Yakko has the amazing ability to talk an unsuspecting yet deserving persons ear off thus the first syllable of his name, yak. Ap language rhetorical analysis springport high school letter to warner bros. The following letter comes courtesy of one groucho marx in 1948. Inscribed and signed very shakily by the letter writer on the ffep. In any case, it is a great example of the persuasive powers of humor. A groucho marx inspired letter to the president of. A product of the vaudevillian age, groucho with his brothers harpo, chico, and zeppo starred in a series of memorable slapstick films in the 1930s and 1940s. For example, up to the time that we contemplated making a picture, i had no idea that the city of casablanca belonged exclusively to warner brothers. Intellectual property protectionfrom groucho marx to the. For example, up to the time that we contemplated making this picture, i had no idea that the city of casablanca belonged exclusively to warner brothers.
Pay close attention to the diction and syntax choices marx made and how they help him achieve his purpose. Below is the famous letter from groucho marx to warner brothers studio. The studio claimed that the films title was too similar to their own film, casablanca, released almost five years earlier, with humphrey bogart and ingrid bergman. Grouchos letter to warner brothers, regarding a night in casablanca editors note. Reissued today with his original letters and humor intact, the groucho letters exposes one of the twentieth centurys most beloved comedians private insights into show biz, politics, business, and, of course, his illustrious personal life. The rhetorical analysis of groucho marxs casablanca bartleby. When marx set out to make a rollicking parody of the classic hollywood drama, casablanca, called a night in casablanca he received a formal letter from warner bros. We will first read a letter written by groucho marx to warner brothers studios in response to their request for marx to remove casablanca from the title of their new movie groucho marx letter.
It was the age of laurel and hardy and the three stooges, but marx brothers filmsfull length featureswere in a class by themselves. For instance, the marx brothers were preparing to make a movie called a night in casablanca. What is the difference between syntax and diction in a rhetorical analysis. The groucho letters letters to and from groucho marx is a collection of, well, letters sent by groucho marx. If you like groucho marx acerbic sense of humor, youll love this. Not only do we see his letters to his family and friends, who included some of the centurys most famous people, but we get to see what people wrote in return. Ask some questions, and either annotate the letter or make a graphic organizer. An introduction to the rhetorical analysis essay betterlesson. It began when the marx brothers released the name of one of their upcoming films, a night in casablanca. Warner brothers contended that the marx brothers proposed film, a night in casablanca was an impingement upon the studios film, casablanca, made famous five years earlier by the performances of humphrey bogart and ingrid bergman. Enjoyand let it be a lesson to all wouldbe trademark bullies. Here is the letter of groucho marx that i am sure you will find quite funny. If anyone could help me it would be greatly appreciated.
Groucho s letter is a somewhat tongueincheek response to this, using humor to emphasize his point. Warner brothers contended that the marx brothers proposed film, a night in casablanca was an impingement upon the studios film. The ensuing fusillade of letters between a fractious groucho and the. Here, in its entirety, is that famous and hilarious social shaming letter from groucho marx to warner bros. I am writing a rhetorical essay for the first time and i have to write it on groucho marx letter to warner bros. Professionally, we were brothers long before you were. Warner brothers were trying to prevent the marx brothers from calling their. Groucho responded with an utterly ridiculous storyline, and, sure enough, received another stern. The groucho letters in addition to other books, which can be found in the library of congress. In 1946, four years after the release of the warner brothers film casablanca, groucho marx wrote a letter to the warner brothers pertaining to the the legal. Donated to the library of congress in the mid1960s, groucho marx s correspondence was first crafted into this celebration of wit and wisdom in 1967. Riley advanced placement language and composition september 6, 2016 groucho marxs letter to warner brothers 1. This collection of letters is drawn primarily from the television years, though gratefully the full correspondence undated, in the text between marx and the legal department of warner brothers is retained in full. Worth the price of admission just for groucho s exchange with the warner brothers legal department, in response to their assertion that the marx bros.
Letter to warner brothers from groucho marx bits and pieces. Grouchos letter to warner brothers, regarding a night in. Organizing information in a rhetorical analysis essay. I had no idea that the city of casablanca belonged. Normal text size larger text size very large text size.
When warner brothers claimed exclusive rights to the name casablanca, groucho marx sent a letter to warner brothers in response. However, they were concerned about whether any s had been violated and wrote to the marx brothers in order to clarify the matter. Though it was rumored that the warner brothers planned on suing the marx brothers, they never did this. Groucho marx writes a letter to warner brothers about casablanca to make fun of them for not letting him use the term casablanca. Download file pdf the groucho letters marx the groucho letters marx take a letter from the marx brothers animal crackers.
Grouchos personality and wit shine through, and these letters are a rare treasure. Groucho responded with an utterly ridiculous storyline, and, sure enough, received another stern letter requesting clarification. While preparing to film a movie titled a night in casablanca, the marx brothers received a letter from warner bros. Groucho marxs letter to warner brothers ap lang elias. Groucho marx wrote a letter to the warner brothers in which he belittled them for an attempt to deny his right to use the title groucho marx a night in casablanca for his movie. One can today, tune to american movie classics, and find a marx brothers film playing at some time. Metaphor, simile, personification, and hyperbole are considered what. We will first read a letter written by groucho marx to warner brothers studios in.
Apparently not quite true see comments, but still funny. After taking some time to cowrite the screenplay for warner brothers the king and the chorus girl 1937, groucho rejoined chico and harpo on loan to rko for room service 1938, the only marx brothers feature not written expressly for them. Groucho responded with a letter asserting that he and his siblings had use of the word brothers prior to the establishment of warner brothers and many others had before that, and often the story is told that groucho threatened a countersuit based on this assertion. As a child i loved the marx brothers wild energy, the way they bounced around the creaky. He wrote at least two autobiographies groucho and me, memoirs of a mangy lover, and a book of letters. Comedian and film star, groucho marx, in his letter, argues to the warner brothers to let the marx brothers use the title casablanca. Eliot wrote groucho marx a fan letter requesting a photograph of the comic actor and humorist. While preparing to film a movie entitled a night in casablanca, the marx brothers received a letter from warner bros.
In the year 1947, legal conflict arose between warner brothers studio and the marx brothers. I listened to this as a book on tape, and at the time i didnt know much about groucho except that he was a hilarious member of the marx brothers. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. A night in casablanca 1946 marx bros comedy the marx brothers are employed at a hotel in postwar casablanca, where a ring of nazis is trying to recover a. I like this piece because there is a nice combination of humor within a very logical argument. Very quickly groucho, sensing the opportunity for free publicity, fabricated a lawsuit from the studio and a crowdpleasing defence. The rhetorical analysis of groucho marxs casablanca. Yakko warner is the tallest, oldest though age is never specified, and most verbal, and serves as the ringleader of the three siblings. In 1946, four years after the release of the warner brothers film casablanca, groucho marx wrote a letter to the warner brothers pertaining to the the legal matter of the name casablanca.
What rhetorical appeals does groucho marx use in his. Marx brothers duck soup rufus t fireflys introduction duration. The company wanted to know more about the movies storyline since early drafts of the a night in casablanca dubbed the spoofs characters with similarsounding names. One small example is groucho s famous letter to the warner brothers about the marx brothers using the name casablanca in their film, a night in casablanca. Very quickly groucho, sensing the opportunity for free publicity. Groucho enthusiastically complied, and the two continued to correspond until they. This classic collection of groucho marxs correspondence. An analysis of groucho marxs letter to the warner brothers kibin. Feb 19, 2015 samantha glasser rated it really liked it. Comedian and film star, groucho marx, in his letter, argues to the warner brothers to let the marx brothers use the.
Some antiwarner humour from groucho marx the register. Marx uses different diction to help convey a tone and figurative language such as allusion to convince the warner bros. He obliged and went on to describe a plot even more. Apparently there is more than one way of conquering a city and holding it as your own. When the marx brothers were about to make a movie called a night in casablanca. It began when the marx brothers released the name of. The letter is a part of his corre spondence with the film production company warner bros. During the filming of the marx brothers a night in casablanca, the legal department of the warner brothers studio allegedly sent the marx brothers a letter, warning them of possible infringement of their film, casablanca, starring humphrey bogart and ingrid bergman. Ap language rhetorical analysis springport high school. The word apparently is used when something on the surface seems to be true, but you dont really know for sure. Most important, a close analysis essay must focus on the choices writers make to help them achieve their purpose. Whereupon groucho, speaking for his brothers and himself, immediately. Marxs supports his claim by listing examples of people with the same name. An analysis of groucho marxs letter to the warner brothers.