The Cocoanuts (1929)

Directors:

Robert Florey
Joseph Santley

Writers:

George S. Kaufman (book)
Morrie Ryskind (adapted by)

Release Date:

3 August 1929 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

Paramount's All Talking-Singing Musical Comedy Hit!

Plot:

During the Florida land boom, the Marx brothers run a hotel, auction off some land, thwart a jewel robbery, and generally act like themselves.

Plot Keywords:

Florida | Hotel | Marx Brothers | Auction | Insult

Cast

The Marx Brothers
Zeppo Marx	...	Jamison
Groucho Marx	...	Hammer
Harpo Marx	...	Harpo
Chico Marx	...	Chico
Oscar Shaw	...	Bob
Mary Eaton	...	Polly
Cyril Ring	...	Yates
Kay Francis	...	Penelope
Margaret Dumont	...	Mrs. Potter
Basil Ruysdael	...	Hennessy
Gamby-Hale Ballet Girls	...	Dancerss (as Gamby-Hale Girls)
Allan K. Foster Girls	...	Dancers
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sylvan Lee	...	Bell Captain (uncredited)
Barton MacLane	...	Bather (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Florey
Joseph Santley

Writing credits
George S. Kaufman		(book of stage play)
Morrie Ryskind		(adapted by)

Produced by
James R. Cowan	....	associate producer
Jesse L. Lasky	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Walter Wanger	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Walter Wanger	....	producer (uncredited)
Adolph Zukor	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Frank Tours		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
George J. Folsey		(photographed by) (as George Folsey)

Film Editing by
Barney Rogan		(uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph Ruttenberg	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Irving Berlin	....	music and lyrics by
Frank Tours	....	musical director

Other crew
Monta Bell	....	originally produced on the stage by
Sam Harris	....	from the stage production: originally presented by (as Sam H. Harris)
Jesse L. Lasky	....	presenter
Adolph Zukor	....	presenter
Allan K. Foster	....	dance director (uncredited)
Erna Kay	....	choreographer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (as A Paramount Sound Picture)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1929) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Paramount Picture)
• MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (USA) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Continental Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Sogemedia (2007) (Spain) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (Spain) (2008) (Spain) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

96 min | USA:140 min (preview) | Spain:89 min (DVD edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric System)

Certification:

Finland:K-8 | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:Approved (certificate not issued at release) | UK:U | Australia:G | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Kaufman Astoria Studios - 3412 36th Street, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Chico and Harpo are not given character names. They are listed in the credits simply as "Chico" and "Harpo". Chico's name on the Broadway program was "Willy the Wop" which was considered too insensitive even for early movie audiences. Harpo's character was called "Silent Sam"

Quotes:

Hammer:Jail is no place for a young fellow. There's no advancement.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Busby Berkeley: Going Through the Roof (1998) (TV)

Soundtrack:

WHEN MY DREAMS COME TRUE

Kay Francis vs the Marx Brothers !

A brilliant film debut by the Marx Brothers in this 1929 musical comedy (from Broadway) about land speculation in Florida, jewel thieves, and well the Marx Brothers. In their first film, all the familiar schtick and word play are already in place with Groucho, Chico, and Harpo all excellent.

As usual there is also a romantic young couple--Mary Eaton and Oscar Shaw--and bad guys--Kay Francis and Cyril Ring. Also making her film debut at age 40 is the wonderful and imperious Margaret Dumont. Basil Ruysdael plays the house detective. Zeppo Marx plays the desk clerk.

A blah ballad is sung to death, but The Monkey Doodle-Doo song is terrific and well sung and danced by Eaton (a Broadway star) and chorus. Oddly staged productions number with chorus in monkey suits and tourists milling about in the background. But Eaton is quite good, considering the early sound equipment. And she has great legs.

Francis is fun in her second film (she made five in 1929) but teamed with the unappealing Ring. Shaw is OK but seems too old to be playing the juvenile lead.

But while Dumont, Francis, and Eaton are fun, it's the 3 brothers who dominate the film. Several classic bits, including the viaduct gag, Chico's great piano solo, Harpo getting to steal a few scenes, and of course Groucho riding roughshod over everyone. What a treat! While Kay Francis went on to major stardom in the 30s, Mary Eaton made one disastrous film after this hit, Flo Ziegfeld's Glorifying the American Girl. That ended her starring career in Hollywood.

The more I watch the Marx Brothers the more I appreciate Chico, who was always my least favorite of the 3. Now I notice his perfect comic timing and I just love his piano solos.