Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

dougdoepke I was a regular watcher of the show from the time my town got TV in 1952 to roughly the show's end. In the early years, my family would crowd anxiously around the set waiting for the laughs to start. In fact, Groucho's eyebrows often told a story that couldn't be said in those days of TV censorship. Thus there was often an element of comedic surprise not found on other shows.Today, I enjoy DVD's of the series as much as I did then. Of course, the byplay between Groucho and the contestants was the main magnet, then and now. Also, seeing regular people being interviewed was and remains a good contrast to celebrity TV. Often just plain folks would show a winning personality once Groucho's playful banter put them at ease. Now it's nostalgic seeing the fashions and styles of that day (1950's). He did have celebrity guests on from time to time, but they weren't the staple. What I didn't know then that I know now-- thanks to IMDb-- is that more preparation went into the show than it appeared. So, you may want to gander at IMDb's Trivia section for details. Nonetheless, the laughs endure. At the same time, the show stands time's test thanks to Groucho's peerless skills and maybe the guy down the street.

cshep Julius "Groucho" Marx, whom the Lucky Duck was named after, was the Host and Star of the game show "You Bet Your Life. "Running on TV, it first premiered on radio, for an unprecedented 11 seasons, the mystique of the show was the host himself. Filmed before a live studio audience, and shown on film for TV, afraid of the censors, the Network Exec's didn't want their show be cut into non- sequiturs.George Fenneman, the Narrator and foil for Groucho's ad-libs and asides, was the perfect voice for the show. Often upstaged and caught off guard by Groucho's remarks, the unflappable Fenneman was the perfect gentleman. The show was literally all about Groucho, and his wit. There was more gamesmanship than game, and often the questions were secondary to the rapport between Groucho and the contestants. Hilarious and spontaneous, Grouch could get the contestants to reveal more about themselves, than they would in a private conversation. Taken from a much more conservative era, Groucho would often push the boundaries of what was appropriate for that time, and turn it into classic and harmless fun. Groucho's perfect timing and delivery were impeccable, and the use of "Julius", the Lucky Duck to present a hundred dollar bill to the player who would say the "Secret Word" of the day, was a stroke of genius.The Love for this Show, is unparalleled. Now mostly forgotten in the annuls of TV History, people would flock to their TV sets, for a half hour of unpredictable consequences in Black & White, flickering across America through the rooms of TV households, in the darkness of the p.m., outbursts of chuckles and belly laughs could be heard from the darkest recesses of the land.There was unity.The staying power of this show was a testament to the talented writers and Groucho, whoever heard of a show with this much staying power, based alone on one person, but the time and place were a perfect vehicle, for someone whose life was based upon living on his wits, and that is the true testament of a man, named "Groucho." It was , and is a TEN, out of TEN.

usaauto I was born in the middle 50's, and had the chance to be exposed to the You Bet Your Life Television show, what a wonderful show! Many of the stars just starting out or not discovered yet, were the subject of the impeccable host Groucho Marx one line ad-libs, not to mention other people from all walks in life.George Fenneman,the announcer and straight man for Groucho's antics really was a great off load character for Groucho.I wish they would bring this program back in re-runs. Originally it was on channel 11, KPLR TV in St.Louis at 10:00 p.m. MOn-Fri..Really I am a 60's on up fan of television, and some of the crap they have on now, couldn't hold a candle to the early days of television.Walter R.Deyherle St.Louis, Missouri

Weasel100 You know, when Groucho was in the movies with his brothers, he was funny. He had some great one-liners which will be remembered from that period. But his consistent ability to come up with brilliant repartee on the set of "You Bet Your Life" before a live studio audience has to be seen (and heard) to be believed.I only recently became aware that episodes on "You Bet Your Life" are available on the internet through places like eBay, so I have taken full advantage of that and have purchased quite a number of discs and boxed sets of the programs which my wife and I have since been watching with very great enjoyment. So, for those of you who would like to see episodes of this classic, they are no further away than where are are right now (on the internet).Even the De Soto/Plymouth commercials from the time are enjoyable; promoting cars that may by modern standards be difficult to drive in a straight line - sorry to any De Soto fans out there. Nonetheless, they are a great accompaniment to this great series of programs.By the way, about the programs, the game show was never intended to be the major part of the entertainment. It was Groucho who was the star not the contestants or the cars that the show so heavily promoted.My summary, these programs are absolute classics and I feel very fortunate to have been able to buy some of them because some group of people had the foresight to see that it would be better to get them out on DVD than to lose them all together in a film vault somewhere.10 out of 10 from me.JMV