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Groucho Marx:You Bet Your Life
 
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Groucho Marx:You Bet Your Life

Groucho Marx (Actor), George Fenneman (Actor) | Rated: NR (Not Rated) | Format: DVD
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

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With 18 shows that remained unseen since their original broadcasts in the 1950s, You Bet Your Life: The Lost Episodes offers another welcome example of the way DVDs are preserving our precious television heritage. Of course, this long-running game show (1950-61) was barely a game show at all. Instead, it was a perfect showcase for the wit and whimsy of Groucho Marx (1890-1977), who clearly relished the third major chapter (after stage and movies) of his illustrious career. With his mischievously elevated eyebrows and ever-present cigar, the great comedian was right at home with average and above-average civilians, recruited from the studio audience in offbeat pairs to answer quiz questions and win typically modest sums of cash. "Say the secret word and split a hundred dollars," said Groucho as each contest commenced, and a mangy stuffed duck named Julius (Groucho's real name) would drop from the rafters to reveal the secret word.

While there was a modicum of preparation before these shows were filmed, most of Groucho's one-liners and snappy comebacks are impressively off-the-cuff, hilariously demonstrating the mastery of humor that Groucho--still vital in his well-heeled sixties--had honed over decades of live performance. His frequently nervous contestants are equally amusing, sometimes giving as well as they got from their rapier-witted host. They are also occasionally exceptional: professional baseball umpires; super-athlete Bob Matthias; a decorated Korean War hero; a Mr. And Miss Universe; a celebrated mystery writer; TV comedian Ernie Kovacs; British "hipster" comic Lord Buckley; and even Gary Cooper's mother appear as contestants. With a revealing glimpse of '50s popular culture, these well-produced DVDs also include a wealth of You Bet Your Life artifacts: the "stag reels" showcase Groucho's deft handling of "mature humor" edited from the original broadcasts; a behind-the-scenes film reveals the show's inner workings and primary staff; and ads for Plymouth/DeSoto dealers (the show's sole sponsor) are quaintly charming by latter-day standards. Best of all, Groucho's original radio audition is included, along with a priceless 10-minute radio clip featuring Groucho and Bob Hope--a comedy gem that led to Groucho's long-term employment on television. For Marx Brothers and Groucho fans, this is a treasure trove of smile-inducing nostalgia. --Jeff Shannon

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Groucho-DeSoto Connection, Mar 25 2004
By 
Scott T. Rivers (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Groucho Marx:You Bet Your Life (DVD)
Incredible as it may seem, most of the "lost episodes" in this Groucho Marx DVD collection might have been lost forever. In the early 1970s, the geniuses at NBC planned to destroy ALL the "You Bet Your Life" programs for the sole purpose of freeing up some warehouse space. Fortunately, Groucho and producer John Guedel thwarted this cultural crime and reissued the comedy-quiz shows for late-night syndication -- with successful results. However, the "Best of Groucho" package was re-edited to eliminate any trace of the DeSoto-Plymouth references from the original broadcasts. Upon viewing this excellent three-disc set, the viewer is immediately aware of DeSoto's dominant sponsorship of "You Bet Your Life" and the major role Groucho played in the selling of its automobiles -- even lending his trademark image to its used-car dealerships. The "stag reels," promotional films and DeSoto commercials featured in this collection make for fascinating and historic viewing. Of course, there's the long-awaited pleasure of seeing 18 unedited "You Bet Your Life" programs for the first time since the 1950s -- a remarkable find comparable to the "lost" Jackie Gleason kinescopes. The result is a valuable addition to Groucho's comic legacy.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Gotta Buy This One!, Mar 15 2004
By 
toserveman (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Groucho Marx:You Bet Your Life (DVD)
This DVD set is even better than I expected, and I expected a lot of laughs. The production of the show itself is charming, Groucho is great, the guests are (usually unintentionally) funny, and the extras showing the commercials, bloopers, etc. are all superb. And the video quality is excellent as well. Groucho's wit, especially when working on a nervous contestant, is something to behold. Sometimes the simplest concepts are the best. These shows are better than most Marx Bros movies!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Got the Life, Mar 8 2004
By 
Joseph (NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Groucho Marx:You Bet Your Life (DVD)
The absolute simplicity of concept, economy of verbiage and humanity of the subjects makes You Bet Your Life a TV landmark. Simple, handsome, ugly, funny, wierd people all become fascinating. In the context of a current TV era that has only The Simpsons and Seinfeld to save us, this show puts the trash depicting vulgar, voyeuristic and mechanical people to shame. And yet, YBYL is not essentially different from that which bores me in TV today. Only with a once in a millenium host who circles around the subtleties of sex and voyeurism within strict limits, stages thier weaknesses then gently caresses them back to favour. Brilliant.
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