ROOM SERVICE, the Marx Brothers 8th film, unleashed in 1938, doesn’t get as much love from fans and critics as their previous romps, but we’re among those who think it’s pretty darn funny. This was the first one not written specifically for them, instead being based on a hit play written by Allen Boretz and John Murray that clocked 500 performances on Broadway. Fourth brother Zeppo, having dropped out after Duck Soup, had become an agent, representing Groucho, Chico and Harpo. He brokered RKO into producing this one, and the studio plopped down a doozy $225,000 for the rights ($5,072,000 in 2025). Morrie Ryskind, who’d worked for the Marxes on The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers and A Night At The Opera, whipped up the screenplay directed by comedy vet William A. Seiter. 

“Don’t you worry. I’ll give you the best performance you ever saw in a hotel bedroom!”

Broke play producer ‘Gordon Miller’ (Groucho, 47) and assistants ‘Harry Binnelli’ (Chico, 50) and ‘Faker Englund’ (Harpo, 48) along with their cast of actors, have run up a tab they can’t pay at the ‘White Way Hotel’. Ordered to evict, as is also penniless ‘Leo Davis’ (Frank Albertson)—the author of their proposed “Hail and Fairwell”—Miller desperately seeks a backer and cash.

Unlike their previous escapades, the action isn’t slowed down by lame songs, and this time neither Chico or Harpo do instrumental solos on piano and harp. While still Marxian nonsensical and patter-laden, it’s not as scattershot anarchic, and the movement is nearly all confined to a few rooms. Groucho’s patented stalk-walk has ample display, Chico dials back a bit on accent business, and Harpo gets zany mileage out of a frenzied eating scene. Since there is a semblance of actual plot, the supporting cast gets a fair share of screen time, and the show benefits from their appeal. Albertson’s an okay foil, and spicy riser Lucille Ball, 26, gets in some shots. Beaming newcomer Ann Miller plays the sweetie Albertson falls for: Miller had lied about her age–she was only 15. A major bonus is the master of exasperation Donald MacBride, as the innately explosive hotel supervisor who wants the gang to pay up or get out. His repeated “Jump-ing Butterballs!” was toned down from the play’s saltier “Oh, God-damn!”  And beware of flying turkeys!

                             Donald MacBride, 1893-1967

Budgeted at $884,000 (that may not include the quarter-mil spent on rights), when the box office results from 1938 were tallied it ranked 84th (Cogerson has it grossing $2,700,000) and RKO posted a resultant loss of $300,000. The brothers next two (At The Circus and Go West) fared somewhat better at the box office, but as with other comedy teams the trajectory of inspiration had reached a point where it trended downward and The Big Store, A Night In Casablanca and Love Happy all sagged. The boys appeared, separately, in The Story Of Mankind, but that was a notable fiasco. Room Service is underrated.

78 minutes, with Cliff Dunston, Philip Loeb, Philip Wood and Charles Halton. Remade six years later as Step Lively.