What it’s about
It seems there's only one man who can lead the country of Freedonia away from fiscal ruin and a disastrous war with neighboring Sylvania: Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx). Surely he'd save the day if it weren't for the crazy machinations of Chicolini (Chico) and Pinky (Harpo), who constantly spoil his plans. But what precisely are his plans? They seem to involve rich widow Mrs. Teasdale (Dumont), whose large fortune could certainly ease the pressure in his chaotic administration.
Why we love it
Considered by many to be the Marx Brothers' greatest film, “Duck Soup” remains essential viewing for all fans of comedy and classic cinema. An unmitigated delight for grown-ups, even if your children are too young to catch all the rapid-fire dialogue, they're sure to enjoy all the physical humor and prevailing sense of anarchy. On one level a biting denunciation of war and fascism, the movie also stands as a masterpiece of absurdist comedy. “Hail! Hail! Freedonia!” — and “Duck Soup,” for that matter.