Cocoanuts

Pros: dialogue, timing, cast, humor, direction, madness
Cons: sound, film preservation, continuity, some stock characters

It is often said that The Cocoanuts was the first Marx Brothers film. This isn't completely true, as the foursome had made a silent film, Humor Risk, back in 1921. That film never made it past the first preview, was never released, and has...

Pros: The Brothers are in fine fettle, with good material. The supporting cast (with one exception) gets the job done
Cons: The movie is primitive, and the male romantic lead should have been led somewhere else

THE COCOANUTS is the first Marx Brothers movie, an adaptation of their second Broadway hit. It features Groucho as Mr. Hammer, the manager of the Cocoanut Hotel in Florida during the great land boom that took place in that state during the 20's. Zeppo is...

Pros: all scenes containing one or more Marx Brothers
Cons: all other scenes

One of these days when the world collapses and I get some spare time, I plan to compile a long videotape editing together highlights of Marx Brothers films. It shouldn't be tough: all I have to do is edit out all the lifeless romantic subplots and any...

Pros: It's the Marx Brothers, for Gawd Sake.
Cons: It doesn't play long enough.

THE COCOANUTS was to the Marx Brothers what the Model T was to the Ford Motor Company. Groucho was 40 years old when this film was made, and the brothers had already had a very long run in vaudeville when they made their film debut.

Dated,...

Pros: Hilarious!
Cons: Thin plot

Many movies tackle important philosophical questions, such as "What is the meaning of existence?", "What is the true nature of religion?". and "How should people relate to each other?". "The Cocoanuts" ignores all...