The Classic: Duck Soup (1933)
Director: Leo McCary
Starring: Groucho, Harpo, Chico, & Zeppo Marx

The Excuse: I didn’t pay any attention to black & white comedies until I took a Silent Film Comedies class at UCSB. The focus was, of course, the silent clowns. For some reason, after watching a great deal of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, and Harold Lloyd, I didn’t graduate on to Laurel & Hardy and the Marx Brothers. Well, now I’m making those first steps into the world of 1930s comedy.

The Review:
Did I miss something? Perhaps my expectations screwed me over. I had always imagined the Marx Brothers would be somewhere between Chaplin and Keaton’s balletic and stylised physical comedy, and Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor’s chemistry and facial expressions. After watching Duck Soup, I can’t help but conclude the same thing that many film historians have deduced over the years. Physical comedy died with the silent era. Expecting balletic comedy and ending up with prop humour, Duck Soup was a disappointment.

While I feel like I must be alone in this admission, upon reading the Wikipedia page, I found that Duck Soup was “a box office disappointment, although it was not a ‘flop’ as is sometimes reported.” While this is no measure of quality, perhaps Duck Soup wasn’t the best place to start. It seems that criticism about this film evolved, and as opinion became increasingly positive, culminated into the definitions of “classic” and “Marx Brothers masterpiece” that are ubiquitous today.

For those of you who haven’t seen it or need a refresher, Duck Soup is about the fictional nation of Freedonia. Before agreeing to donate more money to the bankrupt nation, the wealthy Mrs Teasdale insists upon the appointment of Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx). Meanwhile, Trentino, ambassador of rival nation Sylvania, hatches a plan to woo Mrs Teasdale and invade Freedonia. Chicolini and Pinky (Chico & Harpo Marx) attempt to infiltrate the government and generally cause a lot of mayhem. In a nutshell, all of the double-crossing and general confusion result in a war between Freedonia and Sylvania.

My negativity does not go to say that this is a bad film in its entirety. It had some redeeming moments, like the  rivalry between Pinky and the lemonade merchant, and the timeless mirror scene. Overall, though… I just Don’t Get It.

Favourite Quote: 
Bob: Your Excellency, you’re shooting your own men!
Rufus T. Firefly: Here’s five dollars. Keep it under your hat. Wait, never mind. I’ll keep it under my hat.

The Verdict: “Well, what can I say? Everybody is different. It doesn’t make you a bad person.” — My Dad. I fear that what this really means is, “Nicola, you’re crazy, and entirely alone in this whacky opinion. But you’re my daughter, so I won’t hold it against you.” Thanks, Dad.

Further Viewing for Experts:

The mirror scene. What else?


[Image from LoveFilm website.]

The Classic: Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Director: Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen
Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds

The Excuse: Would you believe me if I said that I didn’t realise Singin’ in the Rain was a classic? Everyone knows the song, and that iconic scene (don’t make me describe it!); but how often does anyone actually recommend this film? If you’re me, once, about 6 months ago. Graham is responsible for this one. I also vied to see it at the cinema last month (it was January’s Monday Classic) — but sadly I discovered it had been playing after it had already finished.

The Review:
So the wonderful folk at LoveFilm have finally bestowed upon me the technicolour classic Singin’ in the Rain… and good gosh is it cheerful! They sure don’t make them like this anymore. Just think, the early 1950s audience got this, and we get… a remake of Fame?! Ludicrous.

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t know the story until now, so let’s begin there. Set right on the cusp of the sound era, the film takes place in Hollywood. The protagonist, Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) is  the industry’s latest heartthrob – the biggest new movie star who plays opposite lead starlet Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) in all the big pictures.  Donald O’Conner is Cosmo, Don’s best friend and would-be double act partner. With the coming of sound, Lina’s terrible voice and inability to work under the new conditions throw their latest picture into turmoil. To save the film, Cosmo hatches a plan to use Don’s girlfriend Kathy’s (Debbie Reynolds) voice dubbed over Lina’s.  As with any musical, pepper in some catchy numbers and you’ve got a hit.

If you’re one of those people who dislike characters bursting into song and miraculously performing identical choreography, this film is not for you. If that’s your thing, though, they’ve struck gold. Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor’s performances are unrivalled: never missing a beat, their steps perfectly in sync. If you could stick them in 1906 you’d have had the greatest vaudeville show imaginable. It’s colourful, it’s quick, and it’s plain good fun. It does slow a little in the middle – I can’t say I was a fan of the film-within-the-film musical number – but the rest of the songs make up for the lag.

When you’re watching it, take a look at the dancer in Gotta Dance. Is it just me or she the absolute spitting image of Elizabeth Banks?

The Verdict:
I already knew what I was missing with the musical numbers, having watched them online over and over again. Put it all together, though, and you’ve got the perfect rainy day movie. Classic!

Favourite Quote: “I cyaaan’t staaan’ ‘im!”

Further Viewing for Experts: The obvious choice here was Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s opening monologue on SNL, where he recreated the Make ‘Em Laugh scene on set. Unfortunately, NBC have their evil copyright spies all over YouTube, and there is n’ery a clip of it to be found. Wump wump!

[Image from LoveFilm website.]