A Day at the Races / Room Service

A DAY AT THE RACES, 1937, Warner Bros., 111 min. Dir. Sam Wood. The Marx Brothers’ second (and most expensive) MGM film serves up Groucho as Dr. Hugo Z. Hackenbush, who arouses all sorts of suspicion as the new head of a posh sanitarium -- and with good reason: He’s actually a veterinarian! Includes the celebrated "tootsie-fruitsie" and examination routines, as well as a tremendous cast including Maureen O’Sullivan, Allan Jones, Douglass Dumbrille, Sig Rumann, Esther Muir and, of course, Margaret Dumont.

ROOM SERVICE, 1938, Warner Bros., 78 min. Dir. William A. Seiter. Groucho, Chico, and Harpo stall to extend their hotel credit while trying to mount a play -- with the expected chaotic results -- in this zany Marx Brothers farce. Based on the play by Allen Boretz and John Murray, ROOM SERVICE is not only a delightful showcase for the brothers themselves, but for comedienne Lucille Ball, whose presence almost makes up for the lack of Margaret Dumont!