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While there was a modicum of preparation before these shows were filmed, most of Groucho's one-liners and snappy comebacks are impressively off-the-cuff, hilariously demonstrating the mastery of humor that Groucho--still vital in his well-heeled sixties--had honed over decades of live performance. His frequently nervous contestants are equally amusing, sometimes giving as well as they got from their rapier-witted host. They are also occasionally exceptional: professional baseball umpires; super-athlete Bob Matthias; a decorated Korean War hero; a Mr. And Miss Universe; a celebrated mystery writer; TV comedian Ernie Kovacs; British "hipster" comic Lord Buckley; and even Gary Cooper's mother appear as contestants. With a revealing glimpse of '50s popular culture, these well-produced DVDs also include a wealth of You Bet Your Life artifacts: the "stag reels" showcase Groucho's deft handling of "mature humor" edited from the original broadcasts; a behind-the-scenes film reveals the show's inner workings and primary staff; and ads for Plymouth/DeSoto dealers (the show's sole sponsor) are quaintly charming by latter-day standards. Best of all, Groucho's original radio audition is included, along with a priceless 10-minute radio clip featuring Groucho and Bob Hope--a comedy gem that led to Groucho's long-term employment on television. For Marx Brothers and Groucho fans, this is a treasure trove of smile-inducing nostalgia. --Jeff Shannon
| ACTORS: | Groucho Marx |
| CATEGORY: | DVD |
| MANUFACTURER: | Sony Music (Video) |
| MPAA RATING: | NR (Not Rated) |
| FEATURES: | Black & White, Box set |
| TYPE: | Television |
| MEDIA: | DVD |
| # OF MEDIA: | 3 |
| UPC: | 826663206692 |
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Customer Reviews of You Bet Your Life - The Lost Episodes
Delightful Groucho gets the treatment he deserves from Sony/Shout. Three discs crammed with vintage episodes of You Bet Your Life, commercials, outtakes, etc. all packaged in one of the nicer gatefold sleeves I've seen in awhile. DVD packaging finally seems to be improving. No they don't "flop around" as one other reviewer wrote here.
Plus there's a booklet that is actually a booklet (and not just a piece of useless paper), complete with in-depth text, photos and, and even a staple! Well worth the dough for any Marx Brothers fan and a wonderful introduction to the one-of-a-kind wit of Groucho for you newcomers.
I'd love to see a followup volume or two, with three or six more discs of You Bet Your Life. The show was on the air for 13 years, so there is a wealth of material out there that deserves this kind of treatment.
Highlights include an interview with a man named "Gonzales Gonzales" and perhaps most notably a segment -- the only filmed footage I have ever seen, the only footage I am even AWARE OF -- of the one and only Lord Buckley, who really steals the show. It's great fun to watch Groucho and Lord Buckley (two men of the same generation, former vaudevillians both) interact, especially as Buckley lets loose with his rappin' hipster schtick, which seems to be a bit of a revelation to Groucho and the studio audience full of DeSoto-driving squares. Wow.
A terrific blast from the past with Groucho and Mr. Fenneman
This collection of Groucho Marx's "You Bet Your Life" quiz shows was obviously prepared with care and affection. In addition to the 18 episodes in the set, many of them never included in the 1961 syndication package, there is a host of show-related video and audio clips. The "stag reel" out-takes contain double-entendre language that never made it to broadcast; it's mild by today's standards but very funny, with Groucho getting the most out of every bawdy laugh. A behind-the-scenes demo with Groucho, announcer George Fenneman, and the series' directors is interesting, and the show's original 1950s commercials are included (but programmed separately, a minor point).
"You Bet Your Life" is first and foremost a vehicle for Groucho Marx, who tosses zingers at hapless contestants. The simple format and low-tech presentation are quite refreshing. If you grew up with the "Best of Groucho" reruns, you may recall that the picture was often re-cropped and enlarged to eliminate the sponsor's logo, resulting in off-center, grainy images. These DVDs boast the original camera compositions, which show the full set and background, with surprisingly sharp picture quality. (There is one episode shown in "Best of Groucho" format, which offers a comparison as well as nostalgia.) Radio-show collectors may be familiar with the Ernie Kovacs episode, which has been issued on disc, but the TV version has different editing and may be of special interest.
Probably the most famous episode of "You Bet Your Life" is included here: the guest is Ramiro G. Gonzales ("Pedro Gonzales Gonzales"). Pedro is barely able to conduct a conversation in English with Groucho, and his flights of fancy are very enjoyable: one minute he's singing "Alla En El Rancho Grande," then he's making eyes at a female contestant, then he's bravely trying to cope with Groucho's rapid-fire interviewing. It's little wonder that Senor Gonzales became an overnight celebrity. And that's just one of Groucho's guests, some of whom "bet your life" too recklessly and wind up with a few cents!
Fans of Groucho and vintage television will love this set. Print quality is very good to excellent, and each of the three DVDs has a representative cross-section of 1950-59 material. Hats off to the DVD producers and to NBC for recognizing the market for this genuine television classic.
The Groucho-DeSoto Connection
Incredible as it may seem, most of the "lost episodes" in this Groucho Marx DVD collection might have been lost forever. In the early 1970s, the geniuses at NBC planned to destroy ALL the "You Bet Your Life" programs for the sole purpose of freeing up some warehouse space. Fortunately, Groucho and producer John Guedel thwarted this cultural crime and reissued the comedy-quiz shows for late-night syndication -- with successful results. However, the "Best of Groucho" package was re-edited to eliminate any trace of the DeSoto-Plymouth references from the original broadcasts. Upon viewing this excellent three-disc set, the viewer is immediately aware of DeSoto's dominant sponsorship of "You Bet Your Life" and the major role Groucho played in the selling of its automobiles -- even lending his trademark image to its used-car dealerships. The "stag reels," promotional films and DeSoto commercials featured in this collection make for fascinating and historic viewing. Of course, there's the long-awaited pleasure of seeing 18 unedited "You Bet Your Life" programs for the first time since the 1950s -- a remarkable find comparable to the "lost" Jackie Gleason kinescopes. The result is a valuable addition to Groucho's comic legacy.