Margaret Dumont has long been considered an unofficial Marx Brother in her own right, frequently collaborating with the Marx Brothers in their film comedies. She offers a delightful serious or “straight” foil to Groucho’s wacky personality, typically portraying socialite characters oblivious to the double entendres so often delivered by Groucho’s characters.
Of course, Dumont’s career precedes her time working with the Marx Brothers. She was an experienced stage actress and opera singer before appearing regularly in zanier roles as an eccentric character. While much has been written about the Marx Brothers, Dumont’s life is not explored anywhere near as often.
Chris Enss and Howard Kazanjian’s Straight Lady: The Life and Times of Margaret Dumont, “The Fifth Marx Brother” offers a well-deserved, in-depth examination of Dumont’s life and career. The book is well-researched and offers numerous photographs of Dumont from various stages of her career. This book is highly recommended to fans of the Marx Brothers who would like to learn more about the supporting actors in the Marx Brothers films, as well as classic film fans interested in learning more about Dumont’s relationship with the Marx siblings.
Hometowns to Hollywood 