The Marx Brothers were one of the longest lasting and most influential comedy acts of the 20th century. Their approach to comedy: anarchy, lightning speed, and musical numbers, mixed with an anything goes approach, totally revolutionized the face of american comedy. By the time they made it big on Broadway in the play "I'll Say She Is" in 1924, they had been performing together on the Vaudeville circuit for 20 years.

The four oldest brothers, "Gummo" (Milton Marx), "Chico" (Leonard Marx), "Harpo" (Adolph Arthur Marx), and "Groucho" (Julius Henry Marx), had started off as singers, but gradually switched to comedy by the time they appearred on Broadway. By 1929, Gummo had retired from the act and was replaced by baby brother "Zeppo" (Herbert Marx). The brothers made their first film, "The Cocoanuts", in 1929, based on their second Broadway hit. From the start, each brother had his own screen persona. Groucho was the wise-cracking, fast-talking brother with his greasepaint moustache and eyebrows who tended to be on the dubious side of the law and/or morality. Chico was the Italian brother who tended to murder the English language and played the piano. Harpo was the brother who never spoke but he played the harp, chased numerous blondes, and created chaos and mayhem wherever he went. And Zeppo was the brother who played straight man to the wild antics of the other three.

Their movies were a mix of comedy and musical numbers. They would feature choreographed dance numbers, musical pieces featuring Harpo playing the harp or Chico playing the piano. Groucho would even sing a song every now and then. His most famous song, "Hooray For Captain Spaulding" from their second film "Animal Crackers" in 1933, would be Groucho's theme song for many years to come. 

After their fifth film, "Duck Soup" in 1933, Zeppo decided to retire from performing, leaving The Marx Brothers to carry on as a trio. They continued to work together until 1950, when they released their final film, "Love Happy". Groucho carried on as a solo actor, his first film appearance having benn in the film "Copacabana" in 1947. Groucho also hosted his own radio and television quiz show "You Bet Your Life" from 1947 to 1961. Chico formed his own band in 1942, featuring a young Mel Torme, and Harpo made many successful comedy tours on his own. Both Gummo and Zeppo developed successful careers after retiring from performing.

Groucho, Chico and Harpo didn't appear in a film again until 1957, when director Irwin Allen signed them to appear in his all-star extravaganza "The Story Of Mankind". The brothers appeared in separate sequences, but no together, in the film. The last appearance together of the three came in 1959 when Chico and Harpo teamed up for a Geral Electric Theater Special for TV titled "The Incredible Jewel Robbery". In the special, everybody performed in pantomine and didn't speak. At the end, Groucho made an unbilled appearance with Chico and Harpo and uttered the special's only line: "We don't talk until we see our lawyer!"

Hopes for a Marx Brothers reunion were dashed when Chico passed away in 1961, followed by Harpo's death in 1964. Both Groucho and Gummo passed away in 1977, and Zeppo died in 1979. Over the years, many books have been written about the brothers, their movies, and their often tubulent personal lives. Their influence has been widespread and their comedic routines (especially Groucho's) have been mimicked by numerous comedians. It has been said that the character of "Hawkeye" Pierce in the movie and TV show "M.A.S.H." was based on Groucho Marx. The memories and laughs of The Marx Brothers continue to reverberate and influence newer generations of comedians and movie goers even today.