Details
Movie Description
The first Marx Bros. movie is an adaptation of their George S. Kaufamn-penned stage hit, and also one of the very first musical "talkies" and as such it suffers from occasionally fuzzy sound and static camerawork, but it is nonetheless a sidesplitting riot. The story finds Groucho as the owner of a Florida hotel, trying to put over a land auction scheme. Margaret Dumont is Mrs. Potter, the rich widow who drops into his romantic sights. Chico and Harpo are a couple of tramps come to rob the place blind. The bad guys are a smooth talking thief (Cyril Ring) and his girl (Kay Francis). Of course Mrs. Potter has a sweet young daughter (Mary Eaton) who sings some songs by Irving Berlin including "When My Dreams Come True" with the dull romantic lead (Oscar Shaw). Harpo plays his harp, Chico plays the piano, Groucho plays with Margaret Dumont, and there's plenty of flapper-filled musical dance numbers. Though sometimes raw as a film, it's both a valuable example of the early days of sound as well as a record of the legendary show that launched the Marxes to stardom back in the golden days of Broadway.
Synopsis
An adaptation of the Marx Brothers' hit Broadway musical, "Cocoanuts" was the comedy team's first film. Made when talkies were still in their infancy, the movie's archaic production values don't detract from the hilarity of the Brothers' routines. A madcap farce set in a Florida hotel, "Cocoanuts" introduces the indomitable Margaret Dumont in her recurring role as respectable grande dame, and features fourth brother Zeppo as the straight man (he later disappeared from the Marx Brothers' movies). A pair of singing lovers provide romantic interludes in the midst of comic mayhem.
Film Notes
DVD Features:
Region 0 Encoding
Filmed at Paramount's Astoria, Long Island Studios during the day (the Marx Bros. were appearing on Broadway in the evenings in "Animal Crackers").
Additional cast members: Sylvan Lee (Bell Captain); Gamby-Hale Girls, Allan K. Foster Girls (Dancers)
Additional credit: James R. Cowan, associate producer
Adapted from the Sam H. Harris Broadway musical hit written by George Kaufman. Paramount paid $100,000 for the rights to the musical.
Although "The Cocoanuts" is usually referred to as the Marx Brothers' film debut, their actual debut in the medium was made ten years earlier, in "Humor Risk." Groucho was so concerned that that film would bomb, he had the footage burned.
Industry Reviews
"[A] marvellously stagey early-sound reconstruction of the Brothers' 1920s hit Broadway show..."
Sight and Sound - Kate Stables (02/01/2007)
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