MovieChat Forums > The Cocoanuts (1929) Discussion > 'Cocoanuts' needs some love here!

'Cocoanuts' needs some love here!

posted 19 years ago by Baravelli_the_ice_lady
21 replies | jump to latest

C'mon, people! It might not be Duck Soup, but this is easily one of the best films the Brothers made. It looks and sounds mighty tattered, but talkies were still quite new in '29 and the entire process had not been perfected yet. As for the Marxes' material, it's sharp as ever! So let's show this movie a little love, huh?

Chico: "Why a duck? Why-a no chicken?"
Groucho: "You try and cross over there on a chicken and you'll find out why a duck!"

Groucho: "You all know who DeSoda was. He discovered a body of water. I'm sure you've all heard of it: DeSoda Water."

Groucho: "We don't have any vacancies. We've got plenty of rooms, though!"
Chico: (to Harpo) "You want a room?"
Harpo: "(honks in the negative)"
Chico: "No? Alright, we take a vacancy."

Groucho: "Get away from that tree before it dies!"

Groucho: "The first number of the evening will be a piccolo solo, which we will skip. Signor Pastrami will now play 'A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich and You' from the opera I-Eat-A."
Margaret: "Oh, Signor Pastrami, what is the first number?"
Chico: "Number one!"

"You're just wasting your breath, and that's no great loss, either."

[–] Shaolin_Apu 19 years ago

I've never seen it!

A couple of weeks ago I happened to see 'Cocoanuts' DVD in a local store, at a price of 22 euros. Someone bought it before me.

I paid from 'Duck Soup' and 'Animal Crackers only' 6 euros each. Salesman seems to know how to make honey (Start with low prices and see how it sells).

Only thing I currently have seen from the 'Cocoanuts' is the trailer.

Puukkoo
Play it again, Frank, I don't give a damn.

[–] Baravelli_the_ice_lady 19 years ago

That's a shame. Keep trying, though. I'm sure you'll get it eventually. It can be an awful hassle to get ahold of older movies, let me tell ya!

"You're just wasting your breath, and that's no great loss, either."

[–] MarxBrosFan 19 years ago

*cough*you could download them illegally and burn them on DVD yourself*cough*

Keep it under your hat.

One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I'll never know.

[–] Shaolin_Apu 19 years ago

Real items should always be purchased (or stolen *cough*). I would burn only some material with lesser importance, like Swedish movies 'Tillsammans', 'Fröken Sverige', *beep* Åmal' and 'Yalla Yalla'.

Though I own Fröken Sverige as original.

Puukkoo
Play it again, Frank, I don't give a damn.

[–] MarxBrosFan 19 years ago

Haha, movies with lesser importance, i.e. Swedish movies. The old Finland vs. Sweden thing. I haven't seen any of those, but heard a lot of good things about *beep* Amal.

I've still got all the Marx movies on VHS, a set of the early Paramount films, and bought the later ones seperately. To buy them again on DVD would cost around $100. I buy enough new DVDs as it is, the kind of movies I download is strictly old movies anyway: recently Fritz Lang's "M" and Metropolis, Billy Wilder's Sunset Blvd., Ingmar Bergman's Seventh Seal. All fantastic movies. (Fantastic *Swedish* movie that last one)

I did start with renting the Marx Bros. movies from the library. They had them all, including The Cocoanuts.

That first viewing it seemed the musical numbers were never going to end, but I've grown to like the "Monkey Doodle Doo". :)

One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I'll never know.

[–] Shaolin_Apu 19 years ago

Ahh... It's only a question of time when I finally get to see 'Cocoanuts'. 'Metropolis' is another interesting topic. There's still so much to see, because I watch almost any kinds of movies.

*beep* Åmal has nice bits in it and is a superb movie. There's a birthday party with no quests -very sad. 'Fröken Sverige' is instead dangerous feminist propaganda although it has the same actress, Alexandra Dahlström, as in *beep* Åmal.

Puukkoo
Play it again, Frank, I don't give a damn.

[–] MarxBrosFan 19 years ago

Thanks, I'll check out *beep* Amal. I'll beg, steal or download.

Feminist propaganda, I get enough of that at home.

One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I'll never know.

[–] thenewjordy 19 years ago

Well the movie has its good sides, but there are still some irritating points. In my opinion there are too many dance numbers and my favourite duo, Harpo and Chico arrive at the 20th minute which means the first 20 minutes no HONKs.

What I do like:

-The bidding with Chico ruining it
-For a Paramount picture, it's very long
-Harpo's red wig looks cool
-Margaret Dumont isn't such a wimp as in the later movies and understands when she's insulted.
-The switching-room scene is brilliant.

[–] NSurone 16 years ago

Okay. Euro the boat, and I'll navigate.

Worthy of Groucho.

[–] mortenwebstar2 19 years ago

I actually love this movie over "Duck Soup". The songs and particulary the dances are a bit too much, but apart from that, then it's awesome, almost all the way. Excellent movie.

[–] Shaolin_Apu 19 years ago

I happen to like 'Cocoanuts' especially because of its music and dance, but it's okay if you like the storyline. I mean brilliant.

Play it again, Frank, I don't give a damn.

[–] leigh_not_lee 19 years ago

Last night I was watching Family Feud, and Richard Karn, the host, gave a shout-out to Cocoanuts! One of the questions was "Name a bird that makes a lot of noise." A contestant answered "duck"; Richard turned to the survey board and called out "Why a duck?!"

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] SabeFett 18 years ago

lol, I always skip the singing and dancing parts that don't include the Marx Bros. Especially Cocoanuts! But this movie gets #3 in my book!

[–] whitelion43 17 years ago

To the person lookuing for this film on dvd , if you can make it here you can make it over to Amazon via the viaduct. Honestly Try Amazon.com
signed
David guillot

thats alright,my dog found the chainsaw

[–] jumaward 15 years ago

My favorite Marx Brothers movie! I especially like Groucho's 'strange interludes' when he looks at the camera and says things like "this would be a better world if the parents ate the spinach."

If you live in the Ann Arbor, MI area, you'll have the chance to see The Cocoanuts on the big screen at the Michigan Theater on Liberty in July. (Don't mean to sound like a shill, just wanted to let folks know what's coming up.)

[–] fluddite 15 years ago

Still my favourite Brothers movie, 'Duck Soup' and the climax of 'Night at the Opera' notwithstanding. Have just obtained it on DVD via Amazon GB (as part of the Paramount 7-Brothers-films-plus- 'A-Girl-in-Every-Port' 8-DVD set) for the princely sum of £14.98 (= about 3 dollars or 2 euros at current exchange rates, probably) - a bargain at several times the price....

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] efrankvalli 15 years ago

I definitely like Cocoanuts over most anything they did at MGM. There's something that I really like about these older Paramount films. And especially this one, where they're the youngest. There's also something special about a film like this that we were almost not able to see, but copies turned up luckily (once thought to be lost from what I read).

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Churlie_Chitlin 9 years ago

"One false move, and I'm yours."

"I don't think you'd love me if I were poor."
"I might, but I'd keep my mouth shut."

"Just think tonight.. tonight.. when the moon is sneaking around the clouds, I'll be sneaking around you. I'll meet you tonight under the moon. I can see you now. You and the moon. You wear a neck tie so I'll know ya."