thumb|200px|right|Abel H. Vallet (1916)

Humor Risk, also known as Humorisk, is a lost unreleased 1921 silent comedy short film. It is the first film to star the Marx Brothers, and was the only Marx Brothers movie until the release of their 1929 musical comedy The Cocoanuts. The title parodies the popular 1920 film Humoresque.

Plot

Information about the plot of Humor Risk is sparse. According to Kyle Crichton's 1951 biography of the Brothers, Harpo played Watson, the hero and romantic lead who "made his entrance in a high hat, sliding down a coal chute into the basement." Groucho played the villain, who in the finale was shown "in ball and chain, trudging slowly off into the gloaming." In his book Monkey Business, Simon Louvish claims Harpo's character was a detective. Ralston never mentioned working with the Marx Brothers, however, and the Brothers themselves never seem to have named Kane as a collaborator.

One account of the production claims that Dick Smith's mother visited the studio and sat down at a table during shooting, but consequently had to return the next three consecutive days for continuity's sake.

Production

Jo Swerling played a key role in funding the project, raising $6000. Additional funding was provided by the Marxes, cartoonist (and producer, in some sources) Alvah "Al" Posen, Nathan Sachs, and Max Lippman. Nathan Sachs had previously partnered with Max Lippman at a law firm. Sachs made his fortune in the oil business

Release

The film was first shown to the public, potentially in an incomplete form, at a children's matinee in early December 1921. The earliest mention of Humor Risk in an industry newspaper came in Wid's Daily (later The Film Daily) on April 8, 1921, ahead of the film's release. That press statement claims that the Marxes had just signed onto a comedy film series with Caravel Comedies – Caravel was in fact created by the Marxes themselves for the purpose of aiding in their film debuts, and never consisted of much more than a post office box.

Surviving copies

Kyle Crichton has claimed the film was destroyed except for one rogue print, which was used by friends of the brothers for "jovial blackmail". Marx Brothers researcher Hector Arce has disputed this account, claiming instead that the only film print was burned (by Groucho) and the negatives were kept in Posen's closet. Matthew Coniam provided another version of events, writing that Reelcraft reportedly picked it up and filed it under another name, writing, "where could it be? That was the only film the brothers made that year." Max Lippman may also have owned a copy, as his estate (which was locked in a bidding war through much of the 1930s) contained some dull, unmarked canisters.

Reelcraft sold nearly 200 negatives in its possession at an auction in 1922, some of which may have contained portions of Humor Risk.

See also

  • List of United States comedy films
  • List of lost films

References

  • Humor Risk at Silent Era
  • Discussion at NitrateVille
  • Humor Risk at Marxology
  • "The Marx Brothers' Lost Film: Getting to the Bottom of a Mystery" at Brenton Film
  • Caravel Comedies listing in Motion Picture Studio Directory and Trade Annual 1921