By Jon Warner
At my parent’s house in Chicago there is this photo album with a slightly yellowed and faded photo. In it, is an image of a small boy, about age 4, who is holding an RCA videodisc in his hand. It is a copy of Duck Soup. He has a beaming smile. Yes….that was me. It sometimes strikes me as I look back at that photo and realize how much that film and the Marx Brothers have meant to me throughout my life. Back then, we would go visit my grandparents in Davenport, IA and my uncle would come over to visit in the evenings. He had an RCA videodisc player which he would bring over. He had a remarkable collection of titles. We would watch Shane, The Great Escape, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, among many others. He also had The Marx Brothers, who were my favorite. He had Animal Crackers, A Day at the Races, and what I consider their best film and a landmark of comedy…Duck Soup. My brother and I would sit down in my grandparent’s basement watching these movies and laughing our heads off. This routine went on for years.
One of the great things that I’ve realized through my many years of watching The Marx Brothers, is how well the comedy can play to different ages. When I watched Duck Soup as a small boy, I was completely infatuated with Harpo’s antics. His pratfalls really need no translation. As I got a bit older, I began to understand Chico and his malapropisms, the way he would botch particular words certainly made sense to my 10 year-old noggin (and made me laugh). Now that I’m older, I am able to get Groucho’s rapid fire sexual innuendos and one-liners. When you put all of this together, you have what I would consider the most varied, wide-reaching form of comedy and probably the birth of the modern comedic sensibility. I’m not sure that any single comedian, director, or comedy troupe can lay claim to the word “comedy” as much as the Marx Brothers can for me. They can probably be credited with creating comedy as we know it today, taking it from an era mainly focused on the stage, to the modern cinematic and television world. When you watch their films, you can feel an almost sitcom-like, episodic structure at times, and it’s clear that everyone from Lucille Ball to Woody Allen to the late night comedians felt their direct influence. Chaplin and Keaton were masters….but silent film is a different thing altogether and I don’t even want to make the argument comparing them. But, when I think of comedy, The Marxes are number one and Duck Soup is their supreme masterpiece….the one where the songs didn’t suck and the one where they pushed the boundaries the farthest.
Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho) is appointed leader (dictator) of Freedonia by a woman named Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont) who is funding the country (seemingly on her own) to keep the country from bankruptcy. The leader of nearby Sylvania, Trentino (Louis Calhern) wants to take over the country, and in order to start a revolution, sends over two spies, Pinky (Harpo) and Chicolini (Chico) to spy on Firefly and find some dirt on him to….well I’m not exactly sure what they’re after but they certainly want to catch him red-handed! Rufus and Trentino soon begin to woo Mrs. Teasdale together and when Trentino calls Rufus an upstart (upstart!!!??), war ensues. All of this is basically superfluous as the film mainly functions to allow the Brothers to enact all sorts of mayhem …..on women, political figures and dignitaries, lemonade vendors, soldiers, even themselves.
Duck Soup was the Marx Brothers most sustained bit of lunacy, and there are so many different kinds of comedy that one can find embedded within the film: slapstick, satire, silent-clown and mime, monologues, puns, pre-code shenanigans etc. There are as many different types of things to laugh at in this film that one can imagine. I think of three scenes in particular. One is the scene where Harpo and Chico befuddle and belittle the lemonade vendor on the street through a variety of gags. The lemonade vendor tries to tell them off because he says they’re turning away his customers. Soon enough, Chico bludgeons the guy with wordy absurdisms, while Harpo frays his nerves with a barrage of physical torment. Another classic scene (perhaps one of the most iconic comedic moments in cinema), is the “mirror” sequence where Groucho stands in front of what he thinks is a mirror, when it’s actually just Harpo dressed up like him. Harpo follows Groucho’s every move, even down to anticipating nearly everything that Groucho does. Their physicality and comedic timing is really funny. But I also find one of the funniest aspects of this scene to be the way that Groucho’s iconic “look”, is aped by his brother. It’s all done in silence though, as if the sequence is straight out of a silent film. The final unforgettable sequence (and maybe their greatest 10-minute stretch that was ever filmed) is the inspired war sequence at the close of the film that plays as buffoonish satire, where in the midst of battle, every scene is rendered hilarious by the fact that Groucho has changed outfits…..wearing everything from Confederate Gray, to Russian Bolshevik, to Coonskin Cap! There’s even moments here where each of them (all four Marxes, as this was Zeppo’s last hurrah) is wearing a different vintage style uniform. It comes as perfect comedic timing when as they are throwing fruit at the newly captured Trentino, the upraised arms and lilting voice of Margaret Dumont suddenly causes the boys to throw their fruit in her direction instead.
Oh but Margaret Dumont! Was there ever a woman so used and abused in the name of comedy? I swear this woman was a saint, and probably the Marxes most unsung hero(ine) and one of the keys to their success. Most great comedians need a straight man (or woman), and Margaret Dumont was Groucho’s. Groucho could be wooing her with sexual innuendos and suddenly would turn on a dime and lay into her with put downs: “You haven’t stopped talking since I got here….were you vaccinated with a phonograph needle?”. “I can see you bending over a hot stove….but I can’t see the stove.” Dumont somehow made Groucho’s occasional mean-spiritedness seem justified, as if she needed a comeuppance due to her rather prudish lifestyle. But there would be those moments when you would believe he saw her as the most beautiful woman in the world. It wouldn’t last but a split second, but it was there nonetheless. It was the speed at which Groucho would change his tune, though, that would make their interaction so magnificent….and it would be as if she didn’t even catch the jokes. Groucho apparently considered her to be the “5th” Marx Brother. That’s how important she was.
Many of the Marx films have memorable sequences: The Viaduct Scene (The Cocoanuts), The Letter Dictation (Animal Crackers), The Swordfish Scene (Horse Feathers), The Stateroom Scene (A Night at the Opera), Tootsie Frootsie Ice Cream (A Day at the Races). But Duck Soup has not only the great scenes but the biting social commentary to boot. In the Depression Era, for Groucho to be making jokes about war (“You’re a brave man. Go and break through the lines. And remember, while you’re out there risking life and limb through shot and shell, we’ll be in here thinking what a sucker you are.”) and taxes (“The country’s taxes must be fixed and I know what to do with it….if you think you’re paying too much now just wait till I get through with it.”), it is pretty biting. It is well-known though, that the film didn’t do as well at the box office as their previous hits and Paramount ended up dropping them. They were never able to duplicate this satire again once they signed with MGM, where they aimed their venom at a much more benign form: The Opera. All of us have certain films that we are very biased towards. This can happen for certain reasons, but for me it’s very hard to view this film objectively. Seeing it at such a young age has ingrained it upon my brain and in some ways, it is probably this film that began the lifelong cinematic journey that I am on. I think back on that picture of me now and all I can say is…. “Wow that kid had great taste in movies.”
Jon, a tremendous post that really covers the film, which I agree is easily the best Marx Bros. movie and one of the funniest movies ever. If I had to choose the funniest sound comedy of all time, I think it would be a tie between “Bringing Up Baby” and “Duck Soup.” You offered a lot of great insights about the film. I especially liked the way you considered how each of the Marx Bros. had his own appeal and the part each played in creating their total, coordinated, take-no-prisoners approach to comedy, with Groucho at the center. Their comedic style was always based on the gleeful destruction of something, not just physical objects but also attitudes–pomposity, intolerance, civility, conformity, most of all the absurd belief that life or movies are supposed to make sense. This one is indeed their “most sustained bit of lunacy.” You made a great observation when you wrote about the way they inspired and influenced so many television and film comics who came after them.
“Their comedic style was always based on the gleeful destruction of something, not just physical objects but also attitudes–pomposity, intolerance, civility, conformity, most of all the absurd belief that life or movies are supposed to make sense.”
Absolutely R.D. Great point. I failed to touch on that but you nailed it perfectly. I have Duck Soup #1 and Bringing Up Baby #2, so you and I are close on this! I do believe they have great influence throughout comedy of the 20th century and beyond….that’s partly for why I placed it at the top.
Brilliant write-up Jon. The fact that you’ve had such a long-standing associating this this Marx Brothers classic showed throughout its length.
The part where you’ve reminisced about your granfather’d video-cassette collection brought back memories of the VCR days. My dad too had a reasonably fine video cassette collection, which has now been replaced by VCD & DVD collection. But the video cassettes continue to be there at his place, even if the VCR isn’t there anymore.
Duck Soup is often cited as the greatest work of the inimitable Marx Brothers, and quite rightly so. Brisk to the point of keeping one off-guard right through its crisp length, this was a madcap political satire on warmongering dictators – the kind of people who were especially in vogue when the movie was made. Unapologetically irreverent, outrageously funny, and incredibly witty , the three brothers, at times, seemed to be in a zone of their own.
The brilliant and acerbic one-liners delivered by Groucho in his unique style, as well as the movie’s various plot elements in general, lampooned everything on sight and beyond. And some of the gags it is filled with are worth their weights in gold – the extended mirror pantomime sequence could very well feature amongst the most astounding and ingenuous sequences ever concocted and captured on a motion picture camera.
The degree of farce and slapstick did at times dilute its underlying theme, but it remains a landmark film for its no-holes-barred indictment on the absurdities of war, as also for its sheer entertainment quotient.
“Duck Soup was the Marx Brothers most sustained bit of lunacy” – that more or less sums up this marvelous film for me.
Hey Thanks Shubhajit. You and I are on fully the same page. It’s really hard to top this film and it’s my #1 comedy in case it wasn’t apparent. I don’t think we’re going to get the listings of the votes today, however. I do know you view this one highly. Speaking of VHS….I do still have quite a few copies of VHS myself and a working VHS player!
Jon, and Shubhajit, GREAT news!!!! We WILL be getting all the votes later today, and they will be posting under DUCK SOUP, THE GOLD RUSH and the last three coming!!!!
Oh that’s great Sam! Mr. Roca has been doing a lot of work on that front. We all owe him a big thank you.
wonderful opening Jon Warner! It’s clear how much this film has meant to you. And what a fabulous appraisal of this madcap masterpiece, a cinematic landmark.
And when Jon notes the eternal appeal the film has with children, middle aged watchers and the elderly he captures the unique appeal. Seems like I short-changed it at No. 28. I must join all the others here in issuing congratulations to Jon for this terrific piece. I think the word ‘definitive’ is appropriate. The mirror sequence is my favorite, but who wouldn’t say as much?
Yes the poll results are up. Duck Soup got 29 out of 32 votes. The most of any film on the countdown. Enjoyed reading this piece Jon.
Thanks everyone for these comments. Maurizio I am amazed by the voting. Very interesting to note that it got 29 out of 32. I think the most up to this point was about 21 votes if I recall.
Playtime got 22 and The Gold Rush slightly more 23/24. But yeah Duck Soup takes the prize in that respect.
Thanks for tracking this Maurizio. I think it adds to the analysis and comparisons as a quantitative element.
Does anyone else have memories of watching films on the RCA Videodisc player? I have never met anyone else who ever watched films this way. It was like a record that you had to flip over midway through the film.
Jon, I know this format quite well. I didn’t collect the RCAs, but immediately immersed myself in the later laser disc format to the tune of 1,800 titles. I was more wreckless then in fact, than I am now. That was real collector’s format, and there are actually still a few titles that still hold the edge in quality over their DVD counterparts. Loved reading about your recollections!
C’mon Sam we all know you purchased Wizard Of Oz on RCA Videodisc lol. And wow to 1,800 laser discs. I was probably too young to really know but wasn’t that format always borderline going obsolete from the get-go. Barely knew anyone before DVDs that had any.
The obsession to acquite them bordered on psychosis I must say! Ha! It’s true what you say about the compataively short run the format enjoyed though, certianly far less a time than DVD/blu-ray will rule the roost.
Sam I never watched anything on Laserdisc, but this was obviously an earlier “version” of that.
Maurizio you are right. It was nearly obsolete from the get go and had lots of issues in distribution from the beginning. I have fond memories of this but my Uncle purchased it and that was the only person I knew who ever had one. He still has it in fact.
Terrific essay…
You hit on just about all the things most people that admire the Marx Brothers GET from the Marx Brothers. I was particularly keen on the passage in this essay that broke down the various stages of “getting” them by the ages we all go through (younger, we connect with Harpo, older, we marvel at Groucho). I know, myself, that that was EXACTLY the way I grew into them.
As for the film reviewed…
Well, I love it, don’t get me wrong, but I am not the die-hard fan so many others are of it. Die-hard DUCK SOUP fans are so obsessive over the film thay can break into violence if you even remotely infer that one of their others are better (trust me, I have seen this happen). My personal favorite is A NIGHT AT THE OPERA. However, DUCK SOUP does something for me that few movies ever do. It makes me laugh and smile, but even more so, it makes me forget. I am often reminded, whenever I see this film, of that passage towards the wrap-up of Woody Allens HANNAH AND HER SISTERS.
To refresh everyones memory…
The character of Mickey (played by Woody Allen, himself) has been going through deep depression regarding his questions on life. He’s been given a clean bill of health after a cancer scare, rejoices from the news but, suddenly, ponders what it IS really all about. He tries religious conversion, options joining the Hari-Krishna, dyes Easter Eggs and still he’s no closer to the answers than he was before the good news. Deciding that it’s better to die than not to understand or have no definative prooof that their is a God, he attempts suicide. But, as this is a Woody Allen film, the suicide attempt is botched and, confused, Mickey ends up walking the streets in confusion from the whole ordeal.
Tired, he ducks into a movie-theatre. He sits down, not giving a shit what’s playing and only looking to take a rest off his feet.
As it turns out, the theatre is a revival house and the film showing that night is…
VIOLA!
D U C K S O U P!
It is in this moment in the film, and with the character of Mickey, that he comes to a big conclusion. As the Marx Brothers are using the soldiers heads for a xylophone and, then, busting into a song and dance review of “Oh Freedonia, Oh Don’t You Cryu For Me”, Mickey settles into the movie and, slowly, reveals a grin creeping up the sides of his face. He recounts in the narration that he had seen the film a million times and had always loved it. “The people on the screen were really having a great time and they were very, VERY funny”.
There, in the theatre, playing this timeless classic of absurdity and insanity, Mickey realizes what life is all about.
“I realized, maybe we do only go around once and that’s it, we blink out of existence. But, the important part of life is to have fun, and make the best out of it and laugh”.
Well, not to plagerize, but that’s precisely the reason I LOVE Duck Soup so much. It takes you away and it subtracts you from the harsh realities that plague us in everyday life. For about an hour and thirty minutes we surrender to Harpo, Chico, Zeppo and, particularly, Groucho and we don’t care if it makes sense or that it’s so far off the wall that it doesn’t look an iota like real life. DUCK SOUP (and also A NIGHT AT THE OPERA) are those kinds of great, big, nut-job, laugh fests that whisk me away.
I could never go through life without a movie like DUCK SOUP in it….
Could you imagine what I would look like with a completely shaved head, dressed in a sheet and handing out pamphlets for the Krishna movement in an airport terminal????
Thank Christ for the Marx Brothers!!!!
I won’t harp on you for liking Night at the Opera more. It’s usually chosen as their second best but that’s no knock on either of these films to choose one over the other. It is well known how Woody Allen liked Groucho and the Marx Brothers for sure. Great comment Dennis. Thanks.
“Duck Soup” came out in 1933, during the depression, and people were looking for something to shake them out of their funk. The film certainly succeeded. It’s a political satire that talks about how men woo women for their money, how countries switch sides as it becomes convenient, how people are overlooked because of the way they look or act. There are a lot of fun gags in here, from the famous mirror scene to the confused-perceptions as everyone dresses up to look like Groucho. By the end of the movie they are going full wild with every military costume known to mankind and over the top gags. Through all of it is the reminder that war isn’t exactly sane and that people can get riled up if the conductor knows how to play them right. This is an extraordinary review, one that clearly shows how much it’s author reveres the film and it’s arnarchic creators. I also believe it’s their best film. And one of the greatest comedies by anyone.
Thanks Frederick. I think the film is endlessly funny AND interesting. It certainly takes a large bite out of comedy in many different way. It’s a shame that the film didn’t quite do as well as they had wanted it to…however, I read one source that said it was one of the top 10 grossing films of the year…so go figure.
Duck Soup was the Marx Brothers most sustained bit of lunacy, and there are so many different kinds of comedy that one can find embedded within the film: slapstick, satire, silent-clown and mime, monologues, puns, pre-code shenanigans etc. There are as many different types of things to laugh at in this film that one can imagine…
Jon, how about if I issue my compliment for you in these terms: Pound for pound this is one of the best essays in this entire countdown. Not only is it instilled with love, (that opening back home decades ago is priceless) and a real serious adoration for one the twentieth century’s most iconic acts, but you obviously know ever last second of this film, and have apparently watched the film to the tune of Guiness World record magnitude. There is nothing greater about a film review than the author being in love with his subject and wearing that adoration on his chest without every compromising his scholarly grasp. You went out with a bang, and your name will forever be enconsed on the title page of the DUCK SOUP literature. Bravo!
Sam I really appreciate your support and your comments. I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the countdown. I’m grateful I got to do this one because it has meant alot to me over the years. I hope to introduce my girls to this film rather soon. Thanks my friend!
Fantastic posting Jon and i love the personal story. Easily the Marx Brothers greatest film, the only film with a truly first rate director. Dumont was essential to their humor, a perfect foil, You hit just about every high point, Thanks for doing such a wonderful job.
Thanks John! I know you love this film too. Good point about the director plug. McCarey was a fine comedic director. I wonder though how MUCH credit goes to him here? Hard to say. I could probably say that this might be the only film in the top 10 that we’re discussing, where the director takes a backseat to the actors or comedic troupe.
While the Marxes certainly influenced countless future comedians, Duck Soup’s influence arguably goes further. The war sequence with the constantly changing costumes and throwaway gags looks like Mad Magazine a good 20 years before Mad was invented — and I don’t know if comic strips were doing anything like that. But lots of Pre-Code comedies were pushing toward a kind of cartoonish style until the backlash (coincidentally?) gave more movies a more humane base. DS is a certain type of film, kin to Million Dollar Legs in its absurdist take on international politics, but here’s DS at #4 and Legs is nowhere to be found on the countdown. The reason is this film’s grounding in virtuoso character comedy as Jon has ably detailed. If anything, that’s only enhanced the film’s power over time, since the Marxes’ personas could be seen as prophetic of the senseless antics of Firefly’s real-world counterparts. But as a pure star vehicle DS can always be enjoyed without any thought of historic relevance.
Back in the early 80s a group of us teenagers decided to try out the wares of a new video store that had opened in the local mall. This place rented the players as well as the movies, so we rented a videodisc player and some discs. I don’t remember the films exactly — I think 2001 was one of them — but Jon’s remark about having to flip the disc definitely jogged some memories.
I think the Marx Brothers were remarkably versatile…and there is a cartoonish quality to it at times. They in a sense were their own “auteurs” though I think.
Yes that videodisc player was how I first watched movies. Amazing you could rent that machine though. It’s big and kind of clunky when thinking back on it.
Great piece! And thanks for the Dumont plug. I love that woman.
Yes she’s a saint. Amazing lady.
Excellent essay Jon. Your love for the film shines through and rightly so. This is an incredible comedic landmark film for many reasons which you have perfectly conveyed. I have a similar take on how one identifies different characters/comedic moments as one gets older and revisits the film. That is why the film offers so much on repeat viewings. Many scenes were imprinted in my head as a kid especially the mirror sequence. That scene was even copied in a Bollywood film with Amitabh Bachchan (MARD) so one can say that comedic routine was double stamped in my memory. Yet it still cracks me up….
Thanks Sachin! Yes I think the film does have lots to offer on repeated viewings and as one grows up. Interesting it was homaged in that Bollywood film. Of course Lucille Ball recreated that scene with Harpo when he appeared on her show that one time.
A great read, Jon. The nostalgia is wonderful. I particularly like your references to how the Marx Brothers helped mold today’s comedy. One of my favorite scenes is the musical number, The Country’s Going to War. It always keeps me in stitches and is a great example of well-staged musical comedy.
Pierre thank you and you are right I failed to touch on the musical comedy angle when I was listing off the different types of comedy in the film. It is a really funny number and probably their most inspired musical moment in any of their films. It’s a total hoot.
I never mentioned too Jon that I thought your posting of your childhood photo was class. Made the piece even rooted further in memories.
I second that emotion!
Haha. Yeah I was debating whether to include that or not. It was hard to pass up.
Off topic — but I’m still mourning the fact that Stanley Kramer’s “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World” didn’t make the top 100.
Pierre, I am with you on that sentiment as well. MAD MAD WORLD is too often undervalued because of these factors:
1.) It was directed by Stanley Kramer
2.) It is three hours long
3.) Some feel it is dated.
4.) It features all the major stars of the day, some in cameos.
5.) It’s slapstick is sometimes over the top.
But by George when it works, it WOKS. I find it to this day side-splitingly funny, and worthy of placement on this countdown. It represents a sub-genre that is too often looked down on, but in recent years it is finally being seen for the classic comedy that it is.
This brings to mind an interesting topic and I wonder whether we will discuss this when it’s over….such as 5 best comedies missing from this countdown.
For me it would be…
The Bad News Bears
Clerks
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Harold and Maude
The Match Factory Girl (or anything by Kaurismaki actually…completely shocked he didn’t get one film on here)
HAROLD AND MAUDE was one I voted for, and fully agree on Jon. Obviously THE BAD NEWS BEARS deserved to be included (wait a second, I think it might have been?), I am no fan of CLERKS or its director, but I respect many people are, and as far as THE MATCH FACTORY GIRL, yes it’s a great film, but the comedy is wiped out by the horrifying violent finale. Prior though there is some great satiric barbs.
Harold and Maude didn’t make the list! To quote Groucho, “the greatest robbery since Brinks!”
For me off the top of my head… Trafic, Sideways, Coup De Torchon, Cul De Sac, and Abbott And Costello meet Frankenstein should of made it.
Forgot if The Man In The White Suit, Lavender Hill Mob, and The Ladykillers made it, but those should also be mourned if they didn’t. Naked Gun would be another and Gosford Park as well. Borat plus The Illusionist (Chomet) are also missed.
WHITE SUIT, which I recently saw at the Film Forum in a restored print should absolutely have been included. A major blunder. LAVENDER for sure too, though GOSFORD is caught between genres. But fair enough. BORAT I would take a pass on myself.
I hear you Sam. I just chuckled to myself thinking about the sleeve of wizard bit. Borat is certainly a divider though. Regardless those 12 films were the omissions I could remember instantly. And yeah I could see why Gosford Park would be excluded, but if Fargo finds a spot then….
The ending of the Match Factory Girl I find deliciously funny and macabre. Maybe that’s just me. It is as dark a comedy as they come though.
Gosford Park I don’t find funny at all…Fargo I find hilarious if that says anything. The Lavender Hill Mob and Borat I voted for.
Here we go again — These are films I was most disappointed didn’t make it:
Tom Jones – delightful!
Designing Woman – Bacall’s best work and Gregory Peck very well cast
The Big Bird Cage – Pam Grief in this campy delight
Miracle on 34th Street – Santa, for pete’s sake!
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy – Will Ferrell’s best schtick
I Was a Male War Bridge – more of Cary Grant in drag + banter for days with Ann Sheridan
The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! – Alan Arkin and the rest are great!
Pierre , what a terrific list of additions! I love TOM JONES most, but MIRACLE is one of my favorite fantasies, and despite crossover appeal it is essentially a comedy that few acknowledge as such!!!!
I would add:
Ruggles of Red Gap
El Verdugo
The Creamator
Preety Poison
Desperate Living (Waters)
Micro-Phonies (Three Stooges)
Il Posto
Loves of a Blonde
A Fish Called Wanda
La Cage Aux Folles
Morgan: A Suitable Case For Treatment
My Cousin Vinny
If we were going to include guilty pleasures….I would include Dumb and Dumber and Caddyshack…. but that’s probably just me.
Sam, the only ones I’ve seen from your list are Pretty Poison, Wanda, La Cage, Morgan, and My Cousin Vinny. But they’re all wonderful though Pretty Poison is also Pretty Dark.
I for one have always felt Marisa Tomei was unjustly criticized because she won an Oscar for her work in Vinny – I thought it was a wonderful comic performance.
Jon, I know someone who’d agree with you on Caddyshack, and I really liked Dumb and Dumber.
Pierre I couldn’t agree with you more on Tomei. She really held the stage in that film!!!
Pierre….Dumb and Dumber for my generation is pretty high up there. Every time it comes on tv, I can jump right in and laugh my head no matter how often. There are so many great lines….many of my friends and I will quote it back to each other. I realize the movie is really stupid, but there’s something to be said for the lowbrow sometimes.
Stupid – done well – can be great. I mean, slapstick and screwball fit right in with stupid. To paraphrase, Lowbrow is Morebrow!
Agreed, Sam. Maybe there should be a post on the “sadly overlooked” comedies — including my sentimental fave, Lord Love a Duck!
I like the idea!!! And LORD does deserve a mention!!! Ha!
Do we have the listing of the “second 100?” meaning what was 101-200?
Jon, we do have a record of every ballot cast, so that tabulation is possible. But at this particular time it would be most time-consuming. We’ll see.
yeah not worth the effort then. I was just wondering if it was a grab and go kind of thing. No worries.
Jon – Forgive me for being so late to the party, but wanted to congratulate on a wonderful post – a great blend of personal reminisce and studied appreciation of the Marx Brothers’ role in shaping contemporary comedy.
I gather you are quite a bit younger than I am, so don’t know if you recall this, but there was a time when Chicago’s Channel 9 showed Marx Brothers movies all night every New Year’s Eve, and DUCK SOUP (along with A NIGHT AT THE OPERA) was always a happily anticipated highlight for me. Its anarchic sprit is so infectious. No wonder Woody Allen’s character in HANNAH AND HER SISTERS finds a reason to go on living in watching it.
Haha Pat thanks for the comment! I do remember…that would have been WGN, right? Before cable numbers? I think that’s right. I remember seeing them on there, of course I was already super familiar with all the works but did tune in on New Year’s eve when I was allowed to stay up later. You’re right the anarchy is a life force here.
Jon, I’m another one who’s late to the party – but must say this is a great essay, though I will admit with embarrassment that I’m not really a Marx Brothers fan. I do love the mirror sequence in ‘Duck Soup’ and Groucho’s one-liners are great, but I just don’t get the appeal of the lemonade vendor scenes or a lot of the rest. I keep hoping that next time round I’ll suddenly get it, though. The Grand Old Movies blog recently did a piece about this film and Zeppo in particular, and the blogger there suggested to me that I really need to see a Marx Brothers film on the big screen to get into them properly, and I hope to do that in future! Here’s a link to that piece:
Thanks Judy…..I suppose some of this could be hit and miss for people. I could understand that. For me I do enjoy the variety of the comedy presented in their films, but it might not work for everybody. I actually have never seen a Marx Brothers film on the big screen so I can’t say for sure what that would be like. I will check out that post. Thanks for sharing.
On top of everything else Jon, every post you have contributed has been exceptional, with this DUCK SOUP treasure surely on of the Top 10 of the entire countdown by any barometer of measurement. Happy Holidays my friend!