Classic 30s Movie: “Duck Soup”
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Plot Summary: The small country of Freedonia is in financial trouble and before wealthy, and recently widowed, Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont) gives them any more of her millions, she insists that…
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May is Classic 30s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from David Joyner.

Movie Title: Duck Soup

Year: 1933

Writers: Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, Arthur Sheekman, Nat Perrin

Lead Actors: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont

Director: Leo McCarey

Plot Summary: The small country of Freedonia is in financial trouble and before wealthy, and recently widowed, Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont) gives them any more of her millions, she insists that Firefly (Groucho Marx) be appointed their leader. The Sylvanian Ambassador Trentino tries to foment a revolution and to woo Mrs. Teasdale, becoming the antagonist to Firefly’s protagonist. Chicolini (Chico) and Pinky (Harpo) act as spies who try to steal Freedonia’s war plans (but switch sides when it’s convenient), while Bob Roland (Zeppo) is Firefly’s secretary. It seems like every time war comes up, a song breaks out. A goofy and hilarious movie.

Why I Think This Is A Classic 30s Movie

This is an excellent example of a romantic musical comedy built around the theme of war. Film critic Roger Ebert said, “The Marx Brothers created a body of work in which individual films are like slices from the whole, but Duck Soup is probably the best.”

My Favorite Moment In The Movie

The mirror scene is a classic, copies in numerous films and TV shows. This scene was a contribution of director Leo McCarey, a revival of an old vaudeville act.

My Favorite Dialogue In the Movie

I think Groucho and Chico have the funniest scenes. They are peppered with

puns like this:

FIREFLY: I suggest that we give him ten years in Levenworth, or eleven years in Twelveworth.

CHICOLINI: I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll take five and ten in Woolworth.

And they are also interspersed with lots of slapstick, like this:

FIREFLY: You know, I’d be lost without a telephone. Now — where were we? Oh, yes — I just made you Secretary of War. The first thing you do is buy ammunition — you buy it from me and I get 10% commission.

CHICOLINI: What do I get?

FIREFLY: You get half mine and I get half yours.

CHICOLINI: I don’t want to buy ammunition — we no gotta war.

GROUCHO: Then we’ve gotta start one. Do you know how to start a war?

CHICOLINI: Sure, that’s easy. You gotta insult somebody.

Groucho suddenly slaps Chico across the face with his gloves. Then he presents to Chicolini his card in the professional manner of an experienced duelist.

FIREFLY: My card.

CHICOLINI: (Laughing) That’s a-no good. You gotta insult somebody from another country.

Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie

While the story is that of a lightweight romantic comedy (Firefly from Freedonia and Trentino from Sylvania both pursue Mrs Teasdale, leading to war between their countries), the key theme is not so much romance but funny/silly aspects of war.

Movie Trivia

Benito Mussolini took the film as a personal insult and banned it in Italy.

When the residents of Fredonia, New York, protested the movie because they feared that the similar-sounding nation would hurt their city’s reputation, the Marx Brothers told them to change the name of their town to keep from hurting their movie.

Thanks, David!

To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!

We already have a set of classic 40s movies, 5os movies, 60s Movies, 70s movies, 80s Movies and 90s Movies. This month, we’re working on 30s movies. And thanks to the GITS community, we’ve got at least 22 movies in the works and hopefully!

Those who I put in bold have already sent me their posts. If you haven’t sent yours to me, please do so as soon as you can!!!

All Quiet on the Western Front — Michael Waters

Bride of Frankenstein — Marija Nielsen

Bringing Up Baby — Melinda Mahaffey

Captain Blood — John Arends

City Girl — Adam Westbrook

Dracula — Sheila Seaclearr

Duck Soup — David Joyner

Gone With The Wind — W. H. Morris

Gunga Din — Steve Huerta

It Happened One Night — Joni Brainerd

Make Way for Tomorrow — Susan Winchell

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington — Amber Watt

Rebecca — Katha

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves — Will King

Sabotage — Jeff Xilon

Stagecoach — Thenewlight

The 39 Steps — Felicity Flesher

The Adventures of Robin Hood — Clay Mitchell

The Petrified Forest — Rachel Sheridan

The Women — Liz Clarke

Topper — Wayne Kline

Trouble in Paradise — Vincenzo

Vampyr — Megaen Kelly

I am still looking for volunteers. If there’s a 30s movie you’d like to write about, please post your suggestion in comments or contact me via email.

Thanks to everyone who steps up for this ongoing project!

For the original post explaining the series, go here.

For all of the 30s movies featured in the series, go here.

Click REPLY and see you in comments about today’s classic 30s movie!