Duck Soup
Saturday, July 1
“The Marx Brothers' best movie.“ —Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
“Duck Soup is, without doubt, the distillation of everything that the Marx Brothers claimed as their own.“ —Jaime Russell, BBC.com
4K Restoration
The film revolves around the fictional country of Freedonia and its new leader, Rufus T. Firefly (played by Groucho Marx), who is appointed as the President after a sudden change in government.
Firefly's unconventional methods of governing soon cause chaos and confusion in Freedonia, and he becomes the target of a neighboring country's aggressive intentions. A wealthy woman named Mrs. Teasdale (played by Margaret Dumont) comes to Firefly's aid and agrees to fund the country's defense efforts. However, things only get worse when two spies from the neighboring country try to infiltrate Freedonia's government.
The movie is full of Marx Brothers' signature zany humor, witty one-liners, and slapstick comedy. It is a timeless classic that lampoons politics, power, and war in a way that is still relevant today. Duck Soup has been recognized as one of the funniest movies ever made and a masterpiece of American comedy filmmaking.
Join us this summer for The Absurdity of Life: A Screwball Comedy Series, a delightful selection of timeless movie classics, guaranteed to transport you to a bygone era filled with charm, romance, and laughter. Stay after each screening and join fellow audience members for an informal chat to discuss the movies.
Check out the rest of our The Absurdity of Life: A Screwball Comedy Series program!