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IMDbPro

Room Service

  • 19381938
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 18m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
5.2K
YOUR RATING
Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, and Harpo Marx in Room Service (1938)
A penniless theatrical producer must outwit the hotel efficiency expert trying to evict him from his room, while securing a backer for his new play.
Play trailer1:41
1 Video
20 Photos
  • Comedy
A penniless theatrical producer must outwit the hotel efficiency expert trying to evict him from his room, while securing a backer for his new play.A penniless theatrical producer must outwit the hotel efficiency expert trying to evict him from his room, while securing a backer for his new play.A penniless theatrical producer must outwit the hotel efficiency expert trying to evict him from his room, while securing a backer for his new play.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
5.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • William A. Seiter
  • Writers
    • Morrie Ryskind(screen play)
    • John Murray(from the play by)
    • Allen Boretz(from the play by)
  • Stars
    • Groucho Marx
    • Harpo Marx
    • Chico Marx
Top credits
  • Director
    • William A. Seiter
  • Writers
    • Morrie Ryskind(screen play)
    • John Murray(from the play by)
    • Allen Boretz(from the play by)
  • Stars
    • Groucho Marx
    • Harpo Marx
    • Chico Marx
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 52User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:41
    Official Trailer

    Photos20

    "Room Service" Groucho Marx 1938 RKO Radio Pictures
    Groucho Marx, Lucille Ball, Chico Marx, and Harpo Marx in Room Service (1938)
    Groucho Marx, Lucille Ball, Chico Marx, and Harpo Marx in Room Service (1938)
    Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, and Harpo Marx in Room Service (1938)
    Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, and Harpo Marx in Room Service (1938)
    Groucho Marx, Lucille Ball, and Chico Marx in Room Service (1938)
    Groucho Marx, Lucille Ball, Cliff Dunstan, and Chico Marx in Room Service (1938)
    Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, and Harpo Marx in Room Service (1938)
    Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, and Harpo Marx in Room Service (1938)
    Groucho Marx, Frank Albertson, Chico Marx, and Harpo Marx in Room Service (1938)
    Room Service (1938)
    Groucho Marx, Lucille Ball, Frank Albertson, Chico Marx, and Harpo Marx in Room Service (1938)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Groucho Marx
    Groucho Marx
    • Gordon Milleras Gordon Miller
    Harpo Marx
    Harpo Marx
    • Fakeras Faker
    Chico Marx
    Chico Marx
    • Harry Binellias Harry Binelli
    Lucille Ball
    Lucille Ball
    • Christineas Christine
    Ann Miller
    Ann Miller
    • Hildaas Hilda
    Frank Albertson
    Frank Albertson
    • Leo Davisas Leo Davis
    Cliff Dunstan
    Cliff Dunstan
    • Joseph Gribbleas Joseph Gribble
    Donald MacBride
    Donald MacBride
    • Gregory Wagneras Gregory Wagner
    Philip Loeb
    Philip Loeb
    • Timothy Hogarthas Timothy Hogarth
    Philip Wood
    • Simon Jenkinsas Simon Jenkins
    Alexander Asro
    • Sashaas Sasha
    Charles Halton
    Charles Halton
    • Dr. Glassas Dr. Glass
    Stanley Blystone
    Stanley Blystone
    • Policeman in Alleyas Policeman in Alley
    • (uncredited)
    Phoebe Campbell
    • Minor Roleas Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Clyde Courtright
    • Minor Roleas Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Josephine DeKarr
    • Minor Roleas Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Everton
    Paul Everton
    • Formally-Dressed Man in Playas Formally-Dressed Man in Play
    • (uncredited)
    Cliff Herd
    • Minor Roleas Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William A. Seiter
    • Writers
      • Morrie Ryskind(screen play)
      • John Murray(from the play by)
      • Allen Boretz(from the play by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Lucille Ball, who has a supporting role, would later buy the studio that made this film, RKO Pictures. She and Desi Arnaz purchased it during the height of their success on I Love Lucy (1951) and renamed it Desilu Studios, now best known as the sponsorship of Star Trek (1966).
    • Goofs
      Wires visible on the turkey when it flies around the room.
    • Quotes

      Gordon Miller: Shhh. Money.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits are shown on doors that flip around for each new screen of names.
    • Alternate versions
      Also available in a colorized version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Anatomy of an Illness (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      Merrily We Roll Along
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      A song loosely based on 'Good Night Ladies' (1847) by Edwin P. Christy

      In the score during the opening credits

    User reviews52

    Review
    Top review
    A Lesser Marx
    The movie manages a few chuckles, but is not prime material for Marx Bros. fans. One reason is that there's too much conventional logic in what the boys do, unlike their usual wacky comedic logic. Thus, there's little of the usual anarchic assault on well-ordered society that provides larger point to their madcap style.

    Here the boys are trying to beat the hotel out of a big bill in order to get their stage play produced, and what they do makes perfectly good sense, though done in zany style. I get the feeling that, unlike other Marx movies, any number of good comedic actors could have replaced them to decent effect. Also, journeyman director Seiter fails to bring the zaniness to the kind of madcap boil that marks their best features. For example, the comedy mix tends to keep the boys apart instead of effectively combining them.

    Nonetheless, the movie has its moments and some good gag lines, along with lively humorous support— MacBride as the dyspeptic hotel manager, Wood as the string bean agent, and Albertson as the boyish playwrite. Unfortunately, Lucille Ball's expert comedic talent goes untapped, but thankfully not her good looks.

    Looks like the boys miss their home at MGM where their best movies were made. But even second-rate Marx Bros. at RKO still manages some good laughs.
    helpful•10
    0
    • dougdoepke
    • Apr 18, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 30, 1938 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Servicio de hotel
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $884,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 18 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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