MovieChat Forums > The Cocoanuts (1929) Discussion > Multiple takes discouraged?

Multiple takes discouraged?

posted 9 years ago by tmaj48
2 replies | jump to latest

In the Paramount films, there seem to be a number of verbal gaffes--for instance,
in this movie, Hammer (Groucho) tells Mrs. Potter that property values have gone up "1929 since 1,000%," instead of the other way around. Why would they not just
stop and do another take? Were they just in a hurry to get through the shooting,
in this case, because the Marx Bros. were also appearing on Broadway in the stage version of Animal Crackers during the filming and wanted to get the scenes over with as soon as possible, or did they feel the momentum of the dialogue would be lost if repeated
over and over again, or for other reasons?

I'm not crying, you fool, I'm laughing!

Hewwo.

[–] scotpens 8 years ago

In this movie, Hammer (Groucho) tells Mrs. Potter that property values have gone up "1929 since 1,000%," instead of the other way around. Why would they not just stop and do another take?

Because that's how it was written in the script. It's a silly bit of wordplay. In other words, it's a JOKE.

All the universe or nothingness. Which shall it be, Passworthy? Which shall it be?

[–] Beau_Buffet (326) 2 years ago

Yeah. And why did Harpo eat the telephone instead of talking in it?? That was because they did not have enough time to re-shoot it.

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