Dr. Hackenbush Restored

The song "Dr. Hackenbush" is restored to its rightful place in "A Day at the Races." Despite its comic peaks, "Races" is the beginning of the Marx Brothers' decline. Emblematic of its problems is the omission of this would-be classic Groucho number -- especially considering some of the tedious songs that did make the cut (I have only to mention "On Blue Venetian Waters"). Here, after more than seventy years, we finally get to see Groucho barge into the Standish Sanitarium and sing "Dr. Hackenbush." A valuable public service from Noah's Comedy Palace.

For more: http://www.noahscomedypalace.blogspot.com

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• marx brothers
• groucho
• harpo
• chico
• dr hackenbush
• day at the races
• bert kalmar
• harry ruby
• hollywood palace
• kalmar and ruby
• marx
• groucho marx
• harpo marx
• chico marx
• rare
• noah diamond

[jvblhc]

Nice job! The two Irving Thalberg films took place in the real world. Groucho's song is all about what a fraud he is while the film is about Groucho trying to hide that he is a fraud. I'm guessing that's why the song was cut - it clashed with the plot and with Thalberg's vision of the brothers living in a real world. Not saying I agree with the decision, just that I think I know why it was cut.

[nerofiddled]

@jvblhc I think you're quite right about the Thalberg films returning to Earth after the poetic netherworld of the original Paramount trilogy. I find it interesting that Hackenbush isn't a fraud in the same way Groucho's previous characters were. He's a horse doctor posing as an M.D., but there's no reason to believe he's not a perfectly capable horse doctor -- whereas Captain Spaulding, for example, has clearly never been anywhere near Africa.

[TedNewsom]

Wonderful work.

[saxguy1992]

Great! Do you have "A Message From the Man in the Moon" as well?

[canonsburgman]

Most excellent! I just finished watching 'A Day At The Races" and had no idea this song had been cut. Thank Yoooo!

[TedNewsom]

Thanks. Well done!

[KeatonMovieFever]

Beautifully done! Nice tribute to Groucho and to a great song that Lord only knows why was edited from a film that needed it.