Duck Soup (1933)

94% of critics liked it
(36 reviews)
90% of users liked it
(34,071 ratings)

In this 1933 Marx Brothers film, the mythical country of Freedonia is broke and on the verge of revolution. Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont), Freedonia's principal benefactress, will lend the country 20 million dollars if the president withdraws and places the government in the hands of the… More In this 1933 Marx Brothers film, the mythical country of Freedonia is broke and on the verge of revolution. Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont), Freedonia's principal benefactress, will lend the country 20 million dollars if the president withdraws and places the government in the hands of the "fearless, progressive" Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx). At his inauguration, Firefly shows up late, insults everyone in sight, and sings a song about how he intends to abuse his power. Naturally, the crowd cheers wildly. Meanwhile, Ambassador Trentino (Louis Calhern) of neighboring Sylvania schemes to oust Firefly and take over Freedonia himself. To gather enough evidence to discredit Firefly, he sends his most trusted spies, Chicolini (Chico Marx) and Pinky (Harpo Marx). Five minutes after they show up in Freedonia, both spies become important members of Firefly's cabinet, though Chicolini keeps his day job as a peanut vendor. Firefly eventually declares war on Sylvania, an absurd farrago with Firefly changing uniforms from scene to scene, Chicolini going to the other side because the food is better, and Pinky parading around the battlefield with a sandwich board reading "Join the army and see the navy." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 9 min.
Directed By: Leo McCarey
Written By: Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, Arthur Sheekman, Nat Perrin
Genres: Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 17, 1933 Wide
On DVD: Oct 10, 2000
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Joe Bigelow, Variety
Duck Soup should make practically everybody laugh.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The Marx Brothers' best movie...
Mordaunt Hall, New York Times
This production is, for the most part, extremely noisy without being nearly as mirthful as [the Marx brothers'] other films.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The Marx Brothers created a body of work in which individual films are like slices from the whole, but Duck Soup (1933) is probably the best.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
One of the funniest movies of the Marx brothers--and of the Depression era.
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Nonstop classic Marx Bros. mayhem kids will love.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Watch for the famous "mirror scene" in which Harpo--dressed as Groucho--matches Groucho's every movement in a non-existent mirror--pure comic genius.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Melhor longa da carreira dos irmãos Marx, o filme é uma verdadeira metralhadora giratória, disparando diálogos precisamente construídos e gags físicas inesquecíveis com uma rapidez invejável ainda nos dias de hoje.
Beth Accomando, KPBS.org
Comic anarchy at its very best. This one just keeps getting better.
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly
This Marxist masterpiece is also one of greatest military satires ever made.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...detractors of the quartet will find very little here to embrace...
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
It also includes what is perhaps the Brothers' funniest scene ever: an immaculately timed and performed sequence with a broken mirror in which Groucho, Chico and Harpo look absolutely identical. A masterpiece.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
Funny classic comedy.
John Wirt, Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)
The magnificent Marx Brothers at their funniest and most chaotic.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The Marx Brothers high water mark in film.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
The last time the Marxes were allowed to be completely lawless and eternally centre-stage.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Duck Soup is the closest thing to pure anarchy on film.
Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
The film's humor might be broad and low, but sometimes a bludgeon is just funnier than a gimlet.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tsubaki S

Best Marx bros film, both a political satire and a non-stop marathon of slapstick and verbal humour. Rufus T Firefly's lines are hillarious and very quotable.
Kevin C

The final 20 minutes are astonishingly hilarious, with the majority of this 70 minute slapstick satire spewing a never-ending stream of clever wordplay and inventive physical comedy. It's fun to watch, but the enjoyment factor in this modern age totally relies on either having a… More
The final 20 minutes are astonishingly hilarious, with the majority of this 70 minute slapstick satire spewing a never-ending stream of clever wordplay and inventive physical comedy. It's fun to watch, but the enjoyment factor in this modern age totally relies on either having a respect for the art of comedy or thinking that old movies are really cute.
♥Robyn

well i am going to gush over this one, and yes despite the fact that this film is over 70 years old, it is still absolutely hilarious, in my opinion..
AJ V

Oh, this is such a great spoof of war and governments at the time. Can you imagine Groucho Marx being in charge of a country? It's really funny. The only thing I didn't like was the songs, they were a bit annoying. Overall a fun movie.
Alice S

My first Marx Brothers movie and I can't say I'm completely sold. Either every Groucho Marx impression I've ever heard is overexaggerated, or I hear at different frequencies or something. I assumed Groucho would sound twangy and nasal like the Vlasic Pickle stork, but… More
My first Marx Brothers movie and I can't say I'm completely sold. Either every Groucho Marx impression I've ever heard is overexaggerated, or I hear at different frequencies or something. I assumed Groucho would sound twangy and nasal like the Vlasic Pickle stork, but he's actually quite flat. I suppose he's more known as a comic and not an actor, but if I were to rate him as an actor, I'd say he delivers the cheeky one-liners without motivation. Chico and Harpo are charming though. The mirror scene is excellent.
Tim S

Much much funnier than the previous Marx Bros. flicks I've seen so far.
xGary X

A wealthy widow blackmails the government of Freedonia into appointing wise cracking shyster Rufus T. Firefly as president and the country is almost immediately at war. Duck Soup is probably the ultimate example of the Marx brothers' brand of knockabout comedy. It's still… More
A wealthy widow blackmails the government of Freedonia into appointing wise cracking shyster Rufus T. Firefly as president and the country is almost immediately at war. Duck Soup is probably the ultimate example of the Marx brothers' brand of knockabout comedy. It's still virtually plotless, but the ideas gel together much more fluently than most, there is a perfect balance between slapstick and one liners and they managed to keep Harpo and Chico away from musical instruments meaning it keeps its momentum right til the end. Zeppo still sucks but thankfully he is hardly in it, the songs are kept to a minimum but have a large scale spectacle and funny lines and Louis Calhern as the bad guy gives it some thespian weight missing from most of the others. Highlights include Harpo's running battle with a lemonade seller that's straight out of Laurel and Hardy, Groucho's usual exasperation with Chico and the worst-spies-ever scene when they all dress up as Groucho (including the original mirror sketch). Hailed by many as the best Marx brothers film, and I can't find any major reason to argue.
Anthony L

I wouldn't sat Duck Soup is the funniest Marx brothers film but it does have some of their best moments, such as the Mirror scene and the final battle. Groucho is at his best but Harpo, my second favourite, is better in some of their other, earlier work. Still, very funny film!
Jon L

It took me a while to get into this one but by the end I was laughing out loud. Very funy, in any era.
Mike S

Duck Soup is a comedic masterpiece in epic proportions. This the last films featuring Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo and it is their finest. It is the story of newly appointed dictator Rufus T. Firefly, Groucho. Actually, the plot doesn't matter. It's the characters that… More
Duck Soup is a comedic masterpiece in epic proportions. This the last films featuring Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo and it is their finest. It is the story of newly appointed dictator Rufus T. Firefly, Groucho. Actually, the plot doesn't matter. It's the characters that make the movie. The Marx Brothers have perfected every aspect of their personas. Groucho is the wise cracking, bushy browed lead with the painted on mustache, and Chico and Harpo portray the most unique partners as the mute and fake Italian. Their timing and brilliance is perfect. It is rare that every joke in a film is funny. This movie has that. Each joke works. No comedic team will ever be The Marx Brothers. More will Come Later.
Corey W

You wanna see a hilarious movie, then watch this. Yes, its old. And yes, its pretty confusing to understand what its about, but it is thee FUNIEST movie ever! I dont think any comedy in the world could top this movie.
Johnny D. H

You don't need to follow the story or understand the plot to enjoy this movie. it's filled with humor that will keep you entertained until the very end. it's humor is so literal and quirky which made it really fun to watch. The funniest movies i have ever seen.
Aaron N

Rufus T. Firefly: You're a brave man. Go and break through the lines. And remember, while you're out there risking your life and limb through shot and shell, we'll be in be in here thinking what a sucker you are. Another wonderfully funny Marx Brothers movie.… More
Rufus T. Firefly: You're a brave man. Go and break through the lines. And remember, while you're out there risking your life and limb through shot and shell, we'll be in be in here thinking what a sucker you are. Another wonderfully funny Marx Brothers movie. Featuring all four brothers, this time Groucho becomes leader of a country only to provoke another leader into going into war against him. Mrs. Teasdale: As chairman of the reception committee, I welcome you with open arms. Rufus T. Firefly: Is that so? How late do you stay open? Chico and Harpo are also around as spies against Groucho, while Zeppo serves as an assistant to Groucho. The plot of course, does not really matter, because its all setup for hilarity coming from Groucho's zingers, the plays on words from Chico, and the physical comedy from Harpo. The movie is very funny, with a couple of key sequences that are absolutely hilarious. Rufus T. Firefly: Now, what is it that has four pairs of pants, lives in Philadelphia, and it never rains but it pours? Chicolini: Atsa good one. I give you three guesses. Rufus T. Firefly: Now let me see. Has four pair of pants, lives in Philadelphia... Is it male or female? Chicolini: No, I no think so. Rufus T. Firefly: Is he dead? Chicolini: Who? Rufus T. Firefly: I don't know. I give up. Chicolini: I give up, too.
Jennifer X

I liked A Night at the Opera better, but I've decided I don't really like the Marx Brothers that much. But then again who am I to judge. The only thing I find hilarious is American Pie.
Steve K

One of the funniest movies I've ever seen.
Michael G

The best Marx Bros movie. Hilarious, quick and witty. The mirror scene is a riot!
Jeremy S

The best Marx Brothers comedy and one of the funniest films ever. The war between Freedonia and Sylvania. Made in the height of the Depression as a great way to escape from your troubles and it is just the same way today. This Marx Brothers comedy is basically a satirical attack on… More
The best Marx Brothers comedy and one of the funniest films ever. The war between Freedonia and Sylvania. Made in the height of the Depression as a great way to escape from your troubles and it is just the same way today. This Marx Brothers comedy is basically a satirical attack on politics and the absurdity of war. Most memorable scene, of the mirror image. "Remember, we're fighting for this woman's honor, which is probably more than she ever did."
Dillon L

Some people have said that the politics in this movie are very flawed. I've never let politics effect the way I look at a film, so with that I'll say, fucking hilarious. I get quite the kick out of the scenes with Harpo Marx, but Groucho is pretty funny too.
Dannielle A

This movie is highly esteemed as one of the greatest comedies ever made and is even listed on the American Film Institute's 100 Years...100 Movies list. Quite frankly, the reason I watched it is because my mother-in-law said it is one of her favorite movies of all time and my… More
This movie is highly esteemed as one of the greatest comedies ever made and is even listed on the American Film Institute's 100 Years...100 Movies list. Quite frankly, the reason I watched it is because my mother-in-law said it is one of her favorite movies of all time and my father-in-law quoted the baboon line to me. In jest? Anyway, I had to see it. I was very sadly disappointed. The only scene I really liked was the mirror scene which I think I've seen on TV before in my childhood because it looked so familiar. (Or maybe it's been spoofed before in other movies?) Anyway, I sat there the entire movie with a straight face, trying to see where the humor was, but I did not laugh a single time. I am definitely not a slapstick humor kind of person. I definitely have a witty sense of humor but these jokes were delivered sarcastically and dryly and were mostly insults, which is not my style. I did not think this movie was funny in any way shape or form. Pinkie was REALLY annoying and I just wanted to shove him out of the movie because he was just bothering me so much.
Stephen E

Nearly every single minute of this film is funny, even though it doesn't really make any sense. I can see where a lot of comedy nowadays gets its inspiration.