Allstar t he movie vaudeville of the marx brothers was perhaps never so inspired, and surely never as brazen, as in their surreal satire of tinpot nationalism and political. Leo mccareys duck soup is the greatest film comedy of the marx brothers. Teasdale margaret dumont, freedonias principal benefactress, will lend the country 20 million dollars if the president withdraws and places the government in the hands of the fearless, progressive rufus t. The movie had a mixed reception when it was first released but it was rediscovered in the 1960s and is now generally regarded as a masterpiece of anarchic comedy and one of the.
In duck soup, max decides to cook a soup and in the middle of cooking he goes to the store to get a missing ingredient. Max linder included it in seven years bad luck 1921, where a mans servants have accidentally broken a mirror and attempt to hide the fact by imitating his actions in the mirrors frame. I know, i know, i still need to get the cast names in there and ill be eternally tweaking it, so if you have any corrections, feel free to drop me a line. Monkey business duck soup a day at the races classic screenplay. Parents need to know that the marx brothers are the epitome of anarchy in duck soup. Jun 16, 2011 in this 1933 marx brothers film, the mythical country of freedonia is broke and on the verge of revolution.
The film, produced by herman mankiewicz, was prepared during the crisis period of the. Run out and find me a fouryearold child, i cant make head or tail out of it. Duck soup is a fantasy book that is sure to capture the heart of early elementary children everywhere. Leo mccarey directed the film, and bert kalmar, harry ruby, arthur sheekman, and nat perrin wrote it although many thought duck soup was something a box office disappointment to when it was. Film critic roger ebert said, the marx brothers created a body of work in which individual films are like slices from the whole, but duck soup is probably the best.
Commonly used by gumshoes in books by chandler and spillane. Jan 09, 2015 filled with jokes about tinpot dictators, the marx brothers 1933 film duck soup resonates with the politics of the time, but its the wonderful nonstop puns that drive this classic comedy. Many intellectuals and academics have argued as much, though they tend to belong to the school of criticism. As much as war itself, soup lampoons the flimsy pretexts, the pompous sword rattling, and the noxious nationalism that are the furnishings of the leadup to wars of choice. First released theatrically by paramount pictures on november 17, 1933, it starred what were then billed as the four marx brothers groucho, harpo, chico, and. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of duck soup, directed by leo mccarey. The duck soup community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. The flavor of duck makes it perfect in soups or stews, adding a richness youll love. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing duck soup near you. Duck soup is a 1933 marx brothers comedy film written by bert kalmar and harry ruby, with additional dialogue by arthur sheekman and nat perrin, and directed by leo mccarey. To describe the plot would be an exercise in futility, since a marx brothers movie exists in moments, bits, sequences, business and dialogue, not in comprehensible stories.
Teasdale margaret dumont, insists that the wacky rufus t. The marx brothers film duck soup was first released in 1933. Opening sequence of duck soup, starring the marx brothers. Duck soup script transcript from the screenplay andor. The classic 1933 marx brothers film duck soup begins with a shot of ducks paddling around in a soup cauldron. Firefly groucho marx become the countrys president. If something is as good as done or will be done very easily is said to be duck soup. Groucho marx, chico marx, harpo marx, margaret dumont. Deprived even of this status in duck soup, zeppo finally walked.
Later, tamer features usually would cast them in some goodguy roles, their destructive mayhem having a secret agenda to help out a pretty girl in distress or the like, but not in this movie. Released theatrically by paramount pictures on november 17, 1933, it starred the four marx brothers groucho, harpo, chico, and zeppo and also featured margaret dumont, louis calhern, raquel torres and edgar kennedy. At first, many critics deemed the film to be a commercial failure because its popularity paled in comparison to other marx brothers productions like the cocoanuts, animal crackers, and the house that shadows built. Firefly is named presidentdictator of bankrupt freedonia and declares war on neighboring sylvania over the love of wealthy mrs. Overview of duck soup, 1933, directed by leo mccarey, with groucho marx, harpo marx, chico marx, at turner classic movies. Margaret dumont, louis calhern, raquel torres, and edgar kennedy. Sep 28, 2017 thanks for watching one hundred years of cinema, you can support me on patreon here. The duck soup community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author. In postagestampsized freedonia, prime minister rufus t.
Bitter contract disputes, including a threatened walk out. Presenting the marx brothers in duck soup, the greatest war movie. The marx brothers greatest and funniest masterpiece the classic comedy duck soup 1933 is a short, but brilliant satire and lampooning of blundering dictatorial leaders, fascism and authoritarian government. Dec 30, 2005 leo mccareys duck soup is the greatest film comedy of the marx brothers. Duck soup, chinese style 1 stewing duck, or the feet, necks.
In this 1933 marx brothers film, the mythical country of freedonia is broke and on the verge of revolution. Duck soup recipes duck turns plain soup into something special. Scott describes, but that doesnt mean its an enjoyable movie in 2009. In the country of freedonia, wealthy socialite mrs. The team appeared in a total of 107 films between 1921 and 1951. I believe the most cleverest scene to be the pretend mirror scene where chico copies groucho superbly well as if the mirror really was there. Rodney dangerfield at his best on the tonight show starring johnny carson 1983 duration. The joy of duck soup is that its actually gotten better with age, even if the films take down of nationalism is snuggled comfortably in the 1930s political reality. Bitter contract disputes, including a threatened walkout. When it was completed, zeppo retired from show business, and groucho, chico, and harpo moved to mgm where, under the guidance of irving thalberg, they began a night at the opera an entirely different kind of film, and one perceived at the time as a comeback for the team. Duck soup 1933 when the tiny nation of freedonia goes bankrupt, its wealthy benefactor, mrs. Duck soup can be read as an indictment of the insanity of war and a critique of the relationship between wealth and political power, but to do so is to miss much of the fun. Affiliate links contained in this post will take you to andor the itunes store. Why a fouryearold child could understand this report.
Duck soup notes duck soup notes questions and responses. Jan 15, 2015 although its appearance in duck soup is the bestknown instance, the concept of the mirror scene did not originate in this film. Marx brothers duck soup satire still delights audiences. Paramount pictures released duck soup on november 17, 1933.
Rent duck soup 1933 starring groucho marx and chico marx on dvd and bluray. Theyre rude, insulting, pranksterish, and loyal to nobody. Perhaps because of its uncompromisingly absurd nature the film was a resounding commercial failure and with its failure the marx brothers had their contract with paramount terminated. Duck soup is a 1933 precode marx brothers comedy film written by bert kalmar and harry ruby, with additional dialogue by arthur sheekman and nat perrin, and directed by leo mccarey.
Or is the phrase a play on the fact that any spot of water with a resident duck is already duck soup. Duck soup 1933 leo mccarey synopsis, characteristics. Duck soup is a silent comedy short film starring stan laurel and oliver hardy prior to their official billing as the duo laurel and hardy. Duck soup is a classic comedy movie made in 1933, directed by leo mccarey and starring the marx brothers groucho, harpo, chico and zeppo with margaret dumont, raquel torres, louis calhern and edgar kennedy. Furthermore, many sensitive american audiences were offended at the rampant political disrespect, buffoonery and. This film is usually billed as a political satire, but political farce is more accurate. Practically everybody wants a good laugh right now and duck soup should make practically everybody laugh. This is an excellent example of a romantic musical comedy built around the theme of war. Starring groucho marx, harpo marx, chico marx, zeppo marx, margaret dumont, louis calhern and edgar kennedy.
Duck soup was the last film the marx brothers made for paramount. Neighboring sylvania and its ambassador trintino louis calhern have designs on the country, and trintino hires harpo and chico as spies. With groucho marx, harpo marx, chico marx, zeppo marx. Teasdale margaret dumont, freedonias principal benefactress, will lend the. The films stream of consciousness is an offkilter bent about what power does to people played to nearimprovisational madness and still pulsates quiet readily in the. The small country of freedonia is in financial trouble and before wealthy, and recently widowed, mrs. All trace of reason and logic are joyfully cast aside in this wild comedy starring the muchloved 30s comics the marx brothers. Although its appearance in duck soup is the bestknown instance, the concept of the mirror scene did not originate in this film. Hail, euphoria presenting the marx brothers in duck soup, the greatest war movie. Fueled by inspired silliness and blessed with some of the marx brothers most brilliant work, duck soup is one of its or any eras finest comedies.
A semisurrealist farce about war, duck soup is the marx brothers most sustained bit of insanity. Jackie urbanovic is the new york times bestselling author and illustrator of duck at the door, duck soup, and duck and cover, as well as the illustrator of if youre hoppy, by april pulley sayre. Jackie urbanovic has written six books about a lovable duck named max and his household of animals he lives with. Duck soup recipes maple leaf farms duck duck recipes. The movie was banned in fascist italy because it seemed to be a statement against dictatorship. Zeppo was tired of being second banana and groucho simply wanted him to stick to his traditional role as the juvenile lead. This means when you click a link, and purchase an item, the mhm podcast network will receive an affiliate commission. The film, produced by herman mankiewicz, was prepared during the crisis period of the depression. Filled with jokes about tinpot dictators, the marx brothers 1933 film duck soup resonates with the politics of the time, but its the wonderful nonstop puns that drive this classic comedy. Duck soup is indisputably the marx brothers greatest film. Under the opening credits, four quacking ducks the four marx brothers are seen swimming and cooking in a kettle over a fire. Released theatrically by paramount pictures on november 17, 1933, it starred the four marx brothers groucho, harpo, chico, and zeppo and also featured. View notes duck soup notes from fls 241 at smith college. Dec 06, 20 the joy of duck soup is that its actually gotten better with age, even if the films take down of nationalism is snuggled comfortably in the 1930s political reality.
Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Duck soup definition of duck soup by merriamwebster. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of duck soup. The duck soup community note includes chapterbychapter summary. If the audiences of 1933 found duck soup unsettling, even longtime fans will be shocked today by its uncanny relevance. After one taste, youll duck soup for the rest of your life. Firefly, who becomes dictator of fredonia under the sponsorship of the rich mrs. When the tiny nation of freedonia goes bankrupt, its wealthy benefactor, mrs. Teasdale margaret dumont, the brothers tireless and irreplaceable foil.
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