The Marx Brothers classic DUCK SOUP holds a mirror to love and war in hysterical ways
DUCK SOUP (Leo McCarey, 1933)
Landmark Sunshine Cinema
143 East Houston St. between First & Second Aves.
Friday, June 29, and Saturday, June 30, 12 midnight
212-330-8182
www.landmarktheatres.com
www.marx-brothers.org
One of the wackiest films ever made, Duck Soup stars the Marx Brothers at their absolute best. Groucho is a riot as Rufus T. Firefly, the leader of the strange little country of Freedonia, which is prepared to go to war if necessary with its neighbor Sylvania, represented by blowhard ambassador Trentino (Louis Calhern), who has designs on wealthy Freedonian philanthropist Gloria Teasdale (Margaret Dumont). Meanwhile, spies Chicolini (Chico) and Pinky (Harpo) harass a street vendor (poor Edgar Kennedy), mock Firefly in front of a pseudo-mirror, and just have a jolly old time everywhere they go. But there’s more to the film than outrageous slapstick and wild and woolly quotes; there’s some very deft criticism of politics, government, and, most of all, war. Hail, hail, Freedonia!