Friday, November 17, 1933

We didn't get to ride this morning. I went swimming. I bought my lunch. Stayed at Mrs. Raifert's all night.

Duck Soup
First released theatrically by Paramount Pictures on November 17, 1933

Duck Soup is a 1933 Marx Brothers anarchic comedy film written by Bert Kalmar
and Harry Ruby, with additional dialogue by Arthur Sheekman and Nat Perrin, and
directed by Leo McCarey. It starred what were then billed as the "Four Marx Brothers"
(Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo) and also featured Margaret Dumont, Raquel Torres,
Louis Calhern and Edgar Kennedy. Duck Soup was the last Marx Brothers film to feature
 Zeppo, and the last of five Marx Brothers movies released by Paramount.

Sunday, September 24, 1933

Mother and I went to Sunday School and church. We had a watermelon. Went over to Raiferts'.

"Duck Soup"

Plot Summary: Rufus T. Firefly is named president/dictator of bankrupt Freedonia

and declares war on neighboring Sylvania over the love of wealthy Mrs. Teasdale.

The Marx Brothers' greatest and funniest masterpiece, the classic comedy Duck Soup (1933)

 is a short, but brilliant satire and lampooning of blundering dictatorial leaders, Fascism and

authoritarian government. The film, produced by Herman Mankiewicz, was prepared

during the crisis period of the Depression. Some of its clever gags and routines were taken from

 Groucho's and Chico's early 1930s radio show Flywheel, Shyster & Flywheel. Working titles

for the film included Oo La La, Firecrackers, Grasshoppers, and Cracked Ice. 

NOTE: Happy Birthday, Shane!