The Cocoanuts (1929)

Their first feature, shot in 1929 at Paramount's Astoria studio in Queens while the brothers were playing Animal Crackers on Broadway at night. Groucho runs a failing Florida hotel during the land boom, and the land auction he stages with Chico is a riot of misunderstanding. Historically it is a treasure; as an introduction it is a test. Early sound recording makes it creak, the Irving Berlin songs and the young lovers take up a lot of room, and the comedy arrives in bursts rather than a stream. Save it for after the top six, when seeing where it all started will feel like a reward.