"Join the Army," They Said: And see the Navy.Teasdale: Mice?! Mice can't play music!įirefly: No? Haven't you heard of the old Mice-stro? Ironic Nursery Tune: Newly installed President Firefly lays down the law in a peppy tune:.Insult to Rocks: After calling the Sylvanian ambassador a baboon, Firefly apologizes, saying "That isn't fair to the rest of the baboons.".Though considering he declared war on a allied nation over flimsy context after becoming leader of a financially unstable country and won, perhaps there is something we're not seeing. He is formally introduced coming late to his inauguration after everyone says that one of the things he's known for is his punctuality (to his credit, not for lack of trying, as he's got his alarm clock set for 10:00 and quickly enters through a back road upon realizing he's running a bit later than usual), and for the rest of the film he is shown to be somewhere between indifferent and insane to the otherwise serious nature of his profession. Keep in mind that this is Groucho Marx she's talking about. Teasdale because he apparently is the perfect man for the job, waxing on about how he has the right mental and moral fortitude to lead Freedonia. Firefly was given the position of Leader of Freedonia on the request of Mrs. Incessant Chorus: The Freedonian national anthem.Implausible Deniability: "Who you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?".Firefly caps a long Motor Mouthed monologue with "Do you know you haven't stopped talking since I got here? You must have been vaccinated with a phonograph needle.".He also declares that chewing gum would be forbidden, and is seen visibly chewing gum. In his first number, Firefly declares that "Whistling is forbidden" and then starts whistling.Culture Police: Firefly, as the newly installed ruler of Freedonia, lays down the law in a jaunty tune:įirefly: You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Where'd you hear that story?įirefly: Oh yes, I remember.Also, Firefly can't seem to decide whether he's prosecuting or defending Chicolini. Cases in point: offering the witness bets on whether there's a conviction objecting on the grounds of "I couldn't think of anything else to say" sustaining objections on the grounds of "I couldn't think of anything else to say either" and a pun or two. The Marx Brothers are performing courtroom antics not to prevent/assure convictions, but simply because their characters they are. Crowd Song: "To war, to war, to war we gotta go!" It eventually devolves into a minstrel show.Couldn't Find a Lighter/ Mundane Utility: Harpo uses a blowtorch to light a cigar.Cue Harpo driving off in the sidecar, leaving Groucho on the immobile motorcycle. After being twice left behind by Harpo in the detached sidecar, Groucho insists that this time he's driving.
THE MARX BROTHERS DUCK SOUP FREE
Changing Clothes Is a Free Action: In the climactic battle scene, Rufus' uniform changes almost every time the camera switches, to a variety of increasingly improbable outfits.If he was anyone other than Groucho Marx, it would be terrifying. The Caligula: What do you get when Groucho Marx becomes the uncontested leader of your country? You get a Deadpan Snarker who's late to his own inauguration (granted, not for lack of trying), fires and hires you at the drop of a hat, proclaims on his first day that he'll outlaw various leisurely activities ( while doing half of them) and declares war over an insult.Butt-Monkey: The lemonade vendor, whose only crime was to have the misfortune of having his cart next to Chicolini's roasted peanuts cart.Naturally, Hilarity Ensues throughout all of this.įirefly: They double-crossed me! They're coming by land and sea. But between Firefly's womanizing antics, Firefly's incompetent policies, and Firefly's wanton insults to the Ambassador, Freedonia is soon on the fast track to war with Sylvania. Unfortunately, Ambassador Trentino (Louis Calhern) of the neighboring nation of Sylvania plots to take over Freedonia, and sends his best spies Chicolini (Chico Marx) and Pinky (Harpo Marx) to do his dirty work. Firefly (Groucho Marx) is appointed ruler. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont) agrees to loan the country $20 million, but only if Rufus T. The story begins in the vaguely European country of Freedonia, which is nearly bankrupt due to national mismanagement. It was one of the first films to openly mock the rising fascism in Europe. Directed by Leo McCarey and released in 1933, it was also their final film for Paramount Pictures. The one that introduced us to " This Means War!".ĭuck Soup was the Marx Brothers' fifth film and, in the eyes of the public, in tough competition with A Night at the Opera as the best film they ever made.
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