On Yer Marx

 

 (imdb)

A DAY AT THE RACES-1937-Judy (Maureen O'Sullivan) is having trouble running her sanitarium because it's in debt. Her chauffeur is Tony (Chico Marx). She gets really mad when her radio singer boyfriend Gil Stewart (Alan Jones) buys a racehorse. His jockey is Stuffy (Harpo Marx). Hypochondriac Mrs. Upjohn (Margaret Dumont) agrees to help out when she hears Dr. Hackenbush (Groucho Marx) is coming (he's actually a veterinarian). Mr. Morgan (Douglas Dumbrille; later in THE BIG STORE with the brothers) wants her place and has a corrupt business Mgr. Whitmore (Leonard Ceeley) try and get it. Later Hackenbush is pursued by floozy Flo (Esther Muir) who tries to get Hackenbush in trouble with Mrs. Upjohn but Tony & Stuffy save him with a hilarious wallpaper act. There's more outrageous comedy when Morgan brings in a specialist (Sig Ruman) to examine Upjohn. 

This seventh madcap Marx Brothers comedy was directed by Sam Wood who had already worked with the brothers on the classic A NIGHT AT THE OPERA in 1935 (which also featured Jones, Dumont and Ruman). He went on to direct many more films including GOODBYE MR. CHIPS (1939), KITTY FOYLE (1940) and THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (1942). Executive producer (and Marx Brothers supporter) Irving Thalberg died during production. Groucho (who didn't care much for director Wood) later said that with Thalberg's death he lost interest in making movies. 

DAY is also the only Marx Bros. film to get an Oscar nomination (for choreography!). 37 years later Groucho received a honorary Oscar. Despite having a lot of music, several songs were cut including Groucho's “Dr. Hackenbush”!

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Hay Abbott!

 

 (imdb)

IT AIN'T HAY-1943-Wilbur, an inept but lovable cab driver (Lou Costello) is blamed for the death of a carriage horse owned by King O'Hara (Cecil Kellaway) and his daughter Peggy (Patsy O'Connor). With help from his friend Grover (Bud Abbott) he gets a new horse.

Unfortunately, they accidentally steal a famous racehorse Tea Biscuit, owned by Col. Brainard (Samuel S. Hinds; also in the team's RIDE 'EM COWBOY the year before). They are pursued by a man named Warner (Eugene Pallette) who they cost several jobs. Shemp Howard is Umbrella Sam and Eddie Quillan is Harry the Horse.

 IT AIN'T HAY was the third of five Abbott & Costello comedies directed by Erle C. Kenton (ISLAND OF LOST SOULS (1932)) who also found time to direct several in the classic Universal horror series. This entertaining Abbott and Costello vehicle is based on a story by Damon Runyon which caused the film not to be released on DVD with the other Universal A & C comedies. A few years ago matters with Runyon's estate were cleared up and it was finally released.

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Race Track Chan

CHARLIE CHAN AT THE RACE TRACK-1936-In Hawaii when sure winning racehorse Avalanche is disqualified for a foul by his hockey (Frankie Darro), its owner Major Kent (George Irving) hires the Honolulu based (fake) Chinese detective (Warner Oland) to investigate. Unfortunately Kent is kicked to death by his own horse before Chan can get to work. On board an ocean liner bound for US (Hawaii wasn't a state yet) everyone receives threatening letters regarding not using Avalanche in anymore races. Chan is even shot in the leg. It's all a plot by a group of gamblers to make a big score. Lee (Keye Luke) disguises himself as a laundry boy and causes a distraction so “Pop” can switch the horses back.

Doping also figures in the plot and there are lots of the usual suspects. Director H. Bruce Humberstone made the next entry into the series CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA (with Boris Karloff) the same year.

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