NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 828, 23 November 1929, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“THE COCOANUTS” Those hilarious, incomparable comedians, the Four Marx Brothers, considered by many to be the most gifted and joyous of Broadway entertainers, will from today be seen and heard in Paramount’s all-talking and singing screen version of their highly successful musical comedy, “The Cocoanuts,” which played for nearly one year in New Y^ork. Primarily, of course, Ilarpo, Groucho, Chico and Zeppo, as they call themselves on and off the stage, are comedians. But they are naturally spontaneous, their humour springing from sources that never seem to run dry. They can elaborate on the most commonplace idea and carry it through until the audience is convulsed with laughter. One thing is sure; there is more hearty laughing by audiences attending ono of their shows than is usually accorded the most engaging of musical comedies. Harpo, as his name implies, performs on the liarp in a manner that is sure to delight audiences everywhere. As a matter of fact, the redheaded Ilarpo, the only one of the brothers who never speaks one line, always stops the show as his graceful fingers glide over the strings, bringing to life silver-toned captivating music. Then there is brother Chico, who plays the piano. Employing a comedy finger technique, this other musically talented j comedian, always proves to be a laughj getter. For those who have never ! seen them, it is hard to explain the i art of the Marx boys. They arc so ; distinctly different from any of the j comedians on the stage today, that i mere words are inadequate to express their incomparable antics. Suffice it to say that the debut of the Marx Brothers on the audible screen is one of the happiest events since the screen was given a voice. The supporting cast includes two other famous Broadway stars in their own right, namely, Mary Eaton and ! j Oscar Shaw, who co-starred in “The j Five O’clock Girl” during the long-run! of this popular musical comedy in New j York. Together they sing many of the j tuneful melodies that Irving Berlin t wrote for “The Cocoanuts.” During a recent interview, Groucho I Marx was asked by a reporter if he and his brothers ever had family quarrels. To which the never-smiling Groucho replied; “We fight only on Saturday nights. We take the family pay, throw it in the middle of the lloor, and then fight for it.” Of such stuff are the Marx Brothers made. “The Cocoanuts” will begin their engagement at the New Regent Theatre this evening. The Regent’s new programme will i also include a brilliant collection of j short talking and singing featurettes. J With the completion of “Through * 1 Different Eyes,” Edmund Lowe accred- j j ited one of the best dressed actors in ' ; filmland, laid away his immaculate ! evening clothes and donned once again I i the uniform of a sergeant of Marines, j ! Lowe is once again “Sergeant Quirt” ; ; of “What Price Glory” fame. “The j ; Cockeyed World” is based on an orig- j j inal story and is a sequel to “What j Price Glory.” Victor McLaglen is j again the arch enemy of Lowe in the j , story.