Today’s quick review: A Day at the Races. To save her struggling sanatorium, Judy Standish (Maureen O’Sullivan) turns to Dr. Hugo Z. Hackenbush (Groucho Marx), a horse doctor and the only one who convince the wealthy Mrs. Upjohn (Margaret Dumont) to invest in the sanatorium. Meanwhile, Judy’s boyfriend Gil (Allan Jones) invests in a racehorse that could, with a little help from Tony (Chico Marx) and Stuffy (Harpo Marx), solve their money woes.
A Day at the Races is a classic comedy from the Marx Brothers. A Day at the Races sees the Brothers take over the resort town of Sparkling Springs Lake, in particular its sanatorium and racetrack. The movie embeds the Brothers’ usual routines in a more conventional comedy plot, a roundabout scheme to gather the money needed to save the female lead’s flagging business. Slapstick, music, and wisecracks abound, delivered by three masters of the craft.
A Day at the Races sports a different flavor than other Marx Brothers films. The story takes center stage, leading to a slow start, more conventional comedy heroes in Judy and Gil, and stretches of the movie that barely feature the Brothers at all. The Brothers eventually succeed in stealing the show, but the story’s elaborate setup leaves its mark. The result is an enjoyable comedy that happens to move slower than usual.
In spite of the more heavyweight plot machinery, A Day at the Races shines as a comedy. The Brothers’ routines have a few false starts, thanks to slight missteps in timing or pacing, but they soon settle into their practiced rhythm. The sanatorium and racetrack offer ample opportunity for humor, and the gags the Brothers come up with are as memorable as ever. However, the film does tend to get sidetracked by its many comedy interludes and musical numbers.
Watch A Day at the Races if you’re a fan of the Marx Brothers or classic comedy in general. Whether the extra investment in plot bogs the movie down or helps tie it together is a matter of taste, but a core of rock-solid comedy makes A Day at the Races a worthy watch regardless. For more Marx Brothers fun, try A Night at the Opera, Animal Crackers, or Duck Soup. For another classic comedy with drier humor and a mystery twist, try The Thin Man.
7.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for strong, varied comedy.