Captain Spaulding (Groucho Marx) played by Zeppo Marx

This is a version of a scene in Animal Crackers where the role of Captain Spaulding could be played temporarily, in the dark, by Zeppo Marx.

Groucho recalls about Zeppo: "He was so good as Captain Spaulding that I would have let him play the part indefinitely, if they had allowed me to smoke in the audience".

Here you can see clearly that the hair and nose of Captain Spaulding resamble Zeppo's. The voice, however, is the subject of a dispute. Some believe it's Groucho's, some that it's Zeppo's. I personally hear a higher pitch, corresponding to Zeppo's voice modeled after Groucho's.

But some attentive guys think this is not Zeppo:
http://marxcouncil.blogspot.com/2009/04/great-animal-crackers-doppelganger.html
http://marxcouncil.blogspot.com/2009/07/say-herbert-that-you-in-dark.html

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Groucho
• Marx
• Zeppo
• Captain
• Spaulding
• Animal
• Crackers
• 1930

[bwc3821]

Is this the take used in the movie, or just another take they didn't use?

[bansaraba]

@bwc3821 The very one used in the movie.

[bwc3821]

I wish Zeppo could've developed his own on stage persona. His brother's always said he was the funniest one. It would've been great to see just how funny he was.

[The76Twins]

Its Zeppo alright, that's his hairline and his Groucho voice isn't as pointed as Groucho, listen to it very close, it's not Groucho it is Zeppo!

[peybak]

I heard Ben Mankiewicz say it's Zeppo. But it's interesting they'd sneak this into the movie.

[JohnSilverfan01]

I did read that Groucho once said, "Zeppo plays me better than ME." LOL

[DarkNagell]

I think it's Zeppo, the voice is not identical, if you pay attention you will hear that. By the way i'm sorry Zeppo didn't manage to do more with the others, i really appreciate his work (but still my fav is Chico ^^)

[YoungSHolmesfan]

@bwc3821 Can I just say that I TOTALLY agree! I LOVE Zeppo. He's my favorite. He should have had more comedy along with his brothers. I read Groucho's bio and he was telling about how funny Zeppo was and the stunts he pulled. ha ha. It's awesome.

[psmithii]

Sorry -- the name of the show was "Three's A Crowd".

[psmithii]

I don't think it's Zeppo. (Look closely!) I think it's Arthur Sheekman standing in for his friend Groucho. Sheekman was in New York in 1930 co-writing (with Groucho) sketches for the Broadway revue "Three's Company".

[dht23]

Whenever I saw this scene I thought there was something a little different about Spaulding!