NONSENSE DE LUXE

Evening Star, Issue 21722, 17 May 1934, Page 6

NONSENSE DE LUXE

* DUCK SOUP 1 A SAVOURY OFFERING If your mind is robust enough to stand the strain of imagining a Ruritanian drama suffering from delirium tremens yon will be able to form some idea of the character of ‘ Duck Soup,’ in which the Marx brothers will be seen at the Empire to-morrow. There is no standard oil stage or screen by which Grouchb, Chico, and Harpo may lip measured. In ‘ Duck Soup ’ Freedonia is a Balkan State financed by Mrs Teesdale, an American millionairess. She insists, as a condition of a loan, on having Rufus Firefly (Groucho) appointed chancellor. The neighbouring State of Svlvania is plotting to subjugate Freedonia. Against a background of gorgeous ceremonial, underground diplomacy, and fantastic warfare, the three keep up an incessant rapid fire of amazing “wisecracks” and extravagant nonsense. After the first few hundred feet the film becomes indescribable, and beyond the reach of comment. It is just a Marxian welter of hilarious imbecility. There is one scene where Harpo and Chico both disguise themselves as Groucho, with devastating results. There is no rhynie or reason about the film-—there never is in a Marx film—but gives you the time of your life at ‘ Duck Soup.’ It is called ‘ Duck Soup ’ because it has not the remotest bearing on either ducks or soup, or anything else under the sun. ‘Pig’s Wliistles ’ would be just as informative and appropriate.