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The Cocoanuts (1929)

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Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 19
Fresh: 18 | Rotten: 1

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Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 0

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Movie Info

While The Four Marx Brothers (Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo) were appearing nightly on Broadway in Animal Crackers in the spring of 1929, they spent their days shooting their first film, The Cocoanuts, at Paramount's Astoria Studios in Long Island. Based on their 1925 stage hit, The Cocoanuts is set in Miami, where hotel manager Mr. Hammer (Groucho Marx) struggles to keep his establishment from going under. Hammer's only paying guest is Mrs. Potter (Margaret Dumont), whose daughter Polly (Mary

Unrated, 1 hr. 36 min.

Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

Directed By: Robert Florey , Joseph Santley

Written By: George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1929 Wide

On DVD: Oct 10, 2000

MCA Universal Home Video

The Cocoanuts Trailer & Photos

Cast

Groucho Marx
Mr. Hammer
Harpo Marx
Harpo
Chico Marx
Chico
Zeppo Marx
Jamison
Mary Eaton
Polly Potter
Oscar Shaw
Bob Adams
Margaret Dumont
Mrs. Potter
Cyril Ring
Harvey Yates
Barton MacLane
Bather
Marx Brothers
Basil Ruysdael
Hennessy
Kay Francis
Penelope Martin
Robert Flory
Sylvan Lee

Critic Reviews for The Cocoanuts

All Critics (20) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (1) | DVD (9)

Fun puts melody in the shade in the audible pictorial transcription of the musical comedy The Cocoanuts.

March 25, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Mordaunt Hall

New York Times

Top Critic

An eminently watchable antique.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Chock with some classic gags and lines...

August 14, 2006 Full Review Source: culturevulture.net

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Dan Schneider

culturevulture.net

The Brothers' energy and madness is never in question: when the laughs come, they come loud and long.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Time Out

Watchable for some hilarious routines, but valued now mostly as a relic.

October 12, 2005 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

First Marx Brothers film is creaky, but has marvelous scenes

October 10, 2005 Comment

Daniel Eagan

Film Journal International

Creaky production is the Marx Brothers' first...and has its hilarious moments.

June 29, 2005 Comment

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan Source: Kansas City Kansan

There's a true benefit of starting at the beginning.

December 16, 2004 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central

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Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

The daft anarchy of the Marx Brothers is often akin to watching the id personified and unleashed.

November 20, 2004 Full Review Source: Not Coming to a Theater Near You

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Matt Bailey

Not Coming to a Theater Near You

It shows its age, but it also captures the verve of the Marx Brothers at the start of their movies careers.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4

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Film4

Not the best Marx Brothers film but close. It features the classic 'Why a duck' routine between Groucho and Chico.

March 13, 2003 Comment

Beth Accomando

KPBS.org

Stagey, but with lots of great Marx routines and some Irving Berlin songs.

November 25, 2002 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

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Audience Reviews for The Cocoanuts

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The first of the Marx Bros. movies and, while stagey, most certainly a delight. Margaret Dumont, as ever, is a fortress of femininity against the leering onslaught of Groucho's questionable machinations and grandly so, while Chico and Harpo are the best worthless con men ever. One of the very reasons for film.

December 24, 2011

moon rivers

Super Reviewer

You can tell that this is their first movie, it isn't as slick and structured as their other movies. Still, they use the routines which are staples of their later movies, and they are just as funny, but the rest of the actors are all over the place trying to take attention away from the Marx Brothers. Plus, I didn't like the ending.

September 16, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

The Cocoanuts Quotes

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1. Mr. Hammer: Money will never make you happy, and happy will never make you money. That might be a wisecrack, but I doubt it.
– Submitted by Beth C (8 months ago)