''Duck Soup'' is a 1927 American
silent comedy
Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium.
Origins
Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...
short film
A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film o ...
starring
Stan Laurel
Stan Laurel ( ; born Arthur Stanley Jefferson; 16 June 1890 – 23 February 1965) was an English comic actor, director and writer who was in the comedy double act, duo Laurel and Hardy. He appeared with his comedy partner Oliver Hardy in 107 sh ...
and
Oliver Hardy
Oliver Norvell Hardy (born Norvell Hardy; January 18, 1892 – August 7, 1957) was an American comic actor and one half of Laurel and Hardy, the double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted from 1926 to 1957. He appeared with his ...
prior to their official billing as the duo
Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy were a British-American double act, comedy duo during the early Classical Hollywood cinema, Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957) ...
.
Plot
Seeking refuge from a contingent of forest rangers engaged in the recruitment of vagrants for firefighting duties, Laurel and Hardy seek sanctuary within an uninhabited mansion. Exploiting the absence of the owner, who is on vacation, and the absence of household staff, Hardy assumes the role of the proprietor, proffering the property for rent to an English couple.
Engaging Laurel in the ruse, he enlists him to impersonate a maid. However, their attempt at subterfuge is foiled when the rightful owner unexpectedly returns, exposing their deception to the prospective tenants. Subsequently, Laurel and Hardy are compelled to evade capture once more, but are ultimately apprehended by the forest rangers and compelled to participate in firefighting efforts to mitigate wildfires.
Cast
Production notes
''Duck Soup'' underwent a near half-century period of being classified as a
lost film
A lost film is a feature film, feature or short film in which the original negative or copies are not known to exist in any studio archive, private collection, or public archive. Films can be wholly or partially lost for a number of reasons. ...
until a print resurfaced in 1974. Prior to its rediscovery, film scholars believed that Laurel and Hardy shared minimal screen time, if any. However, upon inspection, it became evident that they featured as a comedic duo throughout the entirety of the film, albeit in rudimentary tramp costumes. Hardy's portrayal included an unshaven chin, a monocle, and a top hat. The print unearthed in 1974 was a cropped 9.5mm re-release with French intertitles replacing the originals. Subsequently, a pristine full aperture 35mm nitrate print was discovered at the BFI National Archive, presumably from a British re-release. A restored version of the film, featuring a theater organ soundtrack accompaniment, was broadcast on the
Movies!
Movies! (also known as simply M!) is an American free-to-air television network, owned by Popcorn Entertainment, LLC, a joint venture between Weigel Broadcasting and the Fox Television Stations subsidiary of Fox Corporation. The network's pr ...
channel in the U.S. on December 26, 2020.
Directed by Fred Guiol, the film's significance was largely attributed to Leo McCarey, the supervising director, who recognized Laurel and Hardy's potential as a comedic pairing. McCarey would later employ the same title for the renowned
Marx Brothers
The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act known for their anarchic humor, rapid-fire wordplay, and visual gags. They achieved success in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in 14 motion pictures. The core group consisted of brothers Chi ...
film, ''
Duck Soup'' (1933), which he directed for
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...
. The sketch that inspired the film was penned by Stan Laurel's father, Arthur J. Jefferson.
''Duck Soup'' was remade as ''
Another Fine Mess'' (1930).
Filming locations used include the 400, 500 and 600 block of South Grand Avenue and Third Street at South Grand Avenue in Los Angeles.
References
Further reading
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External links
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{{Fred Guiol
1927 films
1927 comedy films
1920s American films
1920s English-language films
1920s rediscovered films
American black-and-white films
Articles containing video clips
Films directed by Fred Guiol
Films with screenplays by H. M. Walker
Laurel and Hardy (film series)
Rediscovered American films
Silent American comedy short films
Surviving American silent films