Duck Soup (1933)

Director:

Leo McCarey

Writers:

Bert Kalmar (story) and
Harry Ruby (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 November 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot:

Rufus T. Firefly is named president/dictator of bankrupt Freedonia and declares war on neighboring Sylvania over the love of wealthy Mrs. Teasdale.

Plot Keywords:

Widow | Dictator | Ambassador | Dowager | Spy

Awards:

1 win

Cast

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

Directed by
Leo McCarey

Writing credits
Bert Kalmar		(story) and
Harry Ruby		(story)
Arthur Sheekman		(additional dialogue) and
Nat Perrin		(additional dialogue)

Produced by
Herman J. Mankiewicz	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
John Leipold		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Henry Sharp

Film Editing by
LeRoy Stone		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Hans Dreier		(uncredited)
Wiard Ihnen		(uncredited)

Art Department
Harry Caplan	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Harry Lindgren	....	sound mixer (uncredited)

Stunts
Dale Van Sickel	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Edward Dmytryk	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Arthur Johnston	....	music advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1933) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1949) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (USA) (TV)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (????) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Cinéma La Pagode (1965) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Image Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2005) (UK) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Emka Ltd.  current copyright proprietor

Also Known As:

Cracked Ice (USA) (working title)
Firecrackers (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

68 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

France:U | Ireland:G | UK:U | South Korea:All | Australia:G | Germany:6 | Sweden:Btl | USA:Passed

Filming Locations:

Arbor Mansion, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Harpo Marx was one of only two Marx Brothers to play a recurring role in their films (not counting when they used their own names). He played the role of "Pinky" in both Horse Feathers (1932) and Duck Soup (1933) .

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): During the "Freedonia's Going to War" scene, when the four Marx Brothers are playing banjos and singing as they walk toward the camera, it is clear that Chico is only holding his banjo, not playing it.

Quotes:

Rufus T. Firefly: Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot, and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you: he really is an idiot. I implore you, send him back to his father and brothers, who are waiting for him with open arms in the penitentiary. I suggest that we give him ten years in Leavenworth, or eleven years in Twelveworth.
Chicolini: I'll tell you what I'll do: I'll take five and ten in Woolworth.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat (1974)

Soundtrack:

Freedonia Hymn

Firefly of Freedonia

All the comedies in which the Marx Brothers appeared were extensions of their vaudeville days. In "Duck Soup", the visual gags that worked so well on the stage are incorporated into the film. Director Leo McCarey directed this zany movie in which the Marx Brothers do their best to entertain their public.

There are many interesting moments in the film, but the best sequence has to be the mirror scene in which Groucho, Harpo and Chico, dressed in the same costume are seen on either side of the looking glass following the other person's movements. The other asset in the film is the final conflict with Sylvania in which Groucho is seen dressed in many uniforms while leading the war against the enemy.

We had seen this film before, but took another look when it was shown on cable recently. The great Margaret Dumont is simply one of the best actresses that ever worked with the Marx Brothers in their comedies. She is amazing in playing the straight part against Groucho's antics. A young Louis Calhern cuts quite a figure as the Trentino, the Sylvanian ambassador to Freedonia. Raquel Torres is a nice addition to the film playing the exotic Vera Marcal.

The Marx Brothers do what they do best in "Duck Soup" guided by a director who knew what to do with them, Leo McCarey.