Of all the comedy teams that ended up in the movies in the 1930s, Jimmy, Harry, and Al-The Ritz Brothers-were probably the most unrestrained ever and are probably not as appreciated as a result. In Hotel Anchovy-a short made for the low-budget comedy short studio with the ironic name of Educational-their film debut, they are a manager, bellhop, and detective trying to keep customers from checking out so they can get all the money that's coming to them without fear of losing some of it as the female owner tries to sell the title hotel to a couple of bidders. The brothers Ritz run rampant as they insult various guests, confuse the bidders, and keep running into a suicidal man who keeps failing! Most of the really funny frantic stuff with the bidders are at the end and, boy, what energy they have here! This is probably where Sid Ceasar and Mel Brooks got their inspiration so for that we fully thank them!
Review of Hotel Anchovy
