The Cocoanuts

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The Cocoanuts

1929

1h 36m

Musical

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In an effort to keep his business, Hotel de Cocoanuts, from bankruptcy, owner Hammer (Groucho Marx) flatters and cajoles the wealthy Mrs. Potter (Margaret Dumont), his only paying guest. While Mrs. Potter's daughter, Polly (Mary Eaton), has romantic designs on the hotel clerk, Bob (Oscar Shaw), two other guests compete with Hammer for Mrs. Potter's attentions. Meanwhile, brothers Harpo (Harpo Marx) and Chico (Chico Marx) take advantage of Hammer's inattention to wreak havoc around the hotel.

Critics Consensus

Brought to life by the Marx Brothers' charming anarchy, The Cocoanuts is a groundbreaking musical romp.

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Time Out

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

Jun 24, 2006

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Mordaunt Hall

New York Times

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

Mar 25, 2006

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Don Druker

Chicago Reader

An eminently watchable antique.

Jan 1, 2000

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

It's not on the same level of their later Paramount features but the Four Marx Brothers shine in The Cocoanuts.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 15, 2023

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

This and Animal Crackers squeak by on the top-notch comedy quotient.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 12, 2023

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Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

Sophisticated absurdity and sublime nonsense. [Blu-ray]

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 18, 2016

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Julian E

Every time I watch this movie - and I've seen it a dozen times or more - it always gets me. The routines never tire. The dialogue never stales. The interweaving of folly and formalities never loses its freshness and constant surprise. As a 'film record' of what a 1920s stage musical comedy was like, it's hard to beat and is best understood on those terms: the great boon here being that we get up close to the action. Despite all the technical limitations still thwarting camera freedom at the time, the direction and editing go a long way to make us forget them.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/25

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Kevin L

1st (I think) Marx bros. movie. They were doing it on stage beforehand. We see many of the sight gags and hear their particular type of play on words humor that would become staples in their brilliant careers. Margaret Dumon plays a wealthy widow, of course. Where did they get those dresses? And the condom hats? It has a few dance numbers with a chorus line type group of ladies, which I could with less of. And what is up with all the men in these movies with that same high-pitched, tra-la-la affected singing style? But it's funny enough for such an early theatrical version of their act. 3.2 stars

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/14/24

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Steve D

Not one of their best but the Marx are always fun.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/08/23

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Mark A

The Marx Brothers' first movie. Still hilarious.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/16/22

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Audience Member

Another wildly entertaining Marx Brothers movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Ethan S

Definitely a clunky earlier Marx brothers effort (their first film I believe). It has its moments, but you can really tell this was basically a filmed stage-play and variety act. Still, interesting to see the Brothers Marx and Margaret Dumont taking on roles that will be played to much greater comic effect in later pictures.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/29/21

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Joseph Santley

Director

Robert Florey

Director

Groucho Marx

Hammer

Harpo Marx

Harpo

Chico Marx

Chico

Zeppo Marx

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Synopsis

In an effort to keep his business, Hotel de Cocoanuts, from bankruptcy, owner Hammer (Groucho Marx) flatters and cajoles the wealthy Mrs. Potter (Margaret Dumont), his only paying guest. While Mrs. Potter's daughter, Polly (Mary Eaton), has romantic designs on the hotel clerk, Bob (Oscar Shaw), two other guests compete with Hammer for Mrs. Potter's attentions. Meanwhile, brothers Harpo (Harpo Marx) and Chico (Chico Marx) take advantage of Hammer's inattention to wreak havoc around the hotel.

Director: Joseph Santley, Robert Florey
Producer: Monta Bell, James R. Cowan
Screenwriter: Morrie Ryskind
Production Co: Paramount
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2020
Runtime: 1h 36m