The Cocoanuts

The Marx Brothers' first film, an adaptation of their Broadway hit of the same name in the early days of sound film, is reputed to be rather ‘unfilmable’ – which is actually a stroke of luck: The Cocoanuts offers an almost unadulterated document of the Marx brothers' vaudeville roots; the brothers perform with freshness and carefree abandon. Also indisputable is the suffering capacity of Margaret Dumont, who was always the best victim of Groucho's insults, as well as the charming verbal anarchy of the Marxes. Chico to Harpo: ‘Right now, I'd do anything for money. I'd kill somebody for money. I'd kill you for money.’ And to Harpo's distressed look: ‘Hahaha – ah no, you're my friend. I'd kill you for nothing!’ Groucho on the two directors, the remarkable Frenchman Robert Florey and the American henchman Joseph Santley: ‘One of them didn't understand English, the other didn't understand Harpo.’ (C.H.)