Duck Soup

Released Nov 17, 1933

1h 10m

Comedy

List

91%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

91%

Audience Score

25,000+ Ratings

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.

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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.

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Kate Muir

Times (UK)

It turns out that the sharp-tongued humour of Groucho Marx is ageless, the slapstick timely and the subject matter still pertinent: loony dictatorship, religion, pointless warfare.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 16, 2015

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

The sheer silliness is inspired ...

Rated: 5/5

Jan 15, 2015

Full Review

David Jenkins

Little White Lies

Questioning the canonical standing of a titan such as Duck Soup seems like an exercise in questioning the tastes of those who like it rather than the upbraiding the comedy mechanics of the film itself.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 15, 2015

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Duck Soup is the greatest Marx Brothers comedy of all time.

Rated: 5/5

Nov 17, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

True movie fans haven’t lived until they’ve caught this outrageous satire.

Rated: 4/4

Nov 12, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

There’s no dense or intricate narrative in the film. It’s simply a basic story that allows Groucho, Harpo, and Chico to showcase their comedic chaos.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 20, 2022

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John T. H

They don't even eat duck soup in the movie false advertising!!! oh and its one of the greatest classic comedies ever made.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/12/24

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Daniel K

Paul Rudd was not in this movie

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/28/23

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Cees T

Looney Tunes and Animaniacs did it better with reasonable sociopathy. 4/10 - Very bad.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/28/23

Full Review

Aeric A

It's the Marx brothers. If you don't know you cant understand. Legends of comedy. Watch a Marx brothers movie and read a book and eat your veggies.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/23/23

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A R

A truly timeless humor that I originally assumed wouldn't be funny, but always has me laughing out loud. That said, this ultimately feels more like a series of comedy skits than a cohesive movie with a narrative through-line. The peanut/lemonade vendor scene is one of my favorites and such an excellent showcase of the Marx brothers' physical comedy chops.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/12/23

Full Review

Henry M

This movie is wretched. I hated every moment of it almost universally. I've liked other Marx brothers films in the past, but this was profoundly upsetting. As satire goes, it feels as pointy as a sponge. The humor almost never feels like it's appropriate to the conversation or scene going on, and I literally laughed twice during the whole movie. Apparently, I'm in the minority here, but from where I'm sitting this movie blows chunks and I wish I could get the hour and change of my life I spent watching this back so I could watch paint dry, or pick lint from between my toes or do literally anything else.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/19/23

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Leo McCarey

Director

Groucho Marx

Rufus T. Firefly

Harpo Marx

Pinky

Chico Marx

Chicolini

Zeppo Marx

Lt. Bob Roland

Margaret Dumont

Mrs. Gloria Teasdale

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Duck Soup: Official Clip - The Mirror Scene