- Actors: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont
- Directors: Leo McCarey
- Writers: Arthur Sheekman, Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, Nat Perrin
- Producers: Herman J. Mankiewicz
- Language English
- Classification: U
- Studio: 4 Front
- VHS Release Date: 8 Jan 2001
- Run Time: 68 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004WDDX
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 8,887 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
For those who love the Marx Brothers (Animal Crackers, A Night at the Opera), that this movie is side-slappingly funny is a given. For those new to the Marx Brothers, this is the perfect introduction to Groucho, Chico and Harpo (and even Zeppo), three of the funniest men to ever grace the screen. Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho) is the dictator of the small nation of Freedonia. The country is a disaster, being in financial disrepair, and the wealthy Mrs Teasdale (Margaret Dumont) is its benefactor and the object of Firefly's shrewd affection. When the leader of the neighbouring Sylvania decides he's in love with Mrs Teasdale, Firefly declares war. The movie, from 1933, is tremendously satirical, a play on politics and war. (As Firefly says to a hapless young solider, "You're a brave man. Go and break through the lines. And remember, while you're out there risking your life and limb through shot and shell, we'll be in be in here thinking what a sucker you are.") Full of witty lines, great sight gags, and even some snazzy song numbers ("Freedonia's Going to War" is the hilarious declaration of battle), this is surely one of the best--if not the best--the Marx Brothers have to offer. --Jenny Brown
Synopsis
Duck Soup captures some of the Marx Brothers' zaniest routines and funniest quips, creating a laugh-out-loud spectacle of politics gone haywire. Backed by wealthy widow Mrs. Teasdale (regular Marx straightwoman Margaret Dumont), Groucho becomes the leader of Freedonia, quickly frustrating his cabinet and offending the aggressive neighbouring country to the point of war. Chico and Harpo, sent by the rival country, spy on Groucho and try to steal his battle plans, but when war does come, loyalties become muddled all around. Director Leo McCarey gets the most out of the brothers, letting them be their wackiest best in what many critics consider to be the funniest Marx Brothers movie. Groucho plays Rufus T. Firefly, one of his best characters. The one-liners fly through the air like the bombs exploding in the hysterical battle scene. Duck Soup is a must-see comedy spectacular; don't blink or you'll miss yet another stinger....
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The film "Duck soup," is a classic example of the humour of the Marx Brothers, taking a satirical and anarchic look at war and world power. This was their last film made for Paramount Pictures, and the last film to feature the fourth brother, Zeppo.
When Groucho Marx's character, Rufus T. Firefly, is appointed leader of fictional country Freedonia, he immediately becomes the subject of plot when Trentino, leader of neighbouring fictional country Sylvania, hires two spies, played by Chico and Harpo Marx, to bring disgrace to Firefly. However, nothing goes according to plan when Chico is appointed secretary of war, Harpo becomes Firefly's chauffeur, and the two countries declare war on each other simply because of Firefly's constant insults to Trentino.
The wacky and far-fetched storyline is just what you would expect from a Marx Brothers film. There's Groucho doing what he always did best; his fast-talking wisecracks, his abilty to insult everyone and anyone, and to eventually get away with it. The title "Duck soup" means something that is easy to do, perhaps implying how Firefly governs the country with a happy-go-lucky manner, and how everything he does in his favour could be purely down to luck.
In my personal opinion, Chico and Harpo perform their best double act in this film, and you only have to look at such scenes as the one with the lemonade seller as proof. The film is full of gags, puns, routines, and of course, improvisation. These all contribute to attack democracy, war itself, leadership, and legal systems.
As for the Marxes characters themselves, sure they're selfish, sure they're destructive, but somehow, that's what makes them lovable and somewhat admirable; their anarchic nature in this film, often poking fun at those higher in authority, is something that many people I'm sure would love to do.
"Duck soup" is my favourite film of all time, and it never ceases to put me in a good mood. If you want to see a film that is intelligent as well as hilarious, or if you simply want to find out what is so good about the Marx Brothers, I suggest you see this film.
When Groucho Marx's character, Rufus T. Firefly, is appointed leader of fictional country Freedonia, he immediately becomes the subject of plot when Trentino, leader of neighbouring fictional country Sylvania, hires two spies, played by Chico and Harpo Marx, to bring disgrace to Firefly. However, nothing goes according to plan when Chico is appointed secretary of war, Harpo becomes Firefly's chauffeur, and the two countries declare war on each other simply because of Firefly's constant insults to Trentino.
The wacky and far-fetched storyline is just what you would expect from a Marx Brothers film. There's Groucho doing what he always did best; his fast-talking wisecracks, his abilty to insult everyone and anyone, and to eventually get away with it. The title "Duck soup" means something that is easy to do, perhaps implying how Firefly governs the country with a happy-go-lucky manner, and how everything he does in his favour could be purely down to luck.
In my personal opinion, Chico and Harpo perform their best double act in this film, and you only have to look at such scenes as the one with the lemonade seller as proof. The film is full of gags, puns, routines, and of course, improvisation. These all contribute to attack democracy, war itself, leadership, and legal systems.
As for the Marxes characters themselves, sure they're selfish, sure they're destructive, but somehow, that's what makes them lovable and somewhat admirable; their anarchic nature in this film, often poking fun at those higher in authority, is something that many people I'm sure would love to do.
"Duck soup" is my favourite film of all time, and it never ceases to put me in a good mood. If you want to see a film that is intelligent as well as hilarious, or if you simply want to find out what is so good about the Marx Brothers, I suggest you see this film.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
You must watch Duck Soup for some of the most classic comedy scenes set to film such as ;
1) The mirror sequence. The finest comic sequence ever committed to film. Sure, it's old-hat vaudeville, but it's professional, beautifully timed and spirals into wonderful absurdity.
2) The one-liners, puns and other jokes. Pick of the crop are the peanut stall interchange, the telephone sequence, the riddles ('what has four pairs of pants, lives in Philadelphia, and it never rains but it pours?') and the final battle (especially the stock footage of monkeys and elephants running to save the army under siege - the kind of thing the Zucker Bros pinched for their comedies). Oh, yes, and the motorcycle routines.
3) The satire on politics and warmongering. The Brothers simply deflate the pomposity of the whole deal.
4) The fact that Zeppo is actually given something to do.
Anybody who thinks the Farrelly and Wayans brothers are the last word in comedy should be strapped to a chair and shown Marx Bros films over and over again, until they concede.
1) The mirror sequence. The finest comic sequence ever committed to film. Sure, it's old-hat vaudeville, but it's professional, beautifully timed and spirals into wonderful absurdity.
2) The one-liners, puns and other jokes. Pick of the crop are the peanut stall interchange, the telephone sequence, the riddles ('what has four pairs of pants, lives in Philadelphia, and it never rains but it pours?') and the final battle (especially the stock footage of monkeys and elephants running to save the army under siege - the kind of thing the Zucker Bros pinched for their comedies). Oh, yes, and the motorcycle routines.
3) The satire on politics and warmongering. The Brothers simply deflate the pomposity of the whole deal.
4) The fact that Zeppo is actually given something to do.
Anybody who thinks the Farrelly and Wayans brothers are the last word in comedy should be strapped to a chair and shown Marx Bros films over and over again, until they concede.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
My favorite Marx Brothers movie is "A Night at the Opera," but this political satire, which was banned in Italy by Mussolini, is a very close second. It is definitely the best (and last) Marx Brothers movie with Zeppo, for what that is worth. As Groucho later pointed out, Zeppo's roles as the group's straight man were thankless. It was not that Zeppo lacked talent, but rather that he had three older brothers.
"In Duck Soup," the mythical nation of Freedonia is in trouble and Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont) insists that the reigns of power be turned over to Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho). Ambassador Trentino (Louis Calhern) of the neighboring country of Sylvania employs a couple of spies, Chicolini (Chico) and Pinky (Harpo), to shadow Firefly. Oh, and Firefly has a secretary, Bob Rolland (Zeppo). Many of the most famous sequences by the Brothers Marx are found in this film: (1) The mirror sequence between Groucho and Harpo (if it had been Groucho and Chico instead Groucho would have asked "Are you my reflection" and Chico would have answered "Sure"); (2) Harpo's encounter with street vendor Edgar Kennedy, master of the slow-burn (" "); (3) The "We're Going to War" take off on 1930s musicals ("They've got guns, we've got guns, all God's chil'en got guns"); (4) Groucho offering Chico the position of Secretary of War ("Sold!"); (5) Harpo offering Grouch a ride in the sidecar of his motorcyle ("This is the third trip I've taken today and I still haven't gone anywhere"); (6) Zeppo introducing the new leader of Freedonia, Rufus T. Fireflay ("Whatever it is, I'm against it."); and much, much more, including the lovely Rachel Torres as the lovely Vera Marcal!
"Duck Soup" was helped by several factors. With director Leo McCarey the Marx Brothers finally had a first rate director who understood how to stage and shoot the action. The Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby screenplay does one of the better jobs of integrating the various comic routines into the overall story. After an absence of two films Margaret Dumont was back where she belonged, trying to stay above the insanity with no success whatsoever. Louis Calhern is arguably the ideal villain for the Marx Brothers because in scene after scene he plays it absolutely straight, without losing his dignity or becoming laughable (similar to the marvelous job by Kitty Carlisle in "A Night at the Opera").
Final tidbit: When the town of Fredonia, New York complained about its name being used in the film (the extra "e" did not matter for some reason," Groucho shot back: "Change the name of your town, it's hurting our picture." And, as always, please remember that the correct pronunciation of Leonard's stage name is "Chick-o" not "Cheek-o." The man liked the ladies and was not a young Hispanic male.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
VERY LOW MARKS.
I cannot for the life of me see that anyone can find anything remotely humorous in this, or any other film made by this awful group of brothers. Read more
Published 2 months ago by DOGBERRY
Amazing!
Duck Soup is an absolute masterpiece of comedy, not just then but now.
The plot is mainly about a Rufus T Firefly who gets appointed the leader of the fictional state,... Read more
The plot is mainly about a Rufus T Firefly who gets appointed the leader of the fictional state,... Read more
Published 3 months ago by jimjamyaha99
A little dated
Of course the set pieces such as the hat routine are still timeless and the mirror scene retains its clever magnificence - but the links are ore often no longer funny.
Published 12 months ago by Mr. Derek R. Osbourne
Amazing
I bought this movie after reading some of the reviews here. Thought I'd see what the hype was about. Duck Soup is brilliant. Read more
Published on 13 April 2010 by K. Duong
The Marx Brothers' best: which is saying something!
This film is sheer, surrealist joy, the Marx Bros at their wildest and most creative. Which equals the funniest stuff you're ever going to experience this side of Aristophanes (to... Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2009 by Plom de Nume
Marx joy!
Easily the most anarchic and chaotic of the Marx's films, but there are some TRULY GREAT moments here. Read more
Published on 14 Aug 2009 by Dave
Duck Soup
"I'll see you at the opera tonight. I'll hold your seat till you get there. After you get there you're on your own. Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2009 by James Simmonds
Can a racist remark be humorous?
That was a fateful year, 1933. The world was on the edge of a great fall, of a deep dive, of a high jump into the abyss and the Marx Brothers could not resist and make fun of that... Read more
Published on 12 May 2008 by Jacques COULARDEAU
Simply the best
We often hear how the Goons are the fathers of modern comedy. If this is true the Marx brothers are the Godfathers!!! Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2008 by Alfa-Male
"After One Taste Of Duck Soup, You'll Duck Soup Forever!",
"Duck Soup" is as absurd, nonsensical and hilarious as a film can be and still make sense! A satire of dictatorships, war and politics, Groucho, Harpo and Zeppo are at their... Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2005 by Jana L. Perskie
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