Duck Soup

A film review by Christopher Null - Copyright © 2001 Filmcritic.com

Widely considered the best Marx brothers film ever (and landing at #5 on the AFI's list of top comedies), Duck Soup presents Groucho at his best, playing a dictator (of a country called Freedonia, natch) who starts a war over a girl who lives in a neighboring country (and who has saved Freedonia from bankruptcy). The other brothers Marx play the dictator's henchmen and spies. It's a farce about politics and war that, in my opinion, has lost some of its topicality. While the puns here are exquisitie and Groucho sparring with himself in a mirror (actually a stand-in) is a priceless moment of the cinema, the send-up of Mussolini-types doesn't quite pan out. Take the comedy, leave the story.

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Rating

4.0 out of 5 Stars

Cast and Crew

  • Director: Leo McCarey
  • Producer: Herman J. Mankiewicz
  • Screenwriter: Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby
  • Stars: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont, Raquel Torres, Louis Calhern
  • MPAA Rating: NR