Join the Army and See the Navy

Rating: 10/10 (10 January 2001)

I just wanted to mention that part of what makes this film so great is its use of not only vaudevillian-type comedy, but it also makes use of film concepts to further the humor. While much of the humor is stuff that could be achieved as easily if the Marx Bros were live on a stage, some humor is dependent on how it was shot and edited. Take for example the brief joke late in the film, when Groucho mentions that they need more soldiers as most have been killed. He says people are out recruiting new enlistees this very moment. The shot cuts quick to a shot of Harpo from the back, as he carries a sandwich-board that reads "Join the Army and SEE the Navy". this joke wouldn't work without the film editing and it's something I don't see much in comedy films of this period. The Marx Bros liked to push the envelope, and the film makes great use of as many types of comedy as possible.