Two years ago today, in honor of our nation's independence, we screened the Marx Brothers' manic masterpiece, Duck Soup. It was the second film Metro Classics ever ran and was our first talkie (Murnau's Sunrise was our inaugural title). It was also the only time we have run a film three times in one evening, although that 10:00 show ended up being largely superfluous since everyone was elsewhere watching the fireworks. Mike wore Harpo's hat, nobody got any work done and a great time was had by all.
Some little known facts regarding this comedy classic:
Sean (seen here at last year's freestyle rap championship in NYC) hails Duck Soup as the second best film of the 1930s.
Mike places it at the very top of the greatest comedies ever created, followed by This Is Spinal Tap and the Big Lebowski.
Former Classics projectionist Pete (pictured below with Mike on the mezzanine of the Metro) considers Duck Soup simply the greatest film of all time.
For those of you who wonder how a film that's eighty years old can achieve so many prestigious accolades I usher you to NPR's website where they posted a very timely assessment of the film's worth on the onset of this recession.
Hail Freedonia and have a happy 4th of July!
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