A Comic Masterpiece

Rating: Null/10 (9 January 2004)

Groucho plays Rufus T. Firefly, leader of Freedonia, with brother Zeppo at his side, while Chico and Harpo play spies working for which ever side the comic wind blows in the last film featuring all four of the Marx Brothers. This film is easily the funniest and most consistent of their Paramount features, and many believe it to be their funniest film overall. (My vote goes with "A Night at the Opera.") Either way, it remains one of the funniest movies in history. That said, however, although it began to be fashionable to say so during the 60's, the film is no more an anti-war film than "Horsefeathers" is an anti-football film.
"Duck Soup" strongly benefits from the presence of director Leo McCarey, who learned the comedy business at the Hal Roach studio with folks like Charley Chase and Laurel and Hardy. McCarey even brought some Roach regulars like Charles Middleton and Edgar Kennedy to the film. Kennedy, in particular as the lemonade vendor, proves to be a wonderful foil for Harpo and Chico. Their exchanges makes one wishes he could have become a regular in their films like always welcome Margaret Dumont.
I was a little disheartened to see all of the negative reviews for this film, but I suppose that is to be expected. Comedy, more than any other genre, suffers from the vagaries of personal taste. That is doubly-true when dealing with people who have a prejudice against older or black and white films. I know many people like that. This is a pity because the films of 1930's represent the peak of Hollywood comedy. Still, "Duck Soup" boring or unfunny? Hard to believe. If the gags are corny, it is because you've heard them stolen and repeated a hundred times. I can't tell you that you have to like "Duck Soup," but, it seems to me, life will be a little duller if you don't.
A must see.