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Duck Soup

Duck Soup

Comedy · War · 1933

Rufus T. Firefly is named president/dictator of bankrupt Freedonia and declares war on neighboring Sylvania over the love of wealthy Mrs. Teasdale.

Movie details

Duck Soup

“War is swell...when the Marx Brothers are in it. They'll be out of the trenches by Christmas...if the food doesn't improve!”

1933 Comedy · War 1h 8m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

Rufus T. Firefly is named president/dictator of bankrupt Freedonia and declares war on neighboring Sylvania over the love of wealthy Mrs. Teasdale.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Duck Soup?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Leo McCarey

Written by

Harry Ruby · Nat Perrin · Bert Kalmar · Arthur Sheekman

Groucho Marx

Groucho Marx

Rufus T. Firefly

Harpo Marx

Harpo Marx

Pinky

Chico Marx

Chico Marx

Chicolini

Zeppo Marx

Zeppo Marx

Bob Roland

Margaret Dumont

Margaret Dumont

Gloria Teasdale

Raquel Torres

Raquel Torres

Vera Marcal

Louis Calhern

Louis Calhern

Ambassador Trentino

Court is in session

Put Duck Soup on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.