Duck Soup

1933, Comedy, 1h 10m

53 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Fueled by inspired silliness and blessed with some of the Marx brothers' most brilliant work, Duck Soup is one of its -- or any -- era's finest comedies. Read critic reviews

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Duck Soup Videos

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Duck Soup Photos

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Movie Info

When the tiny nation of Freedonia goes bankrupt, its wealthy benefactor, Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont), insists that the wacky Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx) become the country's president. Sensing a weakness in leadership, the bordering nation of Sylvania sends in the spies Pinky (Harpo Marx) and Chicolini (Chico Marx) to set the stage for a revolution. As Firefly clashes with the Sylvanian ambassador (Louis Calhern), plenty of mayhem ensues, and the countries verge on all-out war.
  • Genre:
    Comedy
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Leo McCarey
  • Producer:
    Herman J. Mankiewicz
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    MCA/Universal Home Video, Paramount Pictures
  • Sound Mix:
    Mono

Cast & Crew

Groucho Marx
Rufus T. Firefly
Harpo Marx
Pinky
Chico Marx
Chicolini
Zeppo Marx
Lt. Bob Roland
Margaret Dumont
Mrs. Gloria Teasdale
Raquel Torres
Vera Marcal
Louis Calhern
Ambassador Trentino of Sylvania
Leonid Kinskey
Sylvanian Agitator (as Leonid Kinsky)
Charles Middleton
Prosecutor (as Charles B. Middleton)
Edgar Kennedy
Lemonade Vendor
Leo McCarey
Director
Herman J. Mankiewicz
Producer
Bert Kalmar
Music
Henry Sharp
Cinematography
LeRoy Stone
Film Editing
Hans Dreier
Art Director
Harry Lindgren
Sound Mixer
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Critic Reviews for Duck Soup

All Critics (53) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (5)
Full Review… Kate Muir Times (UK) Full Review… Peter Bradshaw Guardian Full Review… David Jenkins Little White Lies Full Review… Tom Huddleston Time Out Full Review… Joe Bigelow Variety Full Review… Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Full Review… Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Full Review… Sarah Brinks Battleship Pretension Full Review… Forsyth Hardy Cinema Quarterly Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Full Review… Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine Full Review… Pare Lorentz Vanity Fair
View All Critic Reviews (53)

Audience Reviews for Duck Soup

  • Jun 30, 2015
    The Marx brothers raise hell and guns and laughter in this classic, with big musical numbers and a hysterical slapstick humor full of puns and physical gags and memorable scenes that helped define the comedy genre and were an inspiration to many great comedians who came after.
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
  • Feb 08, 2013
    It is perhaps a shame that I have only had exposure to the Marx Brothers through this film. They have such a wonderful comedic sense amongst themselves led by Groucho who is wonderful as the leader of Freedonia. Timeless humour.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Dec 04, 2012
    Dispite the short duration of it and the lack of more informations about McCarey's storytelling, Duck Soup is one of the finest Marx Brothers film. Laugh out loud all the 69 minutes. Groucho presents the most unforgettable character of his career, Rufus T. Firefly, that sometimes remember Chaplin's The Great Dictator, a few Three Stooges shorts and we can see too the clear influence that Rufus had in Sacha Baron Cohen's Admiral General Aladeen. Fresh.
    Lucas M Super Reviewer
  • Nov 07, 2012
    The best movie to see on election night! Freedonia rules. Rufus Firefly for president.
    Bathsheba M Super Reviewer
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