Duck Soup (1933)

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

Director:

Leo McCarey

Writers:

Bert Kalmar (story), Harry Ruby (story)

Stars:

Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
The Marx Brothers	...	(as The Four Marx Brothers)
Groucho Marx	...	Rufus T. Firefly
Harpo Marx	...	Pinky
Chico Marx	...	Chicolini
Zeppo Marx	...	Bob Roland
Margaret Dumont	...	Gloria Teasdale
Raquel Torres	...	Vera Marcal
Louis Calhern	...	Ambassador Trentino
Edmund Breese	...	Zander
Leonid Kinskey	...	Sylvanian Agitator (as Leonid Kinsky)
Charles Middleton	...	Prosecutor (as Charles B. Middleton)
Edgar Kennedy	...	Lemonade Vendor

Storyline

The country of Freedonia is in the middle of a financial crisis and on the brink of revolution. In order to gain a bail-out from the wealthy Mrs Teasdale, the government appoints Rufus T Firefly as its president. However, Mr Firefly shuns the pomp and pretentiousness of government; along with the prudence and rationality of it too. Meanwhile, the neighbouring country of Sylvania is plotting to overthrow Freedonia and sends Pinky and Chicolini to spy on Firefly. War seems inevitable.

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Plot Keywords:

absurd comedy | satire | political satire | slapstick comedy | farce | 

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Taglines:

GROUCHO as Rufus T. Firefly, Dictator of Freedonia ... the only man to know both the President's and the Farmer's daughter. CHICO, who swears Admiral Dewey took Vanilla. HARPO as Snoopy the Spy, who shadows so many suspects he becomes afraid of his own shadow. ZEPPO, voting for a standing army to save Freedonia money on chairs.

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Leo McCarey reportedly came up with the title for the film, having previously used it for an earlier directorial effort with Laurel & Hardy. The title was used again in 1942 for a Daffy Duck cartoon.

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Goofs

When Chicolini and Pinky get in Trentino's office, Trentino puts the lit cigar on the desk, near the twin phones. Thereafter he picks it up next the cigar box.

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Quotes

Mrs. Teasdale: I've sponsored your appointment because I feel you are the most able statesman in all Freedonia.
Rufus T. Firefly: Well, that covers a lot of ground. Say, you cover a lot of ground yourself. You better beat it - I hear they're going to tear you down and put up an office building where you're standing. You can leave in a taxi. If you can't get a taxi, you can leave in a huff. If that's too soon, you can leave in a minute and a huff. You know, you haven't stopped talking since I came here? You must have been ...

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Connections

Featured in Harley-Davidson: The American Motorcycle (1993)

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Soundtracks

The Country's Going to War
(1933) (uncredited)
Music by Harry Ruby
Lyrics by Bert Kalmar
Performed by Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx, and Harpo Marx with chorus

User Reviews

I Wouldn't Join Any Country that Would Have Me.

I'm shocked, shocked at all the negative comments covering this comedy classic. The puns, the insults, are all now comedy classics. The Lemonade Stand & the Mirror Scenes also memorable. I hadn't seen the movie in around 15 years but bought the DVD so my 15 year old son could experience the Marxes. He loved it too.

What I noticed for the first time was the satire of society, manners, government, the military, the bureaucracy (including Roberts Rules of Order). I can't recall any other comedy I've seen that satirizes on such a grand scale.

For Marx Brothers fans this is a must see. It's the boys with no love story or musical interludes in the way.

One word for those who disagree- "Upstart". :-)

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 November 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cracked Ice

Filming Locations:

Loja, Granada, Andalucía, Spain

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$103,800

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1