This content is owned by universal and warner brothers. Much to the chagrin of the lawyers and warners head, jack warner, groucho marx got wind of this inherently absurd threat. From the moment i picked up your book until i laid it down, i was convulsed with laughter. What rhetorical appeals does groucho marx use in his letter. When warner brothers claimed exclusive rights to the name casablanca, groucho marx sent a letter to warner brothers in response.
Apparently there is more than one way of conquering a city and holding it as your own. An outraged groucho put pen to paper alleging that warner brothers claim to exclusive rights to the name of. One can today, tune to american movie classics, and find a marx brothers film playing at some time. Julius henry marx was born on october 2, 1890, in manhattan, new york. Though it was rumored that the warner brothers planned on suing the marx brothers, they never did this. The marx children grew up in a turnofthecentury building on east 93rd street off lexington avenue in a neighborhood now known as carnegie hill on. Comedian and film star, groucho marx, in his letter, argues to the warner brothers to let the marx brothers use the. Groucho glasses, also known as nose glasses or the beaglepuss, are a humorous novelty disguise which function as a caricature of the stage makeup used by the comedian groucho marx in his movies and vaudeville performances. In this particular letter, groucho marx begins his letter with apparently because he doesnt want to commit himself to what he is saying. Aug 08, 2016 this content is owned by universal and warner brothers. Marx says that he had no idea that the city of casablanca belonged to warner brothers because he didnt know that a movie studio could own the rights to a city in morocco.
Marx was known for frequently taking aim at the rich and powerful in his comedies but a new biography suggests a more sinister side to julius groucho marx. If anyone could help me it would be greatly appreciated. During the filming of the marx brothers a night in casablanca, the legal department of the warner brothers studio allegedly sent the marx brothers a letter, warning them of possible infringement of their film, casablanca, starring humphrey bogart and ingrid bergman. Groucho marx those are my principles, and if you dont. Comedian and film star, groucho marx, in his letter, argues to the warner brothers to let the marx brothers use the title casablanca. Groucho marxs letter to warner brothers ap lang elias sitton mr. Circle words you dont know, or write them on sticky notes identify main ideasthesis statements, topic sentences identify words, phrases, or sentences that appeal to you, that seem important, or. What rhetorical appeals does groucho marx use in his. Find groucho marx on amazon we shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. I never forget a face but im going to make an exception in your case. Groucho marxs letter to warner brothers ap lang elias. After weve gone through the text to establish a joint understanding of the central idea and rhetoric of the text, including some specific writing choices, well move to the sample rhetorical analysis of the marx piece, also in the language of composition 2e on pages 6263.
We will first read a letter written by groucho marx to warner brothers studios in. Letter to warner brothers addressing the usage of the word casablanca in a movie title. Read groucho marxs hilarious letter of apology to woody. Lou gehrigs farewell speech rhetorical situation, rhetorical triangle, soapstone, rhetorical appeals, analysis of visual texts. An introduction to the rhetorical analysis essay betterlesson. Warner brothers contended that the marx brothers proposed film, a night in casablanca was an impingement upon the studios film, casablanca, made famous five years earlier by the performances of humphrey bogart and ingrid bergman.
Jan 10, 2015 close analysis of groucho marx letter mlk ap lang. The art and craft of analysis annotating as you read. As for grouchos writing ability, i will simply quote from dick cavetts foreword to the 2011 edition of groucho marx and other short stories and tall tales. In his letter, marx uses many rhetorical devices to reiterate to the warner brothers legal departmen. Us comedian with marx brothers more author details showing quotations 1 to 20 of 22 total. Firefly, the cynical, sarcastic, and moneyhungry leader of a fictional country called freedonia. However, they were concerned about whether any s had been violated and wrote to the marx brothers in order to clarify the matter. October 2, 1890 august 19, 1977 was an american comedian, actor, writer, stage, film, radio, and television star. As a child i was fascinated by the absurdist comedy of the marx brothers, as well as groucho marx s wry and selfeffacing humor in you bet your life.
Marxs supports his claim by listing examples of people with the same name. With this letter, we see marx, a man with little formal education, using sharp wit, knowledge gained from years in the studio system and years of voracious readin, slice directly to the heart of the matter. Groucho marx made 26 movies, thirteen of them with his brothers chico and harpo. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, damn, that was fun. Marx s supports his claim by listing examples of people with the same name. While preparing to film a movie titled a night in casablanca, the marx brothers received a letter from warner bros. The studio claimed that the films title was too similar to their own film, casablanca, released almost five years earlier, with humphrey bogart and ingrid bergman.
Show guide for an evening with groucho marx popejoy presents. It began when the marx brothers released the name of one of their upcoming films, a night in casablanca. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In his letter, marx uses many rhetorical devices to reiterate to the warner brothers legal department just how ridiculous the whole matter was. In the year 1947, legal conflict arose between warner brothers studio and the marx brothers. An analysis of groucho marxs letter to the warner brothers kibin. Months after the marx brothers were inducted in to the motion picture hall of fame, groucho marx died from complications due to pneumonia on aug. Marx developed a routine as a wisecracking hustler with a distinctive chickenwalking lope, an exaggerated greasepaint moustache and eyebrows, and an everpresent cigar, improvising insults to stuffy dowagers often played by margaret dumont and anyone else who. I had no idea that the city of casablanca belonged. View groucho marxs letter to warner brothers ap lang from social science 101 at san diego jewish academy. The word apparently is used when something on the surface seems to be true, but you dont really know for sure.
An outraged groucho put pen to paper alleging that warner brothers claim to exclusive rights to the name of the city of casablanca was overreaching. I really love the idea that groucho is still groucho even when hes writing to another studio over a legal dispute. Donated to the library of congress in the mid1960s, groucho marx s correspondence was first crafted into this celebration of wit and wisdom in 1967. He was the first of the brothers to start a stage career aged 15 in an act called the leroy trio. During the filming of the marx brothers a night in casablanca, the legal department of the warner brothers studio allegedly sent the marx brothers a letter, warning them of possible infringement of their film, casablanca, starring humphrey bogart and. Marx uses different diction to help convey a tone and figurative language such as allusion to convince the warner bros. For example, up to the time that we contemplated making this picture, i had no idea that the city of casablanca belonged exclusively to warner brothers. What rhetorical appeals does groucho marx use in his letter to warner bros. A product of the vaudevillian age, groucho with his brothers harpo, chico, and zeppo starred in a series of memorable slapstick films in the 1930s and 1940s. Very quickly groucho, sensing the opportunity for free publicity.
Lees letter, and analyze how his rhetorical choices convey his view of the absurdity of the. Marx performed with his brothers zeppo, chico, and harpothey were known as the marx brothers. What is the difference between syntax and diction in a rhetorical analysis. Many people, when they think of groucho marx, remember the marx brothers films and you bet your life his tv show, which is still shown in reruns somewhere on the planet. Oct 03, 20 i am writing a rhetorical essay for the first time and i have to write it on groucho marx letter to warner bros.
The brothersleonard chico, adolpharthur harpo, julius groucho, milton gummo, and herbert zeppowere primarily comedians, but had musical and literary talents and successes, as well. Swbat recognize the writing structure of a rhetorical analysis essay, and how. It was the age of laurel and hardy and the three stooges, but marx brothers filmsfull length featureswere in a class by themselves. With his mothers blessing, the 14yearold marx took a job as a. In a bit of ironic bad timing that surely would have prompted a sardonic retort of his own, grouchos passing was somewhat overshadowed by the worlds continued mourning. A master of quick wit, he is generally considered to be one of americas greatest comedians. Groucho marx spared no one and his biographer isnt. Ap language rhetorical analysis springport high school letter to warner bros. As a member of the marx brothers, julius 18951977, a. We will first read a letter written by groucho marx to warner brother s studios in response to their request for marx to remove casablanca from the title of their new movie. Groucho marx writes a letter to warner brothers about casablanca to make fun of them for not letting him use the term casablanca.
Aug 18, 20 the groucho letters letters to and from groucho marx is a collection of, well, letters sent by groucho marx. Im guessing that i will only have time to touch on part of this, so my. I was a weird kid, true, but the marx brothers allowed me to view other misfits as the stars of the show and the most interesting people in the room. While preparing to film a movie entitled a night in casablanca, the marx brothers received a letter from warner bros.
In close reading you start with rhetorical terms then work your way to a big idea. Groucho marx was a comedian and one of the famous marx brothers. I never forget a face, but ill make an exception in your. Groucho was born julius henry marx on oct 2 1890 in new york. Marx brothers duck soup rufus t fireflys introduction duration. Ap language rhetorical analysis springport high school letter. The marx brothers got their first big break in 1914 with grouchos quick wit as the center of it all. In 1946, lawyers for warner brothers shot off warning letters to the producers of the inproduction marx brothers opus, a night in casablanca, threatening the makers with legal action if they used the name casablanca in the films title. Margaret dumont, a standard in the marx brothers films, was once again the butt of grouchos barbs, playing a rich dowager easily wooed by his questionable charms.
One small example is grouchos famous letter to the warner brothers about the marx brothers using the name casablanca in their film, a night in. The rhetorical analysis of groucho marxs casablanca bartleby. Anybody who could write a letter like this couldnt not write a letter like this. Groucho, enjoyed a sensational career on broadway and in hollywood with such comedy classics as animal crackers, duck soup, and a night at the opera. Grouchos letter is a somewhat tongueincheek response to this, using humor to emphasize his point. The marx brothers were one of the most successful performing acts of the twentieth century. Groucho wrote back with an utterly ridiculous storyline and, sure enough, received another stern letter requesting clarification. It was no secret that allen was a big fan of the marx brothers.
Mar 21, 2017 grouchos letter to warner brothers, regarding a night in casablanca editors note. Theres much more to the letter, but basically this was grouchos way of saying, take a walk. The language of composition chapter 2 the art and craft of analysis. Groucho s jokes were written by the likes of george s. Although groucho marx was the thirdoldest son of stage mama minnie marx, he was the first to take the plunge into show business. As a demonstration, i will put the introduction of our model from the textbook the language of composition, pg. Grouchos letter to warner brothers, regarding a night in. Most important, a close analysis essay must focus on the choices writers make to help them achieve their purpose. The ensuing fusillade of letters between a fractious groucho and the. Organizing information in a rhetorical analysis essay.
Groucho marx writes a letter to warner brothers about. The rhetorical analysis of groucho marxs casablanca. Reissued today with his original letters and humor intact, the groucho letters exposes one of the twentieth centurys most beloved comedians private insights into show biz, politics, business, and, of course, his illustrious personal life. Durling in the washington post presented the same joke with a variant wording and an ascription to groucho. Grouchos jokes were written by the likes of george s. I have treasured letters he wrote to me that could be used in a writing course at yale as models of perfect wording, fresh images, deft turn of phrase. In 1946, four years after the release of the warner brothers film casablanca, groucho marx wrote a letter to the warner brothers pertaining to the the legal matter of the name casablanca. Riley advanced placement language and composition september 6, 2016 groucho marx s letter to warner brothers 1. Grouchos letter to warner brothers, regarding a night in casablanca editors note.
Marx had a type of sarcastic humor that was entirely his own. The groucho letters letters to and from groucho marx is a collection of, well, letters sent by groucho marx. Jan 23, 2016 marx was known for frequently taking aim at the rich and powerful in his comedies but a new biography suggests a more sinister side to julius groucho marx. Julius henry groucho marx was born 125 years ago on october 2, 1890. Intellectual property protectionfrom groucho marx to the. The brothers leonard chico, adolpharthur harpo, julius groucho, milton gummo, and herbert zeppowere primarily comedians, but had musical and literary talents and successes, as well. Every time somebody turns on the set, i go into the other room and read a book. Riley advanced placement language and composition september 6, 2016 groucho marxs letter to warner brothers 1. If you like groucho marx acerbic sense of humor, youll love this. A letter has been released in which the hilarious groucho marx penned an apology to allen for not responding to a letter allen had written years before. An analysis of groucho marxs letter to the warner brothers. The letter is a part of his corre spondence with the film production company warner bros. The belgian poirot the groucho marx the stranger sam elliot, the big lebowski the tramp charlie chaplin the lando calrissian, tache of choice for double crossers and gamblers the magnum tom selleck, the god of tache wearers everywhere the bassist derek smalls, spinal tap also worn by jules winnfield, pulp. Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.
Groucho marx facetiously shows how effective it can be in his gag. He was the third of the five surviving sons of sam and minnie marx. Donated to the library of congress in the mid1960s, groucho marxs correspondence was first crafted into this celebration of wit and wisdom in 1967. Ap language rhetorical analysis springport high school. For example, up to the time that we contemplated making a picture, i had no idea that the city of casablanca belonged exclusively to warner brothers. Letter to warner brothers from groucho marx bits and pieces. Groucho marx spared no one and his biographer isnt pulling.
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