The Cocoanuts (1929)

Synopsis: 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... 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. [More]

Starring: Marx Brothers, Margaret Dumont, Mary Eaton, Oscar Shaw

Starring: Marx Brothers, Margaret Dumont, Mary Eaton, Oscar Shaw, Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Zeppo Marx, Kay Francis, Basil Ruysdael, Cyril Ring

Director: Robert Florey, Joseph Stanley

Director: Robert Florey, Joseph Stanley
Screenwriter: George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind
Composer: Irving Berlin

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