Duck soup was directed by leo mccarey, who also directed the awful truth 1937, love affair 1939, and the bells of st. Actress raquel torres born paula osterman in hermosillo, mexico made an auspicious film debut at age 19 in woody van dykes white shadows in the south seas 1928, mgms first film to have full synchronization for music, dialogue, and sound effects. Lobby cards glossy photos jukebox museum map for sale guest book links fun club. Aug 10, 2019 duck soup is a 1933 precode marx brothers comedy film written by bert kalmar and harry ruby, with additional dialogue by arthur sheekman and nat perrin, and directed by leo mccarey. Duck soup is indisputably the marx brothers greatest film. Latina love goddess raquel torres paula maria osterman, 19081987 poured unsuspected amounts of showmanship into her screen presence. Thus they hooked up with irving thalberg at mgm who knew how to gentrify the marx brothers into mainstream box office.
To aid his chicanery, trentino hires chicolini chico, a peanut salesman. Meanwhile, trentino schemes with the seductive latina singer vera marcal raquel torres, telling her to keep firefly out of the way while he tries to win mrs. In duck soup, max decides to cook a soup and in the middle of cooking he goes to the store to get a missing ingredient. Duck soup is a subversively madcapped onetwo punch and raised middle finger to the political economic structure that created the world war. Dear friends of book soup, thank you for your support and every purchase from our website. Humorously enough, the most common criticism leveled against the movie in america was that. Movies like duck soup are the building blocks of modern comedy and deserve to be seen. Torres was born in hermosillo to a german emigrant father and a mexican mother. Jackie urbanovic has written six books about a lovable duck named max and his household of animals he lives with. November 1908 august was a mexicanborn american film actress. It was prescient, it wasnt preachy, and the bad guys won. Groucho marx makes a policy move on raquel torres in duck soup. Behind the camera on duck soup turner classic movies.
Humor risk the cocoanuts animal crackers monkey business horse feathers duck soup a night at the opera a day at the races room service at the circus go west the big store a night in casablanca love happy a kiss in the dark too many kisses the house that shadows built hollywood. A pointed political satire, duck soup is the marx brothers funniest and most insane film. Duck soup directed by leo mccarey, starring leo mccarey, marx brothers, harpo marx, edgar kennedy, groucho marx, chico marx, raquel torres, louis calhern, zeppo marx, margaret dumont. Duck soup won its place in the national film registry in 1990. The film was produced with excellent graphic quality, best ear busting sound quality and best starring actors. Duck soup is well known as the classic satirical spin on the rising fascism. Directed by leo mccarey and written by bert kalmar and harry ruby. In fact, after the premiere of duck soup, zeppo cut himself from the comedy team altogether, citing a dissatisfaction with movie acting overall, and a weariness with being the butt of jokes regarding him as the. A surprise is the provocatively revealing dress worn by raquel torres, much better than anything worn by. Duck soup was voted one of the top 10 funniest films of all time and is a riot from beginning to end. Harpo and chico are commissioned as spies by grouchos political rival, the calculating trentino louis calhern. Those familiar with the actress know that she normally spoke in a thick accent.
Though it failed at the box office upon its release, the marx brothers 1933 feature duck soup is widely regarded as the comedy teams masterwork. Duck soup 1933 and a night at the opera 1935 this sun. Directed by leo mccarey and released in 1933, it was also their final film for paramount pictures. Considered by many to be the purest distillation of the marx brothers on film no piano playing or harp solos, duck soup, along with the awful truth, is probably mccareys most frequently viewed film today. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. While indeed born in hermosillo, mexico to a mexican mother, her father was a german immigrant and she was raised in the u. Hilarious humour from one of the best comedy teams of all time.
The sylvanian ambassador louis calhern attempts to woo away the rich widow by distracting firefly with a sexy latina dancer raquel torres, which leads to war between the two countries. However, both made a small contribution to pop culture, with torres memorably appearing opposite the marx brothers in duck soup, and king allegedly inspiring the creation of a cocktail known as the margarita the photo proved just to be as alluring in 1931 as it was today when it was used on. The new york post reported on 17 may that the marxes would make a new comedy for paramount, called duck soup. Her name change, including adoption of her mothers maiden surname, as well as speaking with a fake accent, was done to capitalize on, and conform to, early hollywoods idea of latin. Professor quincy wagstaff has just been installed as the new president of huxley college. Ann dvorak and not raquel torres on the beach ann dvorak. Released theatrically by paramount pictures on november 17, 1933, it starred the four marx brothers and also featured margaret dumont, louis calhern, raquel torres and edgar kennedy. Teasdale margaret dumont, freedonias principal benefactress, will lend the country 20 million dollars if the president withdraws and places the government in the hands of the fearless, progressive rufus t. Mar 17, 2014 two promo films for toby talbots book. November 11, 1908 august 10, 1987 was a mexicanborn american film actress.
Duck soup is a 1933 precode marx brothers comedy film written by bert kalmar and harry ruby, with additional dialogue by arthur sheekman and nat perrin, and directed by leo mccarey. Duck soup still has an edge today, because its the best film to remind us just how dangerous the marx brothers were. Her mother died while raquel was very young and the family moved to the united states, where she spent most of her time. Duck soup is a classic that had reaching influence. With groucho marx, harpo marx, chico marx, zeppo marx. To rescue the small country of freedonia from bankruptcy, mrs teasdale agrees to donate 20 million dollars if rufus t. Firefly is named presidentdictator of bankrupt freedonia and declares war on neighboring sylvania over the love of wealthy mrs. The book that made vaudeville famous, and for more.
Memorable for her run in with the marx brothers in 1933s duck soup, raquel torres. The comedy of the film has been used in cartoons and other movies so it worth seeking out if you are a fan of films. Duck soup is a fantasy book that is sure to capture the heart of early elementary children everywhere. Firefly, who is named presidentdictator of bankrupt freedonia on the insistence of wealthy mrs.
Music and lyrics including his excellency is due and the countrys going to war. Benito mussolini was under the impression that the entire film was a satire on fascist italy and had it banned there as a result. The story begins in the vaguely european country of freedonia, which is nearly bankrupt due to. She played a polynesian beauty in white shadows in the south seas 1928, a silent film shot in tahiti which was metrogoldwynmayers first. By turns madcap, scathingly satirical, and genially surreal, the film chronicles the war fever that engulfs the mythical nation of freedonia when groucho becomes its dictator. Top marx for one of the greatest comedies ever made movies dont get more sublimely subversive than this 1933 caper from the marx brothers. We appreciate all the purchases youve made and cant wait to see you when the time is right. The film wasisduck soup and it recently celebrated its 85th anniversary. It was torres to whom groucho delivered his classic line. While contemporaneous critics felt that duck soup did not quite meet the. Duck soup is a reasonable movie provided by paramount pictures, who have a description of the movie is rufus t. Duck soup is a classic marx brothers movie and one of their biggest successes. Pictures of raquel torres, picture raquel torres born paula marie osterman. Through grouchos ineptitude they end up at war with neighbouring sylvania.
The marx brothers fifth film and, in the eyes of the public, in tough competition with a night at the opera as their best. Dec 29, 2017 duck soup was directed by leo mccarey, who also directed the awful truth 1937, love affair 1939, and the bells of st. Groucho marx, chico marx, harpo marx, zeppo marx, margaret dumont, raquel torres, louis calhern, edgar kennedy. Trentino also hires hot dog and peanut vendor chicolini chico marx and fireflys goofy and mute chauffeur pinkie harpo marx to spy on firefly. Raquel torres edgar kennedy music by bert kalmer, harry ruby. Raquel torres to vamp firefly so that trentino can move in on mrs. The case for duck soup as the greatest monologue in movie. Groucho is hilarious, but noone is safe form his cruel verbal putdowns. Their next two films night at the opera and a day at the races are funny enough and made big money. Raquel torres, a mexicanborn actress who appeared in such early. Duck soup interestingly was the brothers first financial loss.
Mexaggerated latina love goddess raquel torres paula maria osterman, 19081987 poured unsuspected amounts of showmanship into her screen presence. Thanks to matthew coniam, author of several books about the marx. It was the last marx brothers film to feature zeppo, and the last of five marx brothers movies released by paramount pictures. Trentino also hires hot dog and peanut vendor chicolini chico marx and fireflys goofy and mute chauffeur pinkie harpo marx to. I believe the most cleverest scene to be the pretend mirror scene where chico copies groucho superbly well as if the mirror really was there. Margaret dumont, raquel torres, louis calhern, edmund breese, leonid kinskey, charles middleton, edgar kennedy. Released theatrically by paramount pictures on november 17, 1933, it starred the four marx brothers groucho, harpo, chico, and zeppo and also featured margaret dumont, louis calhern, raquel torres and edgar. Neither torres or king had much of a career in hollywood, with both opting for marriage over acting. Groucho marx, harpo marx, chico marx, zeppo marx, the marx brothers, margaret dumont, raquel torres, louis calhern, edmund breese, leonid. Margaret dumont, edward kennedy, louis calhern and raquel torres. Torres also appeared in the sea bat 1930, with charles bickford, lione raquel torres born paula marie osterman.
Home news biography movies today in marx history shop vaudeville radio tv quotes media files books. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. It was one of the first films to openly mock the rising fascism in europe. Fastmoving, irreverent, almost anarchic in style, duck soup is considered by many to be the marx brotherss greatest achievement, though it was not a hit upon its release. Screenwriters and songwriters bert kalmar and harry ruby wrote the song keep on doin what youre doin for zeppo marx and raquel torres to sing. Harpo marx, chico marx, zeppo marx, margaret dumont, raquel torres, louis calhern, edmund breese, leonid kinskey, charles. It is the last of the five films the brothers made for paramount pictures during their most creative and anarchic period. Chico may have a charming silver tongue, but hed have your valuables as soon as your back was turned. Duck soup 1933 classic marx brothers comedy as two small countries find themselves on the brink of war. County has approved curbside pickup for bookstores effective may 8th, we will continue to utilize ingram to fulfill orders for the time being. Raquel torres vintage portraits, vintage hollywood stars. Humor risk the cocoanuts animal crackers monkey business horse feathers duck soup a night at the opera a day at the races room service at the circus go west. That said he actively tried to avoid working with the team, having just had some ups and downs with producer samuel goldwyn while doing the eddie cantor vehicle the kid from spain 1932.
Overview of duck soup, 1933, directed by leo mccarey, with groucho marx, harpo marx, chico marx, at turner classic movies. In this 1933 marx brothers film, the mythical country of freedonia is broke and on the verge of revolution. See more ideas about old hollywood, vintage beauty and hollywood. Torres is probably best remembered today for her appearance as vera marcal in the marx brothers film duck soup 1933. Her film career lasted until 1934 when she married a successful businessman and retired. Firefly, the hilarious dictator of mythical freedonia.
Duck soup is a 1933 precode marx brothers comedy film written by bert kalmar and harry ruby, with additional dialogue by arthur sheekman and. It is set in the mythical kingdom of freedonia where groucho is installed as president, chico his secretary of war and harpo is a spy and peanut seller. Her sister was actress renee torres a halfgerman halfmexican woman born in hermosillo, mexico, she grew up in hollywood. This is real comedy courtesy of director leo mccarey, the credited screenwriters bert kalmar, harry ruby, arthur sheekman and nat perrin and four marx brothers, with invaluable support from margaret dumont, edward kennedy, louis calhern and raquel torres. Latina love goddess raquel torres paula maria osterman. Released theatrically by paramount pictures on november 17, 1933, it starred the four marx brothers groucho, harpo, chico, and zeppo and also featured. Three days later the new york sun reported that duck soup would start filming in june. Groucho marx, harpo marx, chico marx, zeppo marx, the marx brothers, margaret dumont, raquel torres, louis calhern, edmund. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search.
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