Editing Harpo Marx (section)

=== On film ===
His first screen appearance was in the film ''[[Humor Risk]]'' (1921), with his brothers, although according to Groucho it was screened only once and then [[Lost film|lost]].<ref name="HarposPlace2">{{cite web |last1=Marx |first1=Bill |title=Harpo Marx Filmography |url=https://www.harposplace.com/Character/CharacterFilm.php |website=Harpo's Place |access-date=25 November 2020 |archive-date=February 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203184159/http://harposplace.com/Character/CharacterFilm.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> Four years later, Harpo appeared without his brothers as the "Village Peter Pan" in ''[[Too Many Kisses]]''<ref name="PreservationSocietyTooManyKisses">{{cite web |title=TOO MANY KISSES: Screen Debut of Harpo Marx |url=https://filmpreservationsociety.org/posts/too-many-kisses |website=Film Preservation Society |date=October 2, 2020 |access-date=2 December 2020}}</ref> which predated the brothers' first collaborative film, ''[[The Cocoanuts]]'',<ref name="DeezenCocoanuts">{{cite web |last1=Deezen |first1=Eddie |title=The Cocoanuts: The Marx Brothers' First Film |url=https://www.neatorama.com/2015/09/10/The-Cocoanuts-The-Marx-Brothers-First-Film/ |website=Neatorama |date=September 10, 2015 |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> by four years.<ref name="IMDbMain">{{cite web |title=Harpo Marx |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0555617/?ref_=tt_cl_t9 |website=IMDb |publisher=Amazon |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> Not only is ''The Cocoanuts'' historical by virtue of being the first of the Marx's many [[Sound film|talkies]], but also for being the first film to feature an [[Bird's-eye view|overhead]] [[Camera angle|camera shot]], at least five years before [[Busby Berkeley|Busby Berkeley's]] renowned<ref name="RubinBusby">{{cite book |last1=Rubin |first1=Martin |title=Showstoppers: Busby Berkeley and the Tradition of Spectacle |date=5 August 1993 |publisher=Columbia University Press |location=New York, NY |isbn=0231080549 |page=129 |edition=1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wphbAy_y7IMC&pg=PA129 |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="BeltonBusby">{{cite book |last1=Belton |first1=John |title=Movies & Mass Culture |series=Rutgers Depth of Field |date=1 October 1995 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |location=New Brunswick, NJ |isbn=0813522285 |page=85 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BGY6Xdwwd4gC&pg=PA85 |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="JablonskiBusby">{{cite book |last1=Jablonski |first1=Edward |title=Harold Arlen: Rhythm, Rainbows, and Blues |date=24 September 1998 |publisher=Northeastern University Press |location=Lebanon, NH |isbn=1555533663 |page=104 |edition=New |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XsgCHeS69q8C&pg=PA104 |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="BroadusBusby">{{cite news |last1=Broadus |first1=Will |title=Those Dancing Feet |url=https://www.salemnews.com/news/lifestyles/those-dancing-feet/article_8a9a4257-df62-52c4-a1f0-865bc7dd6f62.html |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=The Salem News |agency=Boston Media Group |publisher=Salem News |date=2 November 2017}}</ref> first use of the technique in his 1936 film ''[[Lullaby of Broadway (film)|Lullaby of Broadway]]'' to film a [[kaleidoscope|kaleidoscopic]] women's dance routine.<ref name="DeezenHomepageCocoanuts">{{cite web |last1=Deezen |first1=Eddie |title=The Cocoanuts |url=https://www.eddiedeezen.com/2009/01/the-cocoanuts.html |website=The Official Eddie Deezen Website |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref> In ''Too Many Kisses'', Harpo spoke the only line he would ever speak on-camera in a film: "You sure you can't move?"<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.marx-brothers.org/watching/film/Too_Many_Kisses.htm| title=Too Many Kisses (1925)| website=Marx-brothers.org| access-date=2018-07-26}}</ref> (said to the film's tied-up hero before punching him). Fittingly, it was a silent film, and the audience saw only his lips move and the line on a title card.<ref name="LATimesKissesSpeaking">{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Susan |title=Retro : Remarxable : DISNEY DOCUMENTARY OFFERS SOME MARX BROTHERS RARITIES |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-24-tv-49077-story.html |access-date=1 January 2021 |newspaper=LA Times |agency=Los Angeles Times |date=24 October 1993}}</ref>

Harpo was often cast as Chico's eccentric partner-in-crime, whom he would often help by playing charades to tell of Groucho's problem, and/or annoy by giving Chico his leg,<ref name="Vulture">{{cite web |last1=Ess |first1=Ramsey |title=Examining the Marx Brothers' Television Appearances |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/08/examining-the-marx-brothers-television-appearances.html |website=Vulture |date=August 15, 2014 |publisher=NY Magazine |access-date=25 November 2020}}</ref> as an alternative to a handshake<ref name="Kostenbaum" /> or simply to rest the leg.<ref name="Kostenbaum" />

[[File:Marx Brothers 1931.jpg|thumb|The four Marx Brothers. From the top down: Chico, Harpo, Groucho, and Zeppo, c. 1931]]
Harpo became known for prop-laden [[Visual gag|sight gags]],<ref name="IYMBillMarxInterview">{{cite web |title=Son of Harpo Speaks |url=https://iymoney.com/bill-marx/ |website=It's Your Money and Your Life Radio Show |date=January 2, 2016 |publisher=Richard J. Muscio |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="NMAH">{{cite web |last1=NMAH |title=The Marx Brothers: The "comic combustion" celebrates 100 years |url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2014/05/the-marx-brothers-the-comic-combustion-celebrates-100-years.html |website=National Museum of American History |date=May 28, 2014 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="FlaigLacansHarpo">{{cite journal |last1=Flaig |first1=Paul |title=Lacan's Harpo |journal=Cinema Journal |date=Summer 2011 |volume=50 |issue=4 |pages=98–116 |doi=10.1353/cj.2011.0046 |jstor=41240737 |s2cid=144967809 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41240737 |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> in particular the seemingly [[Hammerspace|infinite number of odd things]] stored in his [[Overcoat|topcoat]]'s oversized pockets.<ref name="HarposPlace">{{cite web |last1=Marx |first1=Bill |title=The official Harpo Marx family online collection |url=https://www.harposplace.com/ |website=Harpo's Place |access-date=25 November 2020}}</ref> In the film ''[[Horse Feathers]]'' (1932), Groucho, referring to an impossible situation, tells Harpo that he cannot "burn the candle at both ends". Harpo immediately produces from within his coat pocket a lit candle burning at both ends.<ref name="WoodHorsefeathersQuote">{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Barry |title=Wood on Words: Column literally about figures of speech |url=https://sharon.wickedlocal.com/x1018068009/Wood-on-Words-Column-literally-about-figures-of-speech |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801133140/https://sharon.wickedlocal.com/x1018068009/Wood-on-Words-Column-literally-about-figures-of-speech |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 1, 2021 |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=Wicked Local |agency=Times Advocate |date=27 April 2012 }}</ref> In the same film, a homeless man on the street asks Harpo for money for a cup of coffee, and he subsequently produces a steaming cup, complete with saucer, from inside his coat.<ref name="VFMarxRevival">{{cite magazine |last1=Liebenson |first1=Donald |title=If There's a Marx Brothers Revival Coming, It Will Begin This Weekend |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/04/marx-brothers-horse-feathers |access-date=1 January 2021 |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=29 April 2016}}</ref> Also in ''Horse Feathers'', he has a fish and a sword, and when he wants to go to his speakeasy, he stabs the fish in its mouth with his sword to give the password, "Swordfish".<ref name="RearviewMirror">{{cite web |last1=Horvat |first1=Robert |title=Cinemas Greatest Scenes: "I think I got it. Is it swordfish?" Groucho and Chico Marx's password scene |url=https://rear-view-mirror.com/2020/10/01/cinemas-greatest-scenes-i-think-i-got-it-is-it-swordfish-groucho-and-chico-marxs-password-scene/ |website=Rearview Mirror |date=October 2020 |access-date=25 November 2020 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021020117/https://rear-view-mirror.com/2020/10/01/cinemas-greatest-scenes-i-think-i-got-it-is-it-swordfish-groucho-and-chico-marxs-password-scene/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In ''Duck Soup'', he produces a lit blowtorch to light a cigar.<ref name="BWDRCigarBit">{{cite web |last1=Osborne |first1=Graham |title=Humor (Plus) Risk |url=https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2017/08/08/humor-plus-risk/ |website=Bright Wall/Dark Room |date=August 8, 2017 |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref>

Harpo often used facial expressions<ref name="NYTimes2" /> and mime<ref name="NYPL">{{cite web | last1=Kiss | first1=Stephen Sr. |title=Who is Harpo Marx? |url=https://www.nypl.org/blog/2013/06/18/who-is-harpo-marx |website=New York Public Library |access-date=1 December 2020}}</ref> to get his point across instead of speaking. One of his facial expressions, which he used in every Marx Brothers film and stage play, beginning with ''Fun in Hi Skule'', was known as "the Gookie".<ref name="BoingBoingGookie">{{cite web |last1=Doctorow |first1=Cory |title=Harpo Marx on the origin of the "Gookie" |url=https://boingboing.net/2008/06/28/harpo-marx-on-the-or.html |website=BoingBoing |date=June 28, 2008 |publisher=Jason Weisberger |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> Harpo created it by mimicking the expression of Mr. Gehrke, a New York tobacconist who would make a similar face while concentrating on rolling cigars.<ref name="speaks"/><ref name="Mitchell">{{cite book| last=Mitchell| first=Glenn| title=The Marx Brothers Encyclopedia| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e28dAQAAIAAJ&q=gehrke| publisher=Reynolds & Hearn| year=2003| location=London| page=123| isbn=978-1903111499| url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Harpo further distinguished his character by wearing a "fright wig".<ref name="WillisteanFrightWig">{{cite news |last1=Willistean |first1=Paul |title=PAIR EVOKE THE SPIRIT OF THE MARX BROTHERS CONCERT REVIEW |url=https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1989-03-31-2670647-story.html |access-date=31 December 2020 |work=The Morning Call |date=31 March 1989}}</ref> Early in his career, it was dyed pink,<ref name="NYTimes" /> as evidenced by color film posters and by allusions to it in films, with character names such as "Pinky" in ''Duck Soup''. This wig sometimes appeared blond on-screen due to black-and-white film stock. In some films, however, Harpo actually wore a blonde wig.<ref name="SmithsonianBlondeWig">{{cite web |last1=Bredenbeck |first1=Hanna |title=Who has the best hair in our Entertainment Collection? |url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/de/node/47301 |website=National Museum of American History |date=April 18, 2018 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |access-date=31 December 2020 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225053033/https://americanhistory.si.edu/de/node/47301 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Over time, he darkened the pink to more of a reddish color,<ref name="NYTimesBooks2">{{cite web |last1=Giddins |first1=Gary |title=There Ain't No Sanity Clause |url=https://movies2.nytimes.com/books/00/06/18/reviews/000618.18giddent.html |website=Books |publisher=NY Times |access-date=25 November 2020}}</ref> which films again alluded to with character names, such as the name of his character in ''[[A Night in Casablanca]]'', "Rusty".<ref name="CasablancaIMDb">{{cite web |title=A Night in Casablanca (1946) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038777/?ref_=tt_ch |website=IMDb |date = October 12, 1946|publisher=Amazon |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>

His non-speaking in his early films was occasionally referred to by the other Marx Brothers, who were careful to imply that his character's not speaking was a choice rather than a disability. In reality, the decision to remain silent began when Harpo received a negative review, part of which suggested that Harpo's portrayal of a fool was convincing only until he spoke. Soon after, the Brothers' uncle shared with Harpo a script he had written for them. Harpo was dismayed to find he had just three lines and said to his uncle, "Well, maybe I won't talk at all!" This was meant sarcastically, but his uncle genuinely liked the idea.<ref name="NeatoramaSilenceOrigin">{{cite news |last1=Deezen |first1=Eddie |title=The Silent Marx Brother |url=https://www.neatorama.com/2012/10/02/The-Silent-Marx-Brother/ |newspaper=Neatorama |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref> His brothers would make joking reference to this part of his act. For example, in ''[[Animal Crackers (1930 film)|Animal Crackers]]'', his character was ironically dubbed "The Professor".<ref name="RomeSentinel">{{cite web |title=Restored 'Animal Crackers' opens tonight G-rated film includes censored footage |url=https://romesentinel.com/stories/restored-animal-crackers-opens-tonight-g-rated-film-includes-censored-footage,28151 |website=Rome Sentinel |date=September 15, 2016 |publisher=Rome Sentinel Co. |access-date=25 November 2020 |archive-date=March 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303205208/https://romesentinel.com/stories/restored-animal-crackers-opens-tonight-g-rated-film-includes-censored-footage,28151 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In ''The Cocoanuts'', this exchange occurs:<ref name="MBdotORGWhyADuck">{{cite web |last1=Timphus |first1=Stefan |title=The Cocoanuts - Why A Duck? - The Marx Brothers |url=https://www.marx-brothers.org/whyaduck/info/movies/scenes/whyaduck.htm |website=Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo, Zeppo - The Marx Brothers |access-date=25 November 2020}}</ref>

:{{dialogue
|g=Groucho
|c=Chico
|g|Who is this?
|c|Atsa my partner, but he no speak
|g|Oh, that's your [[wikt:silent partner|silent partner]]!
}}

In later films, Harpo was repeatedly put in situations where he attempted to convey a vital message by whistling and pantomime,<ref name="NYTimes" /> reinforcing the idea that his character was unable to speak.

The Marxes' film ''At the Circus'' (1939) contains a unique scene where Harpo is heard saying "A-choo!" twice, as he sneezes.<ref name="StaticMass">{{cite web |last1=Costello |first1=Paul |title=At The Circus |url=http://staticmass.net/early-films-and-cinema/at-the-circus-movie-1939-review/ |website=Static Mass Emporium |access-date=25 November 2020}}</ref>