antes de morir, la Academia de Hollywood le había concedido un Óscar honorífico, en reconocimiento a toda su carrera cinematográfica.

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

Julius Henry Marx, más conocido como Groucho Marx (Nueva York, 2 de octubre de 1890-Los Ángeles, 19 de agosto de 1977), fue un actor, humorista y escritor estadounidense, conocido principalmente por ser uno de los miembros de los hermanos Marx. Es considerado el cómico más influyente de todos los tiempos, siendo sus frases, a pesar del paso del tiempo, destacadas en la cultura pop por generaciones, incluso en la época actual. Falleció en Los Ángeles a causa de una neumonía. Poco antes de morir, la Academia de Hollywood le había concedido un Óscar honorífico, en reconocimiento a toda su carrera cinematográfica.