As is my a usual way with these a posts. I a begin using a syntax to a suggest a bad Italian accent as a used by a Chico Marx.
Today's a Marx Brothers a movie is a bit different from other I have a written about a before. There is no a Zeppo so I will not be asking the a question I always ask, "Why is Zeppo?"
The fourth a Marx Brother a moved from in front of the a camera where he was no a good and did a stuff behind the a camera where he was a much a better.
Which is kind of a weird as "Room Service" actually has a good part for a Zeppo.
But that's a no good since there is no a Zeppo.
Let's a get a this blog post a started. Cinema Sunday a presents the a Marx a Brothers in a "Room Service".
Gordon Miller (Groucho Marx) is a theatrical producer. The White Way Hotel is where Miller, his crew and his performers are staying and rehearsing a new play, Hail and Farewell. The play will open as soon as Miller can find a backer with some money.
Small catch: Gordon Miller is flat broke.
He's gotta a couple of guys helping him, Harry Binelli (Chico) and Faker Englund (Harpo) except they ain't no help because they're flat broke too.
Leo Davis, the author of the play Miller is trying to produce, shows up but he's no help. He's flat broke. The typewriter he wrote Hail and Farewell on isn't even paid for.
Miller's brother in law who runs the White Way Hotel is in a tizzy over the ever growing bill that Miller and his gang are running up. Seems the hotel's big boss is coming in to audit the books and will have questions about a certain large and unpaid bill.
Good news! One of Miller's actresses, Christine Marlowe (Lucille Ball), has arranged for a backer. Miller must keep his room and hide the cast and crew until the meeting with the backer can take place.
With hotel management breathing down the necks of Miller and every one working with him on this play, a variety of shenanigans are employed to keep Miller in his room until they can take delivery on the check from the backer.
Good news: Miller gets the check!
Bad news: The backer stops the check!
So more insanity and (simulated) death ensue!
Room Service is based on the 1937 play of the same name. It's the only Marx Brothers film not specifically written especially for the team. The movie is not as frenetic as other Marx Brothers movies with most of the action confined to Miller's hotel room as people enter and exit and enter again with rapid fire abandon.
I mentioned that Zeppo Marx was no longer on screen but the character of play author Leo Davis would've been perfect for Zeppo and finally given him something to do.
Room Service is only the second Marx Brothers film to not take time out for solo numbers for Chico at the piano and Harpo to play the harp.
Room Service also stars Lucille Ball and Ann Miller. This was about 15 years before Lucille Ball would become engrained in America's hearts on I Love Lucy. Ann Miller was at the very beginning of a long career on stage and in the movies. Ann started her acting career with a fake birth certificate that said she was 18 when she was in fact 14.
Ann Miller was really only 15 years old when she made Room service which makes this story she told TCM's Robert Osborne more disturbing. Ann Miller said Harpo Marx dropped his pants in front of her, beeped his horn and chased her around the set.
Room Service is a more structured affair than we normally get from a Marx Brothers movie. It's a fun movie but it doesn't feel like a Marx Brothers movie.
Room Service lost money, a rare set back for the Marx Brothers.
A more classic Marx Brothers film will get the spotlight in a few weeks here at Cinema Sunday as we spend... A Day at the Races.
In the coming weeks, look for posts on the two live action Addams Family movies, O Brother Where Art Thou and the documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor?
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