Room Service

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Room Service

Released Sep 21, 1938

1h 19m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

64%

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14 Reviews

56%

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1,000+ Ratings

Broadway producer Gordon Miller (Groucho Marx) has sunk every dime into his latest project but still lacks the money to get the play out of rehearsals. While dodging hotel manager Gribble (Cliff Dunstan) and his henchman, Wagner (Donald MacBride), over his unpaid bills, Gordon, director Harry Binelli (Chico Marx) and manager Faker Englund (Harpo Marx) try to soothe the jangled nerves of their playwright (Frank Albertson) and convince a wealthy backer (Philip Loeb) to invest heavily in the show.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Room Service features some shenanigans that are fitting for a Marx Brothers vehicle but it is not enough for their standards.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jan 3, 2024

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James T. Hamada

The Nippu Jiji (Honolulu)

William A. Selter directed with excellent results.

Aug 18, 2021

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Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

The original was outrageous enough even for the Marx boys, so it ought to be outrageous enough for anybody.

Jul 22, 2019

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Gabe Leibowitz

Film and Felt

With far too many drawn-out chats lacking in any wit or humor, Room Service is close to a total Marx Brothers dud.

Rated: 35/100

Jun 29, 2011

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Seiter's direction keeps the brothers at half speed, stuck to static material

Mar 21, 2010

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 5/5

Jun 16, 2005

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christopher c. m

Most of the movie happens in one room, just redressed to look like a better room later in the movie. That hurts the pacing a little. Also, this is one Marx brothers movie that isn't a musical. No real long musical numbers that normally really drag. But it's the normal Marx brother genius and all fans of the Marx brothers need to check it out.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Jumping Butterballs! This one was great.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

Really lacking in Marx gags and schtick, but at least it followed the story and didn't meander every 10 minutes with a side scene about nothing or some musical number that goes on too long. Not great, not as funny, but decent.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

It's not a very good movie, but it's got just enough genuine laughs to keep you watching through the whole thing.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Audience Member

Is it just me, or do they play con-men in every movie?

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

This is not the best Marx Brothers' film, but it's still a funny screwball comedy that's toned-down a thousand octaves after the high-blown antics of "Duck Soup", "A Night at the Opera", and even "A Day at the Races". If those three movies hadn't happened, this would be the logical successor. Jumping Butterballs! No musical numbers! Early Lucille Ball! Ann Miller!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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William A. Seiter

Director

Groucho Marx

Gordon Miller

Chico Marx

Harry Binelli

Harpo Marx

Faker Englund

Lucille Ball

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Ann Miller

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Synopsis

Broadway producer Gordon Miller (Groucho Marx) has sunk every dime into his latest project but still lacks the money to get the play out of rehearsals. While dodging hotel manager Gribble (Cliff Dunstan) and his henchman, Wagner (Donald MacBride), over his unpaid bills, Gordon, director Harry Binelli (Chico Marx) and manager Faker Englund (Harpo Marx) try to soothe the jangled nerves of their playwright (Frank Albertson) and convince a wealthy backer (Philip Loeb) to invest heavily in the show.

Director: William A. Seiter
Screenwriter: Morrie Ryskind
Production Co: RKO Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 21, 1938, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Runtime: 1h 19m

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