Duck Soup (1933)

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

This is notable in being the last Marx Brothers movie to feature Zeppo. It's actually kind of sad as I didn't even recognize him until near the end. Is this the best Marx brothers movie? I rank it second only to "A Night At The Opera", like everyone else would. There's a few weaker moments which don't make it quite as good as that movie, but it's still awesome. It's actually weird seeing as how I don't really consider the famous mirror scene to be one of the film's best gags. I remember Mike Nelson saying that if he could riff with one deceased person, it would be Groucho Marx and I can see why.Nearly all of Groucho's jokes sound like riffs. Right when he makes his first appearance, he can't stop making jokes. I even love the very first scene which features ducks in an actual soup. I guess it gives some context to the movie's name. I thought it was completely random, but this actually was a phrase used back in those days. Groucho steals the show, but Chico and Harpo are hilarious as well. I could simply go on all day talking about the hilarious jokes made in this movie. In fact, I think I'll just spend the rest of my review doing just that.When someone says, "I'll teach you to kick me!", Chico responds with, "You don't need to teach me! I know how!". Maybe the first great joke was the woman saying, "I was with my husband until the very end" which Groucho responds with, "I can see why he passed away". Later, she says, "I want you to meet a very charming lady". Groucho says, "It's about time". One particularly long one was, "...may look like an idiot and sound like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot". Oh, and I was afraid they wouldn't show the actual war scene, but luckily they did! That's what a perfect movie does! ****

The method of each Marx Brothers film is the same, yet, each unique and essential to see on its own merit. Even though you know what to expect when you see the four brothers on screen, each film is a riot and a great time on its own. Duck Soup, the 1933 film featuring Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo was a hilarious satirical look at a president/dictator's reign over his nation. It had to be a treat for the great Leo McCarey to direct the brothers in such fantastic performances. No Marx Brothers film is a disappointment, but Duck Soup was a riotous heavy-hitting breakthrough, even for the usual fast- paced comedy I expect from the brothers.Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx) new president/dictator of the land of Freedonia, a small country on the brink of economic collapse. Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont), a wealthy widow, agrees to donate $20 million dollars to the country if Firefly was appointed dictator/president, a deal too sweet to pass up. Even though Firefly has no idea what he is doing in a leadership capacity, and refuses to do anything, even run meetings by the rules, the country may be in worse shape with him than without him. Whether for love, or money, Firefly becomes preoccupied with trying to win the heart of Mrs. Teasdale, but he is not alone. Also courting the widow is Ambassador Trentino, a wealthy, much more polished, nobleman. Trentino is also the leader of a neighboring country, Sylvania. The two leaders, fueled by their courtship of the same woman, begin to have several quarrels with each other using their country's interests as a guise. When armed conflict ensues, Mrs. Teasdale's house comes under attack, and whoever can save her skin, will be granted her heart. Rapid doesn't even begin to describe how quickly a Marx Brothers film is set up. Anyone with a short attention span would love Marx Brothers comedy, as they are not only quickly set up with jokes firing what seems like every second, but they are hilarious, even 80 years after they were delivered. And really, in cinema history, who is better at delivering such rapid quips than Groucho Marx? Often disregarded because of his signature slapstick style, Groucho is sensational in the quick-humored roles he always played. It is always fun to see him interact with Margaret Dumont as their on- screen chemistry was one of the earliest examples of perfection. The songs in Duck Soup were a wonderful reminder of how musically talented the Marx Brothers were; which is often forgotten because their comedic talents shine so brightly. The bits in Duck Soup were some of the best the foursome ever performed. I am a lover of Monkey Business and A Night at the Opera, but the mirror scene in Duck Soup, with Chico imitating a mirror image of Groucho is enough to secure a place at the top of any favorite Marx Brothers list for Duck Soup. Duck Soup reminds me how great the "unfunny" Marx brother, Zeppo was, and how much I missed him in the later films. He was so much more than a straight man and was never fully utilized to his full potential. Maybe it was his choice to leave the group, or maybe it was mistaken narrow sight of his role in the group, but he remains my favorite Marx Brother for his versatility and musical skill. Delivering a social satire in the way only the Marx Brothers can, reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator for what comic geniuses can get away with saying about society because they do it in a funny way, Duck Soup should be at the top of any list, not just Marx Brothers lists, but rather of standout films from the 1930's.

Lunacy from start to finish. The routines never cease and almost all are belly laughs, at least for us Marxists. There's something of a plot, which happily never gets in the way. It's something about Groucho's country of Freedonia and a rivalry with Calhern's Sylvania. Meanwhile zillionaire matron Dumont is the dubious prize. Naturally, the boys comically foil every plot to snatch her away. Trouble is words don't come close to capturing the non-stop lunacy of the 70-minutes. What's generally overlooked, however, is how well produced the feature is. The royal hall is huge, well decorated, and staffed with armies of costumed extras. Thankfully, Paramount cut few corners and it shows. And catch that mass scene of squirming bodies near the end that borders on a surreal even as the routines continue. Comic highlights include the famous mirror scene, getting hats on straight at the hotdog stand, and Groucho's many throwaway lines. I can just imagine what it was like trying to direct this madness from a director's chair. Whatever they paid McCarey, it wasn't enough.Anyway, the boys are in top form including the uncertain Zeppo before he wisely became a Hollywood talent agent. So, for younger folks, don't miss the well-crafted 1933 craziness. As the goofiness shows, surreal comedy didn't begin with the wacko likes of Bill Murray, Jim Carey, or even The Three Stooges!

chaotic and hilarious, satire and exploration of absurd comedy possibilities, it is one of great Marx Brothers films. and the fact is result of inspired mixture between crazy situations, political atmosphere of period and basic solution to remember the humor roots. evergreen , it uses the fears and public image tools, the expectations of public and the childhood impressions for present the basis of a fake universe from a fictionally country. like The Dictator, it is a splendid work about the politics errors. and, sure, about war. the secret of its success remains the innocence. and the courage to be the useful jester for every period. because the errors remains the same.