DUCK SOUP

Duck Soup
Paramount, 1933, B/W, 68 minutes, ***
Released November, 1933

Pointed political satire, Duck Soup is the Marx Brothers' funniest and most insane film. Groucho is Rufus T. Firefly, the hilarious dictator of mythical Freedonia. Harpo and Chico are commissioned as spies by Groucho's political rival, the calculating Trentino (Louis Calhern).

The film contains many of the Brothers' famous routines and sketches: the lemonade stand, a masterpiece of slow burn; the Paul Revere parody; the "We're Going to War" number, a beautiful spoof of 1930s musicals; the hilarious mirror scene; and a final battle episode that has been copied by everyone from Woody Allen to "Mad Magazin."

A witty and biting satirical look at governments and politicians and how their bumbling and overbearing policies and egomania generally ends in bloodshed with the citizenry generally taking the brunt of the punishment. During the Great Depressing of the 1930s, there was rebellion brewing in American - on college campuses and in Hollywood. This film fits right in by poking fun at government in general. Or was it just telling it like it is?

Directed by: Leo McCarey
Story, Music and Lyrics by: Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby
Additional Dialogue by: Arthur Sheekman and Nat Perrin
Choreography by: Arthur Johnston
Art Direction by: Wiard Ihnen, Hans Dreier
Photographed by: Henry Sharp
Film Editor: LeRoy Stone

Cast: Groucho Marx [Rufus T. Firefly], Harpo Marx [Pinky], Chico Marx [Chicolini], Zeppo Marx [Bob Roland], Margaret Dumont [Mrs. Teasdale], Raquel Torres [Vera Marcal], Louis Calhern [Trentino (Ambassador of Sylvania)], Edmund Breese [Zander], Leonid Kinskey [Agitator], Charles D. Middleton [Prosecutor], Edgar Kennedy [Lemonade Vendor], Additional Cast: Wade Boteler [Officer at Battle Headquarters], E. H. Calvert [Officer in battle sequence], Louise Closser Hale, Maude Turner Gordon [Reception Guests], Edward LeSaint [Secretary of Labor], Edwin Maxwell [Freedonia's Secretary of War], Dennis O'Keefe [Bridegroom at Firefly's Reception], Dale Van Sickel [A Palace Guard], Edward Arnold [Politician], Sidney Bracey [Mrs. Teasdale's Butler], Davison Clark [Minister of Finance #2], Carrie Daumery [Reception Guest], Verna Hillie [Trentino's Secretary], George MacQuarrie [First Judge], Eric Mayne [Third Judge], Frederick Sullivan [Second Judge], William Worthington [First Minister of Finance]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:04] His Excellency Is Due (sung by Zeppo Marx and Margaret Dumont); [0:05] Freedonia Hymn (sung by Chorus); [0:09] These are the Laws of My Administration (sung by Margaret Dumont, Groucho Marx and Chorus); [0:12] Sylvania Hymn (played by Orchestra); [0:19] The Lemonade Stand comedy routine (Chico, Harpo and Edgar Kennedy); [0:29] Freedonia Hymn (short excerpt reprised by Chorus); [0:32] More of the Lemonade Stand routine; [0:46] The Mirror Scene; [0:49] Freedonia Hymn / the Trial Scene (short excerpt reprised by Chorus); [0:54] The Country's Going to War (sung and danced by Groucho, Chico, Zeppo and Chorus); [0:57] The Paul Revere Parody (Harpo as Paul Revere); [0:59] The Final Battle Sequence; There are little strains of many tunes in the background score, ridiculously out of place, including: "Dixie," "The Peanut Vendor," "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf,' "Stars and Stripes Forever," "Ain't She Sweet," and many others. See if you can spot them all!