Rating: 
Summary: Great Classic Movie
Review: This is a great movie and the (if you only get one) Marx Brothers movie to own. Sure, it's kinda silly to get a black-and-white movie with no extra DVD features on DVD, but it's worth it because it'll last longer. Also, there are 16 chapters for a 68 minute movie, so it's easy to pick just about any sketch, song, etc. and watch it by itself. And for the price, it's definitely worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Post - Chaplin, Pre - Python Lunacy
Review: I can't believe that nobody has ever reviewed this one. If you haven't seen it I urge you to do so. In it, Groucho becomes president; that's all you need to know. Gone are the unnecessary diversions of other Marx Bros. films -- there are no harp solos (Harpo's trademark), no piano solos (Chico's bag), and no vacuous "nice-couple" romantic subplots. The only musical numbers to be seen here are appropriately ludicrous; here is an excerpt of the song Groucho sings after being elected president of Freedonia: "The last guy nearly ruined this place, he didn't know what to do with it / If you think this country's bad-off now, just wait'll I get through with it. . . If any man should come between a husband and his bride / we find out which one she prefers by letting her decide / If she prefers the other man the husband steps outside / we stand him up against the wall and POP! goes the weasel. . ." If that doesn't make you laugh, you could use a prescription for Prozac. This film is a must for anyone interested in the history of great American comedy. Along with W.C. Fields' IT'S A GIFT and IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT, it's one of the best screwball comedies of the '30s and is a definite precursor to such later nonsense-comedies as AIRPLANE! and MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL. Just watch it.
Rating:
Summary: A hilarious movie!
Review: To gain financial support from Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont), the tiny bankrupt country of Freedonia agrees to take Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx) as their new president (the poor saps). Mayhem springs from Firefly's cynical and sarcastic leadership, culminating in war with the neighboring country of Sylvania. Throughout, Pinky (Harpo Marx) and Chicolini (Chico Marx) are scheming among the great and powerful, taking money from Trentino (Louis Calhern) of Sylvania, and directing Firefly's war effort. [Black & white, created in 1933, with a running time of 70 minutes.]This movie contains some of Groucho's funniest witticisms, his badinage with Margaret Dumont producing some of the funniest lines in theatrical history. The story takes something of a backseat to the Marx brother's comedy, but this movie is first and foremost a satire of politics in general, and war and patriotism in particular. Back to the comedy, this movie is fantastically funny, containing the famous mirror scene, where Chico is dressed as Groucho, who must figure out if he is seeing his reflection or something else! This is a great movie. The comedy is funny and clean, and can be watched by viewers of any age. I highly recommend this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: The quality's fine!
Review: The quality is as good as I would expect it to be. When you consider that these films were made in and around 1930- it's quite good. They're as good as I could expect to see on TV. My only issue is that the sound is at a level that's lower than what I use for normal TV channels so I have to crank it up a bit and then it's fine. Ignore the other reviews about the picture quality- it's fine.
Rating:
Summary: Hail, Hail the Marx Brothers! The Marxist view on war
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie but lip-sync problems
Review: I won't add to what everyone else has said about this great film - but my copy of the DVD has lip sync problems that start at Cicollini's trial and run through almost to the end. I got it cheap so I won't complain but I think Image should have been more careful regardless of the price.
Rating:
Summary: Marxist Masterpiece
Review: Picture quality on this DVD is very good but the sound could be better.
Rating:
Summary: Best Ever
Review: This is the best film that the Marx brothers ever made. It is hilarious the whole way through and there are no points at which you would wish to switch off or fast forward. BRILLIANT!!!
Rating:
Summary: DUCK SOUP just ducky!
Review: Not enough can be said about these icons of stage and screen! Too often these days are the Marx Brothers overlooked as one of THE main influences of modern comedy. They set comedy standards, copied and used by everyone during their time, as well as today, in every effort made during their long careers. From Groucho's lightening-fast, razor-sharp wit (often adlibbed during the actual filming of their movies. If you don't believe me, just watch the reactions from the other actors and extras on the set...Watch Margaret Dumont reactions!)...To Chico's perfect Italian-immigrant-straight-man delivery, his twisting and turning of phrases, and his talents at the keyboard... To Harpo's impeccably executed sight-gag and mime (not to mention his incredible prowess, and superb execution on the harp!)...To Zeppo as the "pretty-boy-love-interest" straight man... The "bros" are fun to watch, to say the least! I'm told that working on a Marx Brothers project was a trip, because no one knew what the 4 brothers were going to pull next! I believe it! You can see it in any one of their films! This film is a joy for all of the aforementioned reasons! Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo pull out all of the stops in this, one of their very best films. "DUCK SOUP," a pointed political satire, is pure comic genius, and one of the Marx Brothers' funniest, and most insane efforts, containing many of the Brothers' famous sequences: the lemonade stand scene (a masterpiece of "slow burn."); the Paul Revere parody; the "We're Going To War" number (a beautifully staged spoof of 30s musicals); the incredibly funny mirror bit, where you get to see just how much the Brothers look alike; and a final battle scene that has since been copied many times, by everyone. "DUCK SOUP" is also an antiestablishment comedy, which failed miserably at the box office at the time of its release in 1933. Today, however, this Leo McCarey-directed romp has achieved its proper reputation as the quintessential Marx Brothers classic! If you've never seen a Marx Brothers film, and you want to giggle and laugh your posterior off...do yourself a favor... SEE THIS ONE! Thanks, Michael J. Carlucci (Rochester, MN)
Rating:
Summary: THE GREATEST COMEDY OF ALL TIME
Review: WHILE BROWSING THE VIDEO STORE ONE DAY, I STUMBLED UPON A MOVIE BY THE TITLE OF "DUCK SOUP" IN THE CLASSICS SECTION. I ALWAYS HAD AN INTEREST IN CHECKING OUT THE MARX BROTHERS, BUT I JUST NEVER GOT AROUND TO IT. I WAS IN FOR A REAL TREAT WITH THIS ONE! NEVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE HAVE I EXPERIENCED A COMEDY AS INSANE AND BRILLIANT AS "DUCK SOUP". THIS MOVIE MOVES AT AN EXTREMELY FAST PACE AND THE FIRST TIME I WATCHED IT I MISSED SOME OF THE JOKES BECAUSE I WAS STILL CRACKING UP FROM THE PREVIOUS JOKES/SCENES. GROUCHO MARX PLAYS A CHARACTER BY THE NAME OF RUFUS T. FIREFLY WHO IS THE LEADER OF A COUNTRY CALLED "FREEDONIA" AND DECIDES FOR NO GOOD REASON TO GO TO WAR WITH A RIVAL COUNTRY CALLED "SYLVANIA". THE FILM IS A COMPLETE RIOT FROM THE BEGINING TO THE VERY END. THIS IS BY FAR THE GREATEST COMEDY EVER MADE. A MUST SEE FOR ALL MARX FANS AND A MOVIE THAT WILL ENTERTAIN ALL FANS OF COMEDY. SEE THE KINGS OF COMEDY AT THEIR BEST!
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