Review of Duck Soup (1933) by Matthew G — 09 Jun 2010

For one hour or so of film, Duck Soup is jam-packed with tasty comedic bits that keep the viewer laughing from frame to literal frame, and it all basically boils down to what might tickle the viewer's funny bone the most. Between Groucho's wicked one-liners to Chico's daft puns to Harpo's silent slapstick, there is literally something for everyone's comedic appetite. Coupled with a timeless and all-too pointed satire of the machinations of government, Duck Soup is a fine comedy.

The most brilliant scene in the film is the so-called war; Firefly sports different uniforms from scene to scene, Chico keeps crossing battle lines to wherever the food is better, and Pinky risks his life in battle by donning a sandwich board: "Join the army and see the navy." If not that scene, then Firefly's abuse of power song easily ices the cake and comes complete with his chain cigar-smoking and shifty painted-on eyebrows.

The only bit that may not be as funny as the rest was the random singing by Mrs. Teasdale, even if it did spur Firefly aka Groucho to lob some crafty barbs toward the lofty woman. Still, it was 1933, and comedies were not comedies, apparently, without a musical number or two tossed into the mix, for better or for worse.

It's hard not to label Duck Soup a masterpiece of American cinema and of American comedy, at least. It was a very short hour of viewing. The direction was spot-on, the scenes were dizzyingly madcap, and none failed to inspire a smile. There's not anything bad that can really be said about it because it's all too perfect and holds up well, 77 years later.