Harpo Marx : Lovable?

Lovable?

Does anybody find Harpo Marx "lovable"? He is by far the most annoying screen character in motion picture history! He endlessly bugs people for no good reason. I feel like I'm alone on this one.

Re: Lovable?

I find him very lovable. He's like a kid stuck in an adult's body. I guess you kind of have to just accept him for who he is. He's not trying to bug the people, he's just Harpo being, well, Harpo. He's trying to get everyone else to loosen up and not be so uptight and afraid to do something silly, the way I see it. Groucho's the one that winds up irritating me. His dialogue's funny, but he just goes on and on and doesn't shut up. He's too much of a cynic.

Re: Lovable?

Yes, I feel you're probably alone on this one too. Harpo would have to be my favorite Marx Brother. (On the other hand, I didn't like him much when I was very little, so maybe he's an acquired taste.)

Re: Lovable?

Harpo is, and always has been, my favourite Marx Brother. I don't think that very many people could have done what he did on screen. When he honked his horn, gave people his leg, ran after blondes, and shook hands with people with an entire cutlery set up his sleeve it was funny. Anyone else would have been annoying.

Re: Lovable?

Harpo is the sweetest and funniest of the Marx brothers. Plus he didn't talk, which just makes him sweeter.

...

"That I had died and Boromir had lived."

In praise of Harpo

I love Harpo! I love the scene in Duck Soup when Harpo retaliates against the obnoxious lemonade seller, Edgar Kennedy, and the way he does it.

The original poster of this thread said that Harpo bugs people endlessly for no good reason [!?!?]. Maybe he hasn't seen the same movies I have, but it seems to me that Harpo always went after people who were pompous, arrogant, humorless, officious, or some combination of those traits. And that's a big part of why the Marx Brothers became so popular in the '60s (which is when I 'discovered' them): they were so aggressively anti-Establishment, and Harpo embodied that spirit more than any of them. Even his hair and his outfits looked "proto-Sixties," and back then some called him a pioneer hippy. Well, I wouldn't phrase it that way now, but the guy was a free spirit and a wild-ass rebel, and he still makes me laugh.

Re: Lovable?

Harpo is VERY lovable!

He is definately more of a 'little-boy-who-never-grew-up' character than even Peter Pan.His character on screen has some very innocent and tender moments.

In "The Coconuts" when a pretty woman is crying he tries to offer her a lollypop to cheer her up.

There are a few scenes where you can see his enjoyment and love of children.In "Monkey Business" the scene where he entertains the children and joins in with them at the Punch and Judy show is very sweet.Also scenes in "A Night At The Opera" and "A Day At Races" show him having fun entertaining the kids.

Like all children, he is mischievous but Harpo's character was never malicious.And I agree that he was far from annoying but I'd say the character of Harpo - and indeed,Harpo himself - was a pure soul who never lost the childlike ability to entertain and touch people of all ages

Re: Lovable?

I have actually heard people saying they find Harpo annoying, and I personally don't get how anybody couldn't adore this guy. He's naughty and wacky and cute and does goofy things to stuffed-shirts who really deserve it. He does stuff that the maniac inside of us all wants to do, but can't for obvious reasons. Same with Groucho: he smarts off to people by saying things that go through a lot of people's heads ("You'd better get outta here; I hear they're gonna tear you down and put up an office building where you're standing.")--but of course we can't really say them! That's part of their appeal.

However I think it's a known fact that some people just don't "get" the Marx Brothers. I don't "get" South Park. So I guess it's 'to each his own.'

"And now, I'm going back in the closet...where men are empty overcoats..."

Re: Lovable?

as long as you like one of the marx bros, that's cool

Re: Lovable?

I find Harpo very lovable; I think he's great. One of my favorite bits of his is cutting off peoples' ties with his scissors.

Re: Lovable?

He is totally loveable. I have always gotten a warm fuzzy by how tender he can be. Everything I've seen shows he was a very sweet family man in real life also.

And the people he annoyed NEEDED to be annoyed. They had it coming.

My favorite routine is when he gave people his leg. Back in the day (way back in the day) I would do this to my High School friends. Luckily they humored me!!!

And his harp playing always left me speechless.



Are you going to pull those pistols or whistle "Dixie"?

Re: Lovable?

My friend was absolutely obsessed with Harpo I remember and randomly gave me his leg at random intervals. And one day, he refused to speak at all and a teacher asked him a question and he froze up - his face was an absolute picture! Thing is, he'd managed to get me into the Marx Brothers at this point of non-talking, and he forced me to be Chico (a bit dumb seeing as I'm a girl) and I spoke in a really bad Italian accent all day. At least I could still answer a question in class XD

Anyway, I always thought Harpo was such an adorable character, a child trapped in an adult's body as someone has already said, and he had such enviable musical talent! So I don't understand it when people say Harpo was annoying either :P

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www.s10.invisionfree.com/graviationlove <= new forum for Gravitation needs members!

Re: Lovable?

Ok, I admit I went a little overboard when I said he was the most annoying character in motion picture history (He's not as bad as Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider or The Prison Warden from Das Fidele Gefangness). I guess it's just that he reminds me of a little kid doing obnoxious things for attention. I just fundamentally don't like his style. The lemonade stand scene drove me up a wall because any of the characters could have stopped and walked away, but instead Harpo ends up stepping into the guy's lemonade - How gross is that? I do realize that I'm criticizing one of the most iconic moments of any Marx brothers film, but that's just my opinion. I was never a fan of the "giving a leg" gag because Harpo always grinned as if it was the most outrageous idea ever concieved.

Anyway, Harpo isn't all bad. His harp scenes are pretty good (while not always relevant to the story). The mirror scene in Duck Soup had me laughing.

Re: Lovable?

Why did you feel the need to come to Harpo Marx's board and say negative things about him in the first place? I will never understand people who do that. You don't see me on the boards for people I don't like. I go to boards for people that I DO like. To me that makes more sense.

___________________________

I reject your reality and substitute my own.....Adam Savage

Re: Lovable?

Everyone has the right to express an opinion no matter how wrong that opinion may be. ;)

Re: Lovable?

I never said they didn't have the right to have or express an opinion. I asked the motivation for doing it here. Would you go to a Fifty Cent concert in a "Rap Sucks!" T-shirt?


Excuse me, don't excuse me, you're making, not making, the doctor unhappy, happy.

Re: Lovable?


The lemonade stand scene drove me up a wall because any of the characters could have stopped and walked away, but instead Harpo ends up stepping into the guy's lemonade - How gross is that? I do realize that I'm criticizing one of the most iconic moments of any Marx brothers film, but that's just my opinion. I was never a fan of the "giving a leg" gag because Harpo always grinned as if it was the most outrageous idea ever concieved.


I thought that lemonade scene was friggin hysterical

Harpo's my second favorite Marx Brother after Groucho.

I can see you right now in the kitchen, bending over a hot stove. But I can't see the stove.

Re: Lovable?

As a Harpo-fanatic a Harpo-maniac a Harpo-lover,I too find him sometimes annoying, these times are when I would take the producers chair, and say CUT!!
Like why is he burning books in HF? And I find Chico VERY annoying in At the circus at the cigar scene. But the problem is probabaly in me: I just don't have this sense of humor. But I just LOVE the Harpo VS. Maggie Dumont scene in AC.
All I want to say is that I can understand virtourist's opinion. Even though I LOVE Harpo.

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Re: Lovable?

I also find him very lovable. The fact is, he became more lovable with each new Marx Brothers film. I suppose you could find him a bit annoying in their first 2-3 films, but as others have said he used to annoy people who were too "uptight" and deserved to be annoyed.

Re: Lovable?

If you are fortunate enough to be able to read his book, "Harpo Speaks," you will have a chance to see how loveable he was in person.

Re: Lovable?

I, too, find him "loveable." As many other posters have pointed out, he's like a child in an adult body. I never really associated him with an adult. This is because he never talks, acts mischievous, and has the ability to portray emotions based only on his facial expressions (much like children). He's always been right up there with Groucho as my favorite Marx.

Re: Lovable?

Lovable. Definately.

But I always found his harp playing scenes annoying. They were rarely relevent to the story. He didn't play around with it the way Chico did with the piano which works in the films because it suited the style.

When Harpo plays the harp, it may well be very good and well played but it's completely out of character and nearly always detracts from the story or disrupts the momentum of the film.

Re: Lovable?


When Harpo plays the harp, it may well be very good and well played but it's completely out of character
Out of character? Why the heck did you think he was called Harpo?

"If you could possibly lift the needle from that long-playing phonograph you keep in your face..."

Re: Lovable?

It's clear he's called Harpo because he plays the harp. What relevence does his name have to his character? You've clearly seen the films. In what scenes other than when he plays the harp is he not up to mischief or acting the maggot?

He is almost always pulling faces, chasing blondes, offering people his leg, cutting off their pockets, dropping cutlery from his sleeve etc. etc. in the scenes where he doesn't play the harp.

In the scenes where he plays the harp his whole demeanor changes. He becomes serious. When he sits behind the harp he is no longer the clown but just himself playing the harp.

This is in stark contrast to Chico who remains in character when playing the piano with his trickery on the keys etc.

You haven't seen the same films I have if you see no difference between Harpo playing the harp and not.

Re: Lovable?

Ah-ah-ah! There are always exceptions to every rule! I agree with what your saying that the harp moments are quite different in tone than the rest of the movie, but there are definitely times when the two cross over. Harpo is often the one featured in moments of sentiment--for instance, when he comforts Polly with a lollipop in Cocoanuts. And I can think of at least one time when the harp was used as a gag: in Monkey Business when he uses it to mock the opera singer.

The harp moments and clowning moments aren't mutually exclusive, I don't think. They just represent different sides of Harpo. I don't see why his character can't be multifaceted like any human being. That's all I'm getting at.

"If you could possibly lift the needle from that long-playing phonograph you keep in your face..."

Re: Lovable?

I love Harpo but I don't get the "leg" bit. As for the harp-playing scenes, I think they provide a chance for the audience to wind down from the zaniness, and I enjoy them.

Re: Lovable?

Harpo had many 'sides' to his movie persona and not all of his carrictors do the same things(any Marx Fan would know)...case in point,from "Cocoanuts" to "Duck Soup",his carrictors were just plain childlike.In the Thalberg years and onward,he becomes,as they say "part of the plot".
Saying people 'don't get' The Marx Brothers is like saying you don't get why Peter Jackson made Merry and Pippin so funny in FOTR...i say to anybody who says this "Well,the 2d thing in common is that they (Harpo,Merry and Pippin)have blond curly hair..."

You got IT...and you can keep IT.
-Chico(Monkey Business).

Re: Lovable?

<In the scenes where he plays the harp his whole demeanor changes. He becomes serious. When he sits behind the harp he is no longer the clown but just himself playing the harp.>

Frankly, I found that a welcome reprive from the slapstick all the time.

Re: Lovable?


It's clear he's called Harpo because he plays the harp. What relevence does his name have to his character? You've clearly seen the films. In what scenes other than when he plays the harp is he not up to mischief or acting the maggot?

He is almost always pulling faces, chasing blondes, offering people his leg, cutting off their pockets, dropping cutlery from his sleeve etc. etc. in the scenes where he doesn't play the harp.

In the scenes where he plays the harp his whole demeanor changes. He becomes serious. When he sits behind the harp he is no longer the clown but just himself playing the harp.

This is in stark contrast to Chico who remains in character when playing the piano with his trickery on the keys etc.

You haven't seen the same films I have if you see no difference between Harpo playing the harp and not.

That's an interesting take on it and a valid point. I've never heard it put that way before. Usually, pointing out that Harpo takes his harp playing seriously is used as a compliment...but I see how it could be a negative from the way you put it. You're right, Chico's playing fit his characte b68 r much better. (And was more entertaining)

I'm willing to admit that his harpo playing has almost nothing to do with the fact that he is my favorite comic of all time.

To the original question, Harpo was deeply loved by everyone who knew him in real life....I would have to say that qualifies him as "lovable". Whether or not that comes across on screen is up to the individual. To me, his real life persona shines through. I was completely unsurprised to learn that he was a wonderful person in real life.

Re: Lovable?

In my Marx Bro. DVDs, the guys who met him in the past said he was the kindest, sweetest, loveable man ever. I believe that.


"Do you follow me?"
"Yes!"
"Well stop following me or I'll have you arrested!"

Re: Lovable?

A fan of the Marx Bros since I first saw them on TV as a teenager, I was surprised when my grandchildren, aged 7 & 8, selected one of their movies to watch. I thought that they were too young to appreciate the humour, and most of it is over their heads, of course, but they love the antics of Harpo. He is their absolute favourite. So, here he is, still drawing them in, over forty years past his death, and, if I'm not mistaken, will continue to attract new fans. He has the timeless appeal of the clown.

Re: Lovable?

I don't know if anyone's aware, but of the marx brothers (there were 5) Harpo was the most normal. The wildest thing he did later in life was when he was on a train eating dinner. Across from him were two elderly ladies reading the menu. Harpo leapt up, dashed over, ed up their menus, and proceeded to eat them. And he was the normal one. Poor Mrs. Marx. (can you imagine all the money she nust've paid for music lessons?)

Re: Lovable?

Harpo was entirely self-taught, even using a unique tuning on his harp, so I reckon Mrs Minnie Marx didn't spend too much! My favourite Marx Brother (no disrespect intended to either Groucho or Chico), Harpo's performances are utterly magical, from his riotous physical comedy routines to his (superb and always welcome) harp pieces. Angelic, anarchic genius. RIP Harpo.

Re: Lovable?

Please put me in the column as someone who finds Harpo extremely loveable. I am probably going to be the only one to admit that Harpo was my first celebrity crush in high school (this would have been in the early to mid 1980s).

I will also add that the most fun you can have on Halloween would be to dress as Harpo and annoy your husband and guests all night.

dam9191


PS: If you ever get the chance, read Harpo's autobiography "Harpo Speaks". {If I remember correctly I think in the book, he talks about how his mom only paid for piano lessons for Chico and then afterwards, Harpo would have to practice what Chico just learned.}

PSS: As far as kids watching The Marx Brothers, I had put on Monkey Business last summer for my 2 year old twins, thinking they would like Harpo's antics with the kids. No, they didn't pay too much attention to that. However, they loved the interaction and dancing between Groucho and Thelma Todd. So really, The Marx Brothers are truly funny comedians who have withstood the test of time.

Re: Lovable?

You're right about the piano lessons. However, what's funnier is that the piano teacher she got for Chico could actually only properly play the piano with her right hand and so only really taught him the right hand. If you watch how he plays, the left hand just about plays the basic notes of the song and the right hand does all the tricks.

Re: Lovable?

from the very first time i saw Harpo i knew that i loved him, lol.
it was in ANATO, his first scene when he's in his boss' costumes in front of the mirror and he spread his arms trying to sing like an opera singer. i thought his facial expressions were the cutest id ever seen a grown man pull off. to me the fact that he doesnt speak makes him so much more vulnerable like a child, he has to rely on facial expressions to as a means of communication. unconciously i started calling him "little harpo" eventho he was born nearly 100 years before me.
then of course there was the harp scene and i knew he was my favorite. im never quite confortable singling him out as my fav cz i really love groucho and chico as well, but harpo has some sort of magic about him that absolutely captivates me.

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Re: Lovable?


I don't know if anyone's aware, but of the marx brothers (there were 5) Harpo was the most normal. The wildest thing he did later in life was when he was on a train eating dinner. Across from him were two elderly ladies reading the menu. Harpo leapt up, dashed over, ed up their menus, and proceeded to eat them. And he was the normal one. Poor Mrs. Marx. (can you imagine all the money she nust've paid for music lessons?)

That one could be up for debate. 2000 We are talking about a guy that would play golf in the nude and jump into neighbor's swimming pools to cool off as he played through the course.

So "most normal" wouldn't even be close to "normal" in this case. Maybe if you mean the other brothers were even more insane I could buy the statement. (But Gummo certainly seemed normal)

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Re: Lovable?

That story I told was from Bill's book "Son of Harpo Speaks". ...And it happened after Harpo was married and had kids. (Bill was there)

So "normal"...I'm not sure that's the way you would want to describe Mr. Harpo Marx. I see you used the word "mellow"...that may be a totally different thing. Maybe Harpo was extremely calm as he walked around naked on a public gold course. Hee hee...

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Re: Lovable?

Before I had actually watched a whole Marx Brothers movie I had just seen clips. I found Harpo rather annoying. He was just kind of "out there" I guess, I mean he just ate random things for one. I still decided to watch "The Coconuts". Harpo still kind of bugged me until he offered Polly the lolly when she was crying. From there on out I loved him. I think his character requires you to get use to but once you do you love Harpo.

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Re: Lovable?

I don't think he's so annoying actually.



"WHY DIDN'T YOU STARVE FIRST?!" - Humphrey Bogart, 'Dead End' (1937)

Re: Lovable?

while i dont agree with the OP, i can certainly see how someone could feel that way about Harpo, but i have to say that the more uptight and formal someone is (or tries to be), the more likely a person is to find him irritating or destructive.
those people should consider who and what Harpo was wreaking his havoc upon... it was either the films villains, or those people and institutions that stood for formality and pretense.
personally, i find his onscreen persona as magical and angelic as anything ever put on film (and it seems his real-life personality wasnt too far behind).
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