VOICE OF THE THEATRE

Vol. 3, #3 May 3, 1997

PERSPECTIVE:

By Jimmie Hicks

When Margaret Dumont died, it was often stated that she had appeared in all the Marx Brothers films. She was only in seven of the pictures, but to many people, their films were not complete without the indefatigable Miss Dumont.

She was originally Margaret (Or Marguerite) Baker, born in Brooklyn on October 20, 1889. As a girl, she sang on stage, both in Europe and America, using the name Daisy Dumont. She retired in 1910 to marry a wealthy socialite but when he died in 1918, she returned to the stage as Margaret Dumont. She was seen in a play on Broadway and hired to appear in stage version of THE COCOANUTS (1925) with the Four Marx Brothers, who were already a popular comedy team.

She found it difficult to work with the Marxes since they didn't stick to the script. And they were often as rowdy off the stage as they were when performing. But from the start, as an imperious and always proper society matron with a lorgnette, Margaret Dumont was a great success. This was especially true of her "romantic" scenes when Groucho courted her for some devious purpose. COCOANUTS ran, in New York and on tour, for over two years. Then they returned to Broadway and a new show, ANIMAL CRACKERS, which opened in October of 1928.

Talking pictures arrived at that time and the Marxes were persuaded along with Miss Dumont to make film versions of their stage hits at Paramount on Long Island. Then the Marxes went to Hollywood where they made two pictures without her. But Groucho missed working with her and so he talked her into joining them for DUCK SOUP (1933).

Talking pictures arrived at that time and the Marxes were persuaded along with Miss Dumont to make film versions of their stage hits at Paramount on Long Island. Then the Marxes went to Hollywood where they made two pictures without her. But Groucho missed working with her and so he talked her into joining them for DUCK SOUP (1933).

The success of A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (1935) was followed by A DAY AT THE RACES (1937) which won her an award from the Screen Actors Guild for Best Supporting Actress. Irving Thalberg died during production which was a blow to Miss Dumont since he had sympathized with her desire to play a wider range of roles.

The Marxes next did ROOM SERVICE (1938) at RKO, without her, but she got a nice part as a teacher of pantomime in DRAMATIC SCHOOL (1938) at MGM. When she was not in the cast of their next film, GO WEST (1940), fans complained so much that she was given a prominent role in THE BIG STORE (1941).

Asked about working with the Marxes, she replied, "It was fun while it lasted. I wouldn't take $1,000,000 for the experience and I wouldn't give a cent to do it again. Making pictures with the Marx Brothers is really the strenuous life."

She continued to make films appearing with leading comedians of the day. She was in NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AND EVEN BREAK (1941), with W. C Fields, Laurel and Hardy in THE DANCING MASTERS (1943), Danny Kaye in UP IN ARMS (1944), Red Skelton in BATHING BEAUTY (1944) and Jack Benny in THE HORN BLOWS AT MIDNIGHT (1946). These were mostly glorified bits, but she had a good scene in Abbott and Costello's LITTLE GIANT (1946) in which she played a dowager for whom Costello demonstrates a vacuum cleaner with disastrous results.

After that she appeared in only a handful of movies. Her last film role was as Shirley McLaine's mother in WHAT A WAY TO GO (1964). She also did some television work, appearing in programs like MY FRIEND IRMA and THE DONNA REED SHOW, and with such stars as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and Dean Martin. Her last professional appearance was, appropriately, with Groucho. He had tried to get here to guest on his quiz program, YOU BET YOUR LIFE, but she had refused because the program did not pay its guests. She appeared on THE HOLLYWOOD PALACE when Groucho was the host, reenacting the "Captain Spaulding" number from ANIMAL CRACKERS.

That program aired on April 17, 1965, she died on March 6 of a heart attack at her home in the Wilshire area of Los Angeles. When Groucho was given an honorary Academy Award in 1974, he paid tribute to his late costar. He insisted, as always, that she never understood any of the jokes but he added "she was a great straight woman and I loved her."