The Cocoanuts

The Brothers' first feature, for Paramount, adapted from their 1925 Broadway hit written by George S Kaufman, and set in a Florida hotel running wild with jewel thieves, romantic leads, dancing bellhops, a stately matron (Dumont), a conniving manager (Groucho) and assorted riff-raff (Harpo and Chico). It shows its age, what with indistinct sound, fluffed lines, quaint choreography, quainter songs, a stilted supporting cast and positively arthritic direction. But the Brothers' energy and madness is never in question: when the laughs come, they come loud and long.