Regie:
Leo McCareyKamera:
Henry SharpMusik:
John LeipoldBesetzung:
Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont, Raquel Torres, Louis Calhern, Edmund Breese, Charles Middleton, Edgar Kennedy (mehr)Inhalte(1)
Diese pointierte politische Satire ist zugleich der amüsanteste und abgedrehteste Film der Marx Brothers. Groucho spielt Rufus T. Firefly, den verrückten Diktator des Phantasiestaates Freedonia. Derweil werden Harpo und Chico von Grouchos politischem Rivalen, dem hinterhältigen Trentino, als Spione angeheuert. Der Film enthält viele klassische Marx Brothers-Sequenzen: den Limonadenstand, die Paul Revere-Parodie, die Nummer “We’re Going to War” (eine gelungene Persiflage auf die Musicals der Dreißigerjahre), die unvergessliche Spiegelszene und zum Abschluss die große Schlacht, die immer wieder kopiert worden ist, sei es von Woody Allen oder vom Mad-Magazin. (Verleiher-Text)
(mehr)Kritiken (3)
Duck Soup was my first and last encounter with the work of the Marx brothers. If this film can be considered a showcase of their film productions, which it really is given the direction and evident attempt at an alternative style of cinematic language, then I have to say that the style of humor that was very popular at that time is simply not for me, as it seems cheap and pandering. Overall impression: 40%.
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There’s the occasional weak gag and a few scenes are unnecessarily long to satisfy the Marx Brothers' appetite for grotesque silent bickering, but in the flood of great comedic ideas and brilliant wisecracks, these flaws disappear just fine. The pace is wonderfully relentless and the crazy humour is not only functional on a satirical level, but simply positively infectious and original. Perhaps the most perfect (though not flawless) case of combining silent slapstick with a cannonade of witty dialogue and musical numbers. Watch it.
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An incredible mix of individual gags that are perfectly connected, complement each other, and escalate. This is an incredibly complex performance that combines spoken and situational humor, along with excellent musical numbers and, ultimately, a brilliantly written story. "Duck Soup" is a beautiful example of a sound-era grotesque comedy.
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