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Summary: Funny old movie
Review: I thought this movie was very funny, especially when you consider it was made in the 30's. A good political satire with the great Marx Bros.
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Summary: If you've only seen this on VHS, but it today on DVD!
Review: Well, it's classic Marx Bros., the jokes are the same, the bits are the same, the laughs are even the same... but the picture?... If you've seen this movie before, show it to your friends (or kids in my case) in the DVD format, and make them love it too! Truly a histarical film, and DVD makes it all the more easier to enjoy!
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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.
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Summary: Where is the Region 1 release?
Review: I don't need to gush over how great this movie is, plenty of customers have already done that. Warner Brothers did the Marx Brother's justice with their five DVD set of seven films with loads of special features. Granted that set is of their later films but isn't it time their early movies got the same treatment? Great collections of their early films are available in R2 and R4 formats, why not R1? Any answer? Universal Studios?
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Summary: The Best Political Satire of All Time
Review: I mean it. Bar none. I am not a huge fan of the Marx's, but this film is certainly their best (closely followed by "A Night at the Opera"). Basically, dictator of postage-stamp sized Freedonia, Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho) declairs war on neighbouring Sylvania without good reason at all, and havoc ensues. It's perfectly simple, but at the same time is pretty accurate when you think about how most wars start. You may feel uncomfortable the first time. This movie pulls no punches when it comes to nasty insult based humour. However, it grows on you something shocking. The brothers knock off just the right mix of slapstick (Harpo), stupidity (Chico), smart-alec (Groucho) and straight (Zeppo), that you can't help but keep laughing all the way through the film's short 70 or so minutes. My favourite sequence? The Mirror scene of course! But I won't spoil things here. If you're a fan of comedy, that is ANY sort of comedy, you owe it to yourself to own this movie. It features enough gags for six features, but one this good is enough. My only minor quibble is that some of the musical numbers have lost their edge with time, and now seem contrived and out of place.
Rating:
Summary: "After One Taste Of Duck Soup, You'll Duck Soup Forever!"
Review: "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 artfully outlandish best here. Running 68 minutes, the movie is a short one, but chock-full of laughs and lampoons. Released in 1933, during the crisis period of the Depression, the movie was to provide comic relief for the weary American public. It was a flop. Audiences were taken aback by such political disrespect. This is high praise, indeed in the 21st century.
Rufus T. Firefly, played by Groucho, becomes dictator of the mythical kingdom of Freedonia, a tiny country badly in need of additional finances to alleviate their bankrupt status. In other words, the place is a disaster - or why else would they select the man who would "never belong to a club that would have someone like him as a member?" The citizens agree to make Firefly their leader hoping, in return, to gain the financial patronage of the wealthy Mrs. Teasdale, (Margaret Dumont), whose deceased husband was their former president. Firefly is touted for "possessing the statesmanship of Gladstone, the humility of Lincoln, and the wisdom of Pericles." Ha! His primary idea for improving the country involves bilking Mrs Teasdale of her fortune for his own use, forget about Freedonia! He rejoices in making arbitrary decrees, and his appointments are blatantly nepotistic. The other Marx brothers play the dictator's spies and henchmen.
Firefly declares war on its neighboring country, Sylvania, when its Ambassador Trentino, (Louis Calhern), competes with him for Mrs. Teasdale's affections. Trentino's ultimate goal is to annex Freedonia to Sylvania. Poor Mrs. Teasdale.
The film's denouement involves a battle scene which represents the madness of war and the capriciousness of the men who decide to wage them. Groucho's famous line, "And remember while you're out there risking life and limb through shot and shell, we'll be in here thinking what a sucker you are," drew lots of flack. Benito Mussolini banned "Duck Soup" because he believed it to be a direct attack.Ya gotta love it! That's comic power! This anarchic satire, which was a critical and commercial failure at the time - it almost sank Paramount Studios - was fortunately revived in the 1960s.
The Marx Brothers' usual non-stop freneticism, as well as some of their best gags, slapstick, and one-liners, including the lemonade seller confrontation and the mirror pantomime, make this movie such a classic. There are also some terrific musical numbers, like the Freedonia Hymn, "Just Wait 'Til I Get Through With It " and the staged production number, The Country's Goin' to War."
Finally, what does "Duck Soup: mean? It was a familiar American phrase that means anything simple or easy, or alternately, a gullible sucker or pushover. Under the opening credits, four quacking ducks (the four Marx Brothers) are seen swimming and cooking in a kettle over a fire. Groucho suposedly provided the following recipe to explain the title: "Take two turkeys, one goose, four cabbages, but no duck, and mix them together. After one taste, you'll duck soup for the rest of your life."
JANA
Rating: 
Summary: Time Defying.
Review: I'm not a person who loves The Three Stooges or any of the pre-World War II physical comedies, but I find the Marx Brothers fascinating. Their humor was more cranial and challenging than that of their peers. For me, whenever Groucho suddenly appeared in the film, I inched forward and did not want to miss anything. The name of his character alone, Rufus T. Firefly, will make you laugh. This is light, happy stuff and that's exactly why their films will be treasured forever. There's a need for mirth in any age.
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Summary: The funniest movie ever made
Review: Sure this gem sometimes changes places with Monty Python and the holy grail in the thick underbrush of my mind but the point is, like MP&THG I laugh EVERY time I watch this. Same jokes... Same set ups, I've watched it around 300 times... and I laugh. Groucho's arrival is genius... and although they didn't mean for it to be anything other than funny, the war sequence at the end is as powerfully anti-war as Dr. Strangelove or Full Metal Jacket. And very necessary in this time of unnecessary wars. Buy it... Laugh... you can do it over and over.
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Summary: The greatest film from the greatest comedy team!
Review: Anyone who enjoys comedy should have an appreciation for the Marx brothers. Anyone who likes the Marx brothers should thoroughly enjoy "Duck Soup". This now 70-plus year old masterpiece is as fresh today as ever! I remember, as a jaded, cynical teen, seeing this film for the first time on a crappy rental tape that was grainy and jumpy. I was still blown away and rushed right out to buy my own copy!
This is a lean, mean satire of war, musicals, class warfare, government, etc. Unlike many such satires, though, this film never gets bogged down in seriousness for a moment. Plus, there is also the welcome fact that there are no forced-in wooden co-stars, as happened in their later big-studio films (e.g. Allan Jones and Kitty Carlisle, who periodically wreck "A Night at the Opera" with their scenes full of corny dialogue and inane songs.).
No real use going over the plot again, though it really does serve its purpose. The Marx bros. are at their funniest and screwiest; to mention only the two most famous scenes (the peanut/lemonade stands + the mirror scene) sells the movie a bit short, as there are a bunch of hysterical parts (e.g. Groucho picking on Mrs. Teasdale at the opening, Harpo and Chico making the Ambassador's day a mess, the final battle scene, etc.). Its amazing that so many fantastic set-ups occurred in less than 70 min. of running time (they really cut out all the "fat").
It isn't just the Marx bros. that made this such a classic. The ever-suffering Margarent Dumont is perfect as usual as the distressed high-society woman, Louis Calhern is sufficiently serious and calculating (but not too much so for such a funny film) and Edgar Kennedy, the master of "slow burn", helps elevate the lemonade stand scene to one of the greatest comedy bits of all time.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Stop Laughing
Review: Side splitting fun! This is by far the best of the Marx Brothers. This crazy comedy keeps you laughing throughout the movie. HAIL FREEDONIA!! Although I wouldn't recommend it for those of you who aren't into old time comedies, if you like witty humor and outrageous situations, this is a must have. This movie had me and my friends hooked so bad we put it on as a school play. If you wanna have a good time buy the movie. If you like what you see, consider getting the box set, though this is by far the best movie.
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