Duck Soup (Marx Brothers): 200th review!!

FRAY'S 200TH MOVIE REVIEW*
After over 3 years of writing movie reviews I have finally reached my 200th review. To celebrate 100, I wrote about a beloved comedy classic (well, I love it)... so for 200 let's return to that sentiment with another of my favorite comedy films (by a classic comedy crew). Yes, it's the Marx Brothers' "Duck Soup," the most recognizable / most popular Marx Brothers film (and my favorite of their films).

"Awfully decent of you to drop in today. Do you realize our army is facing disastrous defeat? What do you intend to do about it?"
"I've done it already."
"You've done what?"
"I've changed to the other side."
"So you're on the other side, eh? Well, what are you doing over here?"
"Well, the food is better over here"

The small (fictitious) country of Freedonia is facing bankruptcy and potentially war with the neighboring (also fictitious) country of Sylvania. Wealthy Mrs. Teasdale (Dumont) helps with the finances, and a new leader is appointed, Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho). Firefly starts his presidency by feuding with the ambassador from Sylvania, Ambassador Trentino (Calhern)... both are trying to get Mrs. Teasdale's money.

"I've given up the idea of a revolution. I have a better plan...I can gain control of Freedonia much easier by marrying Mrs. Teasdale."
"Ha, ha, ha. Maybe that's not going to be so easy...From what I hear, you see, Mrs. Teasdale is rather sweet on this Rufus T. Firefly."

Trentino hires spies Chicolini (Chico) and Pinky (Harpo) to get the dirt on Firefly, but they trail the wrong man!

"Monday we watch-a Firefly's house, but he no come out. He wasn't home. Tuesday we go to the ball game, but he fool us - he no show up. Wednesday he go to the ball game, but we fool him - we no show up! Thursday it was a double header - nobody show up. Friday it rained all day. There was-a no ballgame, so we stayed home, we listen to it over the radio."

He gives them another chance, so they setup a peanuts stand outside Firefly's office where they torment a lemonade vendor (Edgar Kennedy)

"I'll teach you to kick me!"
"You don't have to teach me, I know how!"

And become members of Firefly's cabinet. Meanwhile, Firefly's assistant Bob Roland (Zeppo) suspects Trentino is trying to undermine Firefly and suggests finding a way to get rid of him. The plan: offend Trentino so he strikes Firefly and then they get rid of him. However Firefly alters the plan and slaps Trentino. It's war!


This is the most iconic Marx Brother film and I love it!! As usual, well as usual as a Marx Brothers film can be, the plot isn't all that important. The jokes are funny, but the sight gags steal the show: the mirror scene (picture below), Harpo tormenting Edgar Kennedy (the lemonade man), and the court room scene.
Unlike previous films, there is only one musical number... which is performed by the entire cast (the courtroom scene). There isn't time to take any other musical breaks!

• Groucho is reunited with foil Margaret Dumont and a new villain who rises to the insanity. He has some good lines, like his rationale for war "It's too late. I've already paid a month's rent on the battlefield."
• Chico gets a promotion: spy for Sylvania and Secretary of War for Freedonia. As usual he gets to fight with Harpo and swap quips with Groucho.
• Zeppo is the usual straight man. He lets Groucho abuse him and gets a few replies of his own in his last film with the Brothers.
• Harpo steals the show. With his ever present deep pockets and ability to provide answers (he has a tattoo for every question Groucho asks), and the capacity to confound anyone outside the family with his antics he is the one you watch.

In the end it is up to the Brothers to fight for their country and Margaret Dumont "Remember, you're fighting for this woman's honour, which is probably more than she ever did," hopefully the food doesn't run out!

To read another review of this film (and other Marx Brother films) go to this site: http://theageofcomedy.laurelandhardycentral.com/ducksoup.html

*yes, I already celebrated my 200th post, but this is my 200th movie review. I have had 8 other posts: favorites list (Mel Brooks, John Wayne, Christmas, my top 20), Oscar predictions (3), and holiday rants (1)

Duck Soup (1933) 68 minutes
Director: Leo McCarey
Starring: Groucho Marx as Rufus T. Firefly
Harpo Marx as Pinky
Chico Marx as Chicolini
Zeppo Marx as Bob Roland
Margaret Dumont as Mrs. Teasdale
Raquel Torres as Vera Marcal
Louis Calhern as Amabassador Trentino

Horse Feathers (Marx Brothers)

"Tomorrow we start tearing down the college."
"But, Professor, where will the students sleep?"
"Where they always sleep: in the classroom."

Huxley College welcomes a new president, Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff (Groucho), who explains to the staff and students his motto "Whatever it is, I'm against it!" Later he is greeted by his son Frank (Zeppo)

"Dad, let me congratulate you. I'm proud to be your son."
"My boy, you took the words right out of my mouth. I'm ashamed to be your father. You're a disgrace to our family name of Wagstaff, if such a thing is possible."

Frank has been seeing the college widow* Connie (Todd), and Professor Wagstaff does not approve. Frank changes the subject and suggests going to the speakeasy to recruit 2 football players for the big game against their biggest rival, Darwin College. At the speakeasy, Prof. Wagstaff recruits iceman/bartender Baravelli (Chico) and iceman/dog catcher Pinky (Harpo) to play football.

"In case I never see you again, which would add ten years to my life, what would you fellas want to play football?"
"Well, first we want a football."
"Well, I don't know if we've got a football, but if I can find one, would you be interested? I don't want a hasty answer, just sleep on it."
"I no think I can sleep on a football."

They wreck havoc in the classroom, and all chase after the college widow.


The only thing missing from this film is Margaret Dumont (also missing from Monkey Business)... Thelma Todd plays off the Marx Brothers well, but she isn't Dumont. She isn't a foil for Groucho as much as an object of affection. Each brother serenades her in his own way, "Everyone Says I Love You": Zeppo plays it straight, Harpo plays the harp, Chico makes it up as he goes, and Groucho sarcastically alters the original verse.

There is a memorable exchange between Chico and Groucho discussing the password to the speakeasy (it's 'swordfish'). There are many other good moments in the film. But it is the ending football game that steals the show. After the Brothers are all on the field you can't help but laugh the entire time. Definitely top 5 Marx Brother films.

*According to Wikipedia, the term college widow refers to a woman who stays in college after graduation in order to find a husband (usually a derogatory term). In the present day you would say she was trying to get her MRS (Mrs.) degree... or she would attend a Christian college to get a "ring by spring" (I went to a Christan college...and graduated without either)

To read another review of this film (and other Marx Brother films) go to this site: http://theageofcomedy.laurelandhardycentral.com/horsefeathers.html

Horse Feathers (1932) 68 minutes
Director: Norman Z. McLeod
Starring: Groucho Marx as Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff
Harpo Marx as Pinky
Chico Marx as Baravelli
Zeppo Marx as Frank Wagstaff
Thelma Todd as Connie Bailey
David Landau as Jennings
Nat Pendleton as MacHardie
James Pierce as Mullen

Monkey Business (Marx Brothers)

"Stockholders, huh? Well, you look like a couple of stowaways to me."
"Well, don't forget, my fine fellow, that the stockholder of yesteryear is the stowaway of today."

Four stowaways (Chico, Groucho, Harpo, and Zeppo) are making the Captain (Ben Taggart)'s life difficult. Hidden among the cargo, they sing "Sweet Adelaide" and send notes to the Captain complaining. They outsmart and outrun the crew, escaping from the cargo hold and going on their own adventures.
Groucho meets and insults the Captain,

"If this is the Captain, I'm gonna have a few words with him. My hot water's been cold for three days. And I haven't got room enough in here to swing a cat. In fact, I haven't even got a cat."

Later he ends up in the cabin of gangster Alky Briggs (Woods) where he tries to romance Alky's wife Lucille (Todd). Zeppo falls for Mary Helton (Hall), daughter of Alky's rival Joe Helton (Fellowes). When both Zeppo and Groucho hide in Alky's room, he gives them guns and hires them to help scare Helton.
Meanwhile, Harpo hides in a Punch and Judy puppet show (as one of the puppets) to outsmart the First Mate. Eventually he finds Chico and they end up impressing Big Joe Helton, and he hires them as bodyguards. The plot doesn't really matter... it doesn't need to make sense or be plausible, it just sets up the next joke for the Brothers.


The first Marx Brother film written for film (The Cocoanuts and Animal Crackers were originally stage shows for the Marx Brothers, then adapted to film). The plot isn't memorable, but the Brothers make it work. The Brothers are consistently referred to as "the stowaways" and never mentioned by name... but they don't need names to create chaos both on deck and on shore. Zeppo gets a romance... Harpo clowns around in some memorable sight gags: the puppet show mentioned earlier and fighting with Chico... Chico has some good lines with Groucho and plays the piano (Harpo plays his harp as well)... and Groucho mystifies the masses with his quick one-liners. Funny enough to be ranked among the greatest Marx Brother films, but not the best.

To read another review of this film (and other Marx Brother films) go to this site: http://theageofcomedy.laurelandhardycentral.com/monkbiz.html

Monkey Business (1931) 77 minutes
Director: Norman L. McLeod
Starring: Groucho Marx as Groucho
Harpo Marx as Harpo
Chico Marx as Chico
Zeppo Marx as Zeppo
Rockliffe Fellowes as Big Joe Helton
Harry Woods as Alky Briggs
Thelma Todd as Lucille Briggs
Ruth Hall as Mary Helton

Animal Crackers (Marx Brothers)

Jamison: "Now, uh, you said a lot of things here that I didn't think were important, so I just omitted them."
Spaulding: "So...you just omitted them, eh? ...You just omitted the body of the letter, that's all. You've just left out the body of the letter, that's all! Yours not to reason why, Jamison! You've left out the body of the letter!...All right, send it that way and tell them the body'll follow."

The wealthy Mrs. Rittenhouse (Dumont) is having a party to celebrate the return of the brave adventurer Captain Spaulding (Groucho). The Captain is brought into the party in a sedan chair and tries to haggle the price of his ride.

"Well, what do I owe ya?...What? From Africa to here, a dollar eighty-five? That's an outrage. I told you not to take me through Australia. You know it's all ripped up. You should have come right up the Lincoln Boulevard"

Undaunted, the guests all sing "Hooray for Captain Spaulding" and want to hear stories about his adventures. So he tells the timeless joke:

"One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know."

Meanwhile, the musicians show up: Signor Ravelli (Chico) and the Professor (Harpo), who charge more for not showing up and performing than they do for an actual performance. Mrs. Rittenhouse has a famous painting that will be unveiled that evening by Mr. Chandler (Sorin). But the painting is stolen and replaced (twice) and soon the versions of the painting are gone...and it's up to Spaulding to save the day and the painting.


A vast improvement over "The Cocoanuts," this film allows the zaniness of the Brothers to take center stage. The plot is just an excuse for some classic Marx Brothers gags.

• Groucho get some funny jokes, like the elephant one I already mentioned. And two of his favorite songs were from this film: "Hooray for Captain Spaulding" which became his theme song, and "Hello I Must Be Going" which was the name of his biography by Charlotte Chandler (which I own / love).
• Chico and Harpo have some funny gags: playing cards with Margaret Dumont and Margaret Irving, where they cheat the entire time (Harpo has all Aces). In another scene, as they prepare to swap the painting with a replica Chico asks for a "flash" (flashlight) and Harpo keeps misunderstanding and pulling other items from his deep pockets.
• And Zeppo finally gets a chance to shine. In one scene, Groucho dictates a letter. The letter is mostly legal jargon that doesn't make sense in context... While writing Zeppo asks crazy questions like "How do you spell semi-colon?" and goes along with the whole scenario, until he is asked to reread the letter (see the opening quote for part of the exchange), and manages to get a bigger laugh than Groucho. Even though he is still the straight man in the act, it is nice to see him get a joke (instead of being the joke or setting up Groucho's joke).

This was the only Marx Brother film I had never seen prior to owning the box set. Apparently it wasn't rereleased (on video or tv) until the 1980s, and it was hard to find (contractual reasons or something like that). Not my favorite Marx Brother film, but definitely in the top 5.

To read another review of this film (and other Marx Brother films) go to this site: http://theageofcomedy.laurelandhardycentral.com/animalcrackers.html

Animal Crackers (1930) minutes
Director: Victor Heerman
Starring: Groucho Marx as Captain Spaulding
Chico Marx as Signor Ravelli
Harpo Marx as The Professor
Zeppo Marx as Jamison
Margaret Dumont as Mrs. Rittenhouse
Louis Sorin as Roscoe Chandler
Lillian Roth as Arabella Rittenhouse
Margaret Irving as Mrs. Whitehead
Robert Greig as Hives
Hal Thompson as John Parker

The Cocoanuts (Marx Brothers)

"Right now I'd do anything for money. I'd kill somebody for money. I'd kill you for money. Ha ha ha. Ah, no. You're my friend. I'd kill you for nothing."

In sunny Florida, the Cocoanuts Hotel (and surrounding property) aren't doing well. Even though the beaches are full of people, there are only a few paying customers at the Cocoanuts. The proprietor, Mr. Hammer (Groucho) is trying to sell the surrounding property and talk his bellboys out of their paychecks,

"Ohhh! You want my money. Is that fair? Do I want your money?"

The desk clerk, Jamison (Zeppo), sleeps on the job, and the newest guests Chico (Chico) and Harpo (Harpo) are hoping to steal everything that isn't nailed down,

"Do you know that suitcase is empty?"
"That's all right. We fill it up before we leave."

The only paying customers are the Potter's. The wealthy Mrs. Potter (Dumont) doesn't approve of her daughter Polly's (Eaton) suitor, Bob (Shaw) the desk clerk. While Bob and Polly fall in love and plan their futures, Bob's rival for Polly, Harvey Yates (Ring) plots with his former partner Penelope (Francis) to steal from the Potters. With Irving Berlin songs, especially "When My Dreams Come True" (which you will be able to sing by the end of the film) and zany Marx routines interspersed to keep the story interesting.


Love the Marx Brothers!! If you are new to the Marx Brothers, I would suggest starting with a different film. Even though "The Cocoanuts" was their first film, it is a tad rough in places. The Cocoanuts was originally a Marx Brothers Broadway play, so they adapted it to film with mixed results. I like musicals, but there are too many musical numbers in the film and the song "When My Dreams Come True" is repeated so many times you either reluctantly sing-along or you want to scream at the top of your lungs! The songs don't really work, except for when Chico and Harpo have their solo songs (Chico does his trademark shooting the piano keys and Harpo obviously plays the harp).

It takes too long for the Brothers to appear on screen... and overall they don't have enough screen time. Occasionally it is hard to hear the dialogue (portions are softer than the rest) and the image quality changes throughout the film (sometimes in the same scene). Many of these problems can be attributed to the fact that film was still a newish medium (especially sound films) and the Brothers didn't have any film experience. There are some classic moments: the Brothers meeting (and getting into a fight, see the picture above), "Why a Duck" scene, the auction (Chico outbids everyone, including himself). It is enjoyable, and an interesting look at how the Marx Brothers started in film... but their later films (i.e. anything after this) are better / funnier. Good, but not quite up to par.

To read another review of this film (and other Marx Brother films) go to this site: http://theageofcomedy.laurelandhardycentral.com/cocoanuts.html

The Cocoanuts (1929) 96 minutes
Directors: Robert Florey & Joseph Santley
Starring: Groucho Marx as Hammer
Harpo Marx as Harpo
Chico Marx as Chico
Zeppo Marx as Jamison
Margaret Dumont as Mrs. Potter
Oscar Shaw as Bob Adams
Mary Eaton as Polly Potter
Cyril Ring as Harvey Yates
Kay Francis as Penelope
Basil Ruysdael as Detective Hennessy