The Marx Brothers Demolish the Political System in Duck Soup

Another classic bit involving Chico and Harpo deals with their complete harassment towards a lemonade vendor. Everything that the two guys do (much of which involves hats) seems calculated to make this fellow go utterly crazy. Thank God he didn't have a gun handy, or there'd be bloodshed!

It's easy to call Duck Soup a political satire, although I think that the truth lies more in the inevitable result of a meeting of style and substance: The Marx Brothers were comedic anarchists, and the script had more than its fair share of easy targets. In any case, there's all kinds of slaps in the face to political decorum, especially the specific reason for the war between the two countries. If this were a real situation, and not a comedy movie, I'd be alternately be very afraid for our safety, and utterly dismissive of the whole political system! It's no surprise to learn that many political leaders of all stripes from around the world didn't appreciate this film very much. It was even banned in some places, because it was seen as a personal insult to the individuals who later banned it!!

As far as I'm concerned, if you want an hour (this film is only 69 minutes!) of crazy antics and funny lines, Duck Soup is a great choice for classic comedy. Sure, much of the film is dated, some of the straight men (and women) are a bit stiff, and some of the material, for me, at least, is more surreal than funny, but the Marx Brothers were true originals, and Duck Soup is a great showcase for their talents.

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