Duck Soup

Duck Soup is playing at the Regal Metropolitan on Monday, September 14. It's a pre-Code Marx Brothers comedy, the last one the brothers made under Paramount Pictures and Zeppo's farewell to the group. If you've never seen it, it's a good place to start with their brand of chaos.

The movie follows the president of the fictitious country Freedonia, Rufus T. Firefly, played by Groucho. He gets into a tiff with the Sylvanian ambassador, and that small spat spirals into out-and-out war. Zeppo plays Firefly's secretary, while Chico and Harpo are Sylvanian spies who blunder their secret mission. It's the kind of fast-talking, slapstick comedy the brothers were known for, and seeing it on a big screen is the way it was meant to be watched.

For those who aren't familiar with the Marx Brothers, they were a family act that built their fame on vaudeville before moving into film. Groucho was the fast-talking center, with Chico and Harpo adding the physical comedy and musical interludes. This was one of their most political films, taking aim at diplomacy and government with the same irreverence they brought to everything else. It's also a bit of a milestone for the family, as it marks the end of their run at Paramount and Zeppo's final appearance with the group.

The screening is at the Regal Metropolitan, located at 901 Little Texas Lane in Austin South. Tickets are $7.99.