Duck Soup

Duck Soup (1933) starring Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont, Louis Calhern, Raquel Torres. In the tiny country of Freedonia, Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho) is appointed leader because Mrs. Teasdale (Dumont) says so, and she is lending a large sum of money to the government. Firefly declares war on neighboring Sylvania just because he feels like it. The movie is one long sustained bit of zaniness, with the Marx Brothers in fine form, pulling all of their favorite jokes and a few more. A favorite scene of many (and my own) is the mirror scene, which the first time you see it is hilarious. There are many other inspired bits of madness in this film, which is considered by many to be the Marx Brothers best. It certainly gave me a few good laughs. (Subtitles are available for the hearing-impaired.) Grade: A