Stumbling Upon a Marxist Interpretation of ‘Titanic’

During a recent screening of “Titanic,” I was struck by the many similarities between this current blockbuster and another well-known film. No, not “A Night to Remember” or even “The Poseidon Adventure.” I’m referring to “The Cocoanuts” (1929), starring the Marx Brothers.

At first glance, it may not seem like an obvious match. But both films center on a young man from a lower echelon of society who falls for a young socialite promised to an oily rich guy. The young people fall in love, much to the consternation of the respective ingenues’ stuffy mothers, so the oily rich guys try to get even by stealing diamond necklaces and framing the hapless young heroes, which results in their unjust arrest.

Of course there are a few differences, such as the lack of any Marx Brothers in the current film or the lack of any frozen corpses in the earlier film. But these minor details are far outweighed by the numerous similarities. Both films take place in the early part of the 20th century, both feature music by Irving Berlin, and, although there is no iceberg in the earlier film, Groucho Marx does take a request for ice water from a hotel guest.

Also, during a party sequence, Groucho exclaims, “ ‘Tis a breath of old Ireland,” then breaks into a spirited Irish jig with his three brothers--not unlike the party scene below decks with Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and those fun-loving Irish passengers on the Titanic.

As a final note, Gloria Stuart, who plays the venerable “Titanic” survivor, was married to Arthur Sheekman, who co-wrote the Marx Brothers’ “Monkey Business,” much of which takes place on board a luxury ocean liner, and “Horse Feathers,” in which the leading lady struggles to stay afloat after a boating “mishap.”

Stranger than fiction . . . ?

*

Steve Stoliar was Groucho Marx’s personal secretary and archivist and is author of “Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho’s House” (General Publishing Group).