The Marx Brothers were an influential Jewish American comedy team who made several anarchic, sarcastic, fast-paced and frequently absurd films between 1929 and 1952. The most prominent members were Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, and Chico Marx. They have been referenced multiple times in The Simpsons.
References to The Marx Brothers in The Simpsons[edit]
Picture
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Season
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Episode number
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Episode name
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Reference
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6
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117
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"Bart's Comet"
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The scene where all the citizens of Springfield are crammed together in Ned Flanders' bunker is reminiscent of the famous scene in The Marx Brothers' film A Night at the Opera (1935), where everybody is crammed together in the stateroom. The camera angles are similar too.
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118
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"Homie the Clown"
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Dick Cavett says to Homer that his attitude reminds him of Groucho Marx, whereupon Homer tells him: "You'll be having dinner with Groucho tonight if you don't shut up." In real life Cavett indeed interviewed Groucho Marx several times on his talkshow.
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122
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"Lisa's Wedding"
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The design of the old age Krusty smoking cigars was based on Groucho Marx in old age, according to the DVD commentary.
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21
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449
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"Oh Brother, Where Bart Thou?"
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In Bart's dream he sees several brothers, among them The Marx Brothers.
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22
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471
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"How Munched Is That Birdie in the Window?"
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The Itchy and Scratchy cartoon Dogday Hellody of 1933 features caricatures of several 1930s movie stars, among them Harpo Marx.
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22
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473
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"Donnie Fatso"
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Moe Syzlak and a monkey from The Wizard of Oz observe each other, each thinking they are looking into a mirror. This is a reference to a famous scene from The Marx Brothers film Duck Soup (1983).
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26
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553
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"Clown in the Dumps"
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The Marx Brothers and others were dancing at the Irving Berlin Orchestra in Jewish Heaven. Harpo and Chico dance together. Groucho dances with Karl Marx as a pun.
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32
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687
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"Now Museum, Now You Don't"
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The Marx Brothers had a night out with Diego Rivera, and seemed to be drunk. When they return to Frida and Diego's house, Chico Marx told his brothers they got to get straight about what happened to Zeppo, one of the Marx brothers that was not with them when they returned, was an "accident".
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References to The Marx Brothers in Simpsons Comics[edit]
Picture
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Series
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Issue
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Story
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Reference
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Simpsons Comics
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141
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Grampa Flanders
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Groucho Marx and actress Margaret Dumont from the Marx Brothers series are mentioned.
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External links[edit]