Inside the Marx Brothers - 5 stars out of 10

Inside the Marx Brothers - 5 stars out of 10

"Inside the Marx Brothers" is far from a comprehensive look into the lives of the Marx Brothers, but is perfect for the fan who wants to know a little more about one of the greatest comedy teams of all time.  This documentary has everything from their Broadway beginnings to a rare recording of Harpo recounting some of his life experiences (and you won't believe what his voice sounds like!)  For someone who was (obviously) born long after their films were released, it was interesting to gain a chronology of what was occuring in their personal lives as well as throughout the world when each film was produced.  If you are not familiar with the films of the Marx Brothers, this is a good overview to highlight many of their famous scenes and a way to catch a glimpse of their brand of comedy.  It certainly has its sad moments like Groucho's three divorces due to all of his wives being alcoholics and Chico's declining healthy, but what Hollywood story doesn't?  This documentary isn't like "Man On Wire" where it entertains you like a feature film, but it is very informative and it's 56-minute run time makes it incredibly manageable when you find yourself with a short amount of downtime.