A Day at the Races

Rating:
Summary: Ethnic Stereotypes Not Malicious
Review: I decided to watch this film again after an absence of probably 30 years when I learned that Dorothy Dandridge had a small part and I wanted to see if I could find her in the crowd. I'm not sure if I identified her or not but unexpectedly, I was absolutely blown away by the cameo of Ivy Anderson in "All God's Chillun Got Rythym". Her timing and delivery couldn't have been better and I strongly disagree with those who find the number too long and offensively stereotypical. I speak as one whose musical tastes are probably 80% classical and I do not often find much in popular music that I am enthusiastic about. Of course, the style and mannerisms of the black actors are dated and even stereotypical in the dance number that follows. But it has energy and enthusiasm and the paticipants at least seem to be having fun. The Marx brothers are not afraid to even poke fun at race issues by smearing grease on their face. In fact there are other ethnic stereotypes in the movie such as Chico's Italian persona and the German doctor that no one seems to object to because it is all in good fun and not malicious. In fact, the black race track workers are depicted sympathetically while the villains are greedy and underhanded whites trying to fix the race and steal the sanitarium. They lose and the race track workers stage a triumphal march at the end. I think for 1937 this is actually a pretty progressive film in terms of how black people were portrayed. I think that white audiences in 1937 had a mind set which limited how sympathically black people could be portrayed and humorous situations were a general rule.

As for the rest of the movie there are some excellent and funny scenes that many have discussed before and I agree that some of the musical numbers with Alan Jones are too long and no longer that musically interesting. But there are lots of funny scenes and as usual, the brothers point their slings and arrows at the pompous and pretentious and malicious. That's why we can still appreciate them. And for those who find the "God's Chillun" number problematic, you're too politically correct. We have gone way beyond the 1930's image. Regretably, current stereotypes while sometimes striving for realism may lose empathy.

Rating:
Summary: 2 thumbs up!
Review: I really enjoy this movie, very funny! You see all the funny gags of the brothers. It's absolutely fantastic. If you love the Marx Brothers this is the movie you must own. I have it and have seen it about a dozen times over the years and I still laugh, one thing I like about the Marx Brothers is that you can see the same movie 10 times and each time you see it you catch something new that you didn't notice before. It has great writing and excellent acting. They musical talent is wonderful, I love the scene where Harpo play the piano with the orchestra. Definitely a must have.

Rating:
Summary: fabulous!
Review: I see a lot of people (not necessarily here, but in other Marx Brothers forums) get down on this movie, but I am inclined to disagree. I believe it's right up there with the Brothers' best, including Duck Soup and Night. "Hack-in-a-bush" is Groucho's self-proclaimed favorite role, and he is more natural in his acting here than I've ever seen. Harpo is hysterical as always and Margaret Dumont is brilliant... but I think the real stand-out in this one is Chico. I have never seen him having more fun. His acting is precise and true, his piano scene blows every other one out of the water and his grin is so adorable you can't help but grin back. Honestly, until I saw this Harpo was far and away my favorite, but after Day at the Races Chico is a very close contender. :)

Don't not get this one because you hear it's inferior! Yes, there are some forgettable scenes, but nobody's perfect, people. I think just the chance to see big-eyed Harpo innocently tooting away on his flute in a mass of jolly black workers yelling "WHO'S THAT MAN?" is worth the money.

Rating:
Summary: Still a classic
Review: I've laughed as much at scenes in this movie as I have at any Marx Bros. movie. There are really a lot of classic scenes in here. Whether it's Groucho faking the phone call or Grocuho examining Harpo or all three of them examining Margartet Dumont you just cannot go wrong. Also how can anyone not love the scene when Groucho is trying to seduce that woman in his room and Harpo and Chico are trying to stop him. Everytime I see Harpo in that Sherlock Holmes type outfit with those dogs I get a big smile on my face. So the comedy is no problem in this film. There's plenty of it to go around. I guess the only real problem are some of the musical numbers. But they can be easily forwarded through if need be. I personally would have liked them not to be in there but that was the way movies were at that time. It was the depression and studios tried to put lots of big, lavish production numbers in to distract people from their economic situation. The trouble was that they just were not needed in a Marx Bros. movie. Their comedy was more than enought to distract anyone from anything. So despite those songs I still cannot bring myself to give this anything other than five stars.

Rating:
Summary: Here ya tutzi frutzi ice cream!
Review: One of the funniest films made by the Marx Brothers after the departure of the fourth brother, Zeppo. The scene with Chico and Groucho at the windows where Chico sells Groucho all those books is considered one of the best (if not the best) skits ever done in their films. Also, two of the best musical performances by Chico and Harpo are included here. Although their films were made years ago, their brand of slapstick comedy has always remained entertaining with each passing generation.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most original and funny comedies ever made!
Review: The best and most famous comedy team (acclaimed by AFI), the Marx brothers are at it again in their fabulous pre-WWII comedy. With Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Alan Jones, this movie is the best comedy of the late '30's. Groucho plays a horse doctor who is called upon to serve at a sanitorium to help an "ailing" rich woman. Harpo and Chico are the two jockeys of a poor quality horse at a racing circuit. This movie's comedic originality helps to make this one of the funniest Marx brother movies. This video shouldn't go unoticed in any comedy lovers collection. Buy this movie today and have it be proclaimed on of the best classical comedy movies ever made. Buy it today!!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Grand Finale
Review: The big all-black except Harpo production number included a song that I don't know the name of (All god chillun got swing?) which was recorded (either before or after the movie, I just recognized it) by a young Judy Garland. Did Gus Kahn write the words for that too? I thought the flick was watery and patchy (like all their movies after the big 4, I always exclude Duck Soup, bullheaded? because it was scripted by Kalmar and Ruby, 2 of their songwriters?), but it had some great lines and some reasonably though compared to their first 4 flicks only moderately funny routines in it. Harpo got knocked about once, but it was brief and early in the flick and he more than compensated by kicking the villain in the ass! There was chaos, there was pandemonioun and there was shtick, but (sigh) while funny it wasn't up (down, in golf a low score is better) to par. But. This was only in the first part of the movie. It got better. And really picked up when our hero made up with his girl, Harpo (later joined by Groucho and Chico) danced with the black people, followed by the plot complications and the funny horserace and ending in triumph. I thought it was a little plot-laden, but I also thought it was funny and liked it. Now I've got my 8 little Marx Bros flicks on the shelf waiting to amuse and delight my future grandkids of which I won't have any of because I'm gay. Margaret Dumont was great, the film was in excellent condition (why should this be such a surprise, it was made in 1937, about the time of The Wizard of Oz, and there's nothing wrong with that print), the cast members all did good jobs, and the villians were nasty and made me mad. I prefer the Marx Bros movies where there are no villains. A long review that mentions no rountine, I'll leave that to the devotees who revel and delight in the Marx Bros more than I do to point out and rhapsodize over. In short, though it's not as good as the first 4 of their films, it's right up there with Casablanca, and head and shoulders above their other 6 movies. I thought the Marx Bros (even liked Zeppo) were a riot 30 years ago. Sigh, now I don't think they're very funny. Maybe it's just these last 3 movies.

Rating:
Summary: A Day at the Races
Review: The last great Marx Brothers movie. Just a notch below the best, which means it is still fantastic. It peters-out a little at the end and has an excess of non-Marx Brothers scenes which is why it is not quite as good as the very best. Margaret Dumont is great- "Doctor Hackenbush"

Rating:
Summary: The Marx Brothers' Triumph!
Review: This has got to be the funniest of all the Marx films. The final big scene at the race track put me in stiches the first time I saw it especially when Harpo decides to adjust the fan. Although some of the musical scenes lag, the film still demonstrates classic Marx slapstick and double entende.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious!
Review: This is definitely my favorite Marx Bros. film; one of the funniest I've seen! Their unique, timeless humor is eminent throughout the entire movie. When the sanitarium is in danger of going bankrupt, Dr. Hackenfuss is called in to save it. After that, it's literally just one hilarious scene after another: Groucho being gulled into buying books on what horse to bet on; Harpo getting a check-up; Groucho's infamous snappy comebacks to everything, etc. It also has some lovely song and dance numbers. This is an undoubtedly wonderful film!