The Cocoanuts
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This was the Marx Brothers' first movie (if you don't count "Humor Risk") and was one of the earliest sound films ever made. Groucho plays Mr. Hammer, a Florida hotel owner during the Florida land boom in the 1920's, desperately trying to unload real estate on unsuspecting buyers. Zeppo is the desk clerk (Jamison), Chico is an "idle roomer" and Harpo is his "silent partner." Hammer takes on Chico as his shill to try to up the price of his questionable real estate (prompting the famous Why A Duck? scene), and various guests try to swindle one another for various reasons.
This film also features music written by Irving Berlin, though not his best material by a long shot. The insipid love song, "When My Dream Comes True," drones on relentlessly through the entire film, and how many of you remember "The Monkey Doodle Doo?" An interesting side note regarding the forgettable music in The Cocoanuts: For years, Groucho teased Irving Berlin about not having been able to give them even one hit song for the show. In his defense, Irving Berlin replied that he had taken a song to Sam Harris and played it for him. Harris listened carefully and said the song would never be a hit. That song was "Always," one of Berlin's biggest hit songs.
HAMMER: You - you know what an auction is, eh?
CHICO: I come from Italy on the Atlantic-Auction.
The Cocoanuts was one of the early sound movies and they were struggling with some problems of this new technology.
Sound could only be recorded live, which means that whenever you hear music a full orchestra will have been nearby.
To avoid the sound of paper being shuffled it was soaked in water. You can clearly see that in the Viaduct scene, when Groucho shows Chico the plans.
This movie was made when the Brothers where performing Animal Crackers on stage.
This is the only movie were Harpo wears a red wig, like he would have done on stage. The wig appeared too dark on film and in the other movies he is using a blond wig.
Related Links
Sounds
Quotes
- The "Why a Duck?" scene
- Script for "The Cocoanuts" at http://www.geocities.com/emruf3 (via web.archive.org)
General
Cast:
| Groucho Marx | Mr. Hammer | ||
| Harpo Marx | Harpo | ||
| Chico Marx | Chico | ||
| Zeppo Marx | Jamison | ||
| Margaret Dumont | Mrs. Potter | ||
| Mary Eaton | Polly Potter | ||
| Oscar Shaw | Bob Adams | ||
| Cyril Ring | Harvey Yates | ||
| Kay Francis | Penelope Martin | ||
| Sylvan Lee | Bell captain | ||
| Gamby-Hall Ballett Girls | Dancing bellhops | ||
| Allan K. Foster Girls | Dancing bellhops | ||
| Barton MacLane | Lifeguard / Party Guest | ||
| Basil Ruysdael | Hennessey |
| Director | Joseph Santley | ||
| Robert Florey | |||
| Written by | George S. Kaufman (also play) | ||
| Morrie Ryskind (also play, uncredited) | |||
| Music | Irving Berlin | ||
| Cinematography | George J. Folsey | ||
| Art director | Ernst Fetgé | ||
| Editor | Barney Rogan | ||
| Music director | Frank Tours | ||
| Choreographers | Chester Hale | ||
| Maria Gambarelli | |||
| Assistant directors | Ray Cozine | ||
| Bert Granet | |||
| Producer | Monta Bell | ||
| Associate Producer | James R. Cown | ||
| In Charge of Production | Walter Wang | ||
| Presented by | Adolph Zukor | ||
| Jesse L. Lansky | |||
| Production company / Distributor | Paramount Famous Lasky (A Paramount Picture) | ||
| Runtime | 96 min. | ||
| New York Premiere | 23 May 1929 | ||
| Release date | 03 Aug 1929 | ||
| Spanish title | Los Cuatro Cocos | ||
| French title | Noix de coco | ||
| Italian title | Noci di cocco | ||
| Finnish title | Kookospähkinöitä |
Posters and Lobby Cards for this movie. Click to enlarge.
Musical numbers
| Performed by | Comments | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Title Music and lyrics by: Irving Berlin | |||
| Flo-Florida By The Sea Music and lyrics by: Irving Berlin | |||
 view | When My Dreams Come True Music and lyrics by: Irving Berlin | Mary Eaton and Oscar Shaw | note the extra verse in the Australian sheet music |
| When My Dreams Come True Music and lyrics by: Irving Berlin | Harpo | ||
| Monkey Doodle Doo Music and lyrics by: Irving Berlin | Mary Eaton | ||
| Dance of the Cocoanuts and reprise of When my dreams... Music and lyrics by: Irving Berlin | Mary Eaton | ||
| I want my shirt Music and lyrics by: Bizet | sung to the music of the Toreador Song from Carmen | ||
| Gypsy Love Song or A cup of coffee, a sandwich and You Music and lyrics by: Verdi | from Aida | ||
| I-Eat-A (Piano solo) Music and lyrics by: Irving Berlin | Chico |
