Horse Feathers

Horse Feathers is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film starring the Four Marx Brothers (Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo), Thelma Todd and David Landau. It was written by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, S. J. Perelman, and Will B. Johnstone. Kalmar and Ruby also wrote the original songs for the film. Several of the film's gags were taken from the Marx Brothers' stage comedy from the 1900s, Fun in Hi Skule. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term "horse feathers" is U.S. slang for "nonsense, rubbish, balderdash," attributed originally to Billy DeBeck.

Plot:

The film revolves around college football and a game between the fictional Darwin and Huxley Colleges. Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff, the new president of Huxley College, is convinced by his son Frank, a student at the school, to recruit professional football players to help Huxley's losing football team. Baravelli is an "iceman", who delivers ice and bootleg liquor from a local speakeasy. Pinky is also an "iceman", and a part-time dogcatcher. Through a series of misunderstandings, Baravelli and Pinky are accidentally recruited to play for Huxley instead of the actual professional players.

Cast:

Groucho Marx as Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff

Harpo Marx as Pinky

Chico Marx as Baravelli

Zeppo Marx as Frank Wagstaff

Thelma Todd as Connie Bailey

David Landau as Jennings

Uncredited Cast:

Robert Greig as biology professor giving lecture

Reginald Barlow as retiring college president

E. H. Calvert as professor in Wagstaff's office

Nat Pendleton as Darwin football player MacHardie

James Pierce as Darwin football player Mullen

Theresa Harris as Laura, Connie's maid

Sheila Bromley as Wagstaff's receptionist

Phil Tead as football commentator

Ben Taggart as the cop who tries to give Harpo a ticket

Edgar Dearing as the bartender in the speakeasy

Vince Barnett as a speakeasy patron