Duck Soup

[Zens7s]

In my quest to watch the classics I finally sat down and did "Duck Soup". I wasn't exactly looking forward to it, because the small skits I had seen from the Marx brothers did nothing for me.

I was suprised that I got a kick out of the scenes between Mrs. Teasdale and Groucho. However, I STILL do not understand why people think Harpo is funny. Granted, I know that humor has changed and they were forerunners to a physical comedy style in film. However, people still seem to think he's hilarious and I just don't get it.

The film really had the tiniest thread of a plot, only constructed to string together the chaotic scenes with dancing, singing, miming, hat tricks, and one-liners.

I will confess, I was happy it was only 70 min. long.

Time for the floggin!

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA01/Cober/marx/look.jpg

[Robbo_the_Hood]

The Marx Brothers really didn't have too much plot going on in any of their films. That's pretty much because they were translating their vaudeville act to the screen. And in vaudeville, one had to be able to sing, dance, tell a joke and play an instrument. The movies are pretty dated with their random musical numbers, but that was the style of vaudeville.

Harpo wasn't necessarily my favorite, but like Buckwheat on the Little Rascals, Harpo was the only character who knew exactly what was going on in every situation. While regulated to mainly sight gags , Harpo could be the most expressive of the Marx bros, because he had to be. Horsefeathers is still my favorite movie of theirs. Mainly because it's the first one I saw, but Harpo's seranade on the harp is fantastic. But again, it is kind of randomly thrown in there.

[jjcourtright]

In my quest to watch the classics I finally sat down and did "Duck Soup". I wasn't exactly looking forward to it, because the small skits I had seen from the Marx brothers did nothing for me.

I was suprised that I got a kick out of the scenes between Mrs. Teasdale and Groucho. However, I STILL do not understand why people think Harpo is funny. Granted, I know that humor has changed and they were forerunners to a physical comedy style in film. However, people still seem to think he's hilarious and I just don't get it.

The film really had the tiniest thread of a plot, only constructed to string together the chaotic scenes with dancing, singing, miming, hat tricks, and one-liners.

I will confess, I was happy it was only 70 min. long.

Time for the floggin!

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA01/Cober/marx/look.jpgIt's about time that you got around to seeing it. But since you didn't enjoy it, your opinions mean nothing to me for the next 10 minutes.

When you were out here I forgot to make you watch Dr. Strangelove. Next time...

[karmattack]

Hey! There's no fighting in the war room!

[phit_demon]

In my quest to watch the classics I finally sat down and did "Duck Soup". I wasn't exactly looking forward to it, because the small skits I had seen from the Marx brothers did nothing for me.

I was suprised that I got a kick out of the scenes between Mrs. Teasdale and Groucho. However, I STILL do not understand why people think Harpo is funny. Granted, I know that humor has changed and they were forerunners to a physical comedy style in film. However, people still seem to think he's hilarious and I just don't get it.

The film really had the tiniest thread of a plot, only constructed to string together the chaotic scenes with dancing, singing, miming, hat tricks, and one-liners.

I will confess, I was happy it was only 70 min. long.

Time for the floggin!
"Pick a card"

"What do I do with it?"

"Keep it, I've got 51 more."


And with that, an obsession was born.
I adore Duck Soup, and pretty much everything the Marx Brothers have commited to film.
I can see what you mean about Harpo, but I personally love him.
I still get a kick every time he cuts a tie in half, or manages to link his leg on a strangers arm, or steal random objects for no reason other than being mischievous. The bit with the lemonade vendor cracks me up, what with the switching of hats an' all.
I generally do find it hard to laugh at old comedy, cos like you said, humour has changed and sometimes they can seem dated, but Groucho, Chico and Harpo really tickle me.

Oh, and Rufus T. Firefly is my favourite movie name ever!

[JamesW]

I adore Duck Soup, and pretty much everything the Marx Brothers have commited to film.
I can see what you mean about Harpo, but I personally love him.
I still get a kick every time he cuts a tie in half, or manages to link his leg on a strangers arm, or steal random objects for no reason other than being mischievous.


I agree, and I also think the Marx brothers actually hold up better than the stooges or abbot and costello or any of those old timey comedy teams.

[Zens7s]

I will agree that Groucho had some great one-liners that were still fresh.