Friday, July 24, 2009

Apropos Of Nothing, This Note About The Cocoanuts


The Marx Brothers' first movie, The Cocoanuts, was based on a stage play that has the distinction of being the only Irving Berlin musical not to feature a hit song.

This wasn't Berlin's fault, however.

The original song list he submitted included "Always" which went on to become a standard. The playwright, George S. Kaufman, whose friend was having an affair with a younger woman at the time, joked to Berlin that he should change the song's first line from "I love you always" to "I love you Thursdays."

Berlin—who had written the song as a tribute to his wife—was so offended, he withdrew the song from consideration until he could find a more suitable vehicle for its debut.

4 comments:

Who Am Us Anyway? said...

OK, now I understand everything except why a duck.

Mythical Monkey said...

You try to cross over there on a chicken and you'll find out why a duck ...

mister muleboy said...

Considering the "friend" and George S. Kaufmann -- I highly resemble that remark!

Bellotoot said...

Now I'm glad Groucho sang Berlin's dopey "Stay Down Here Where You Belong" every chance he got!