Episode search

Find a moment

Find a word or short phrase in this episode, then listen from that point.

Searches published transcripts; some episodes may not have one. Transcripts can contain errors. Public-feed searches use Podcast Robot, which records search words for up to 30 days.

Episode

Hix Nix Stix Pix - Duck Soup

Mike O'Meara, Robb Spewak, Josh Sroka

October 10, 2025 · 49 min

This week we dive into Duck Soup (1933), the Marx Brothers’ chaotic masterpiece of political satire, slapstick, and pure nonsense. From peanut stands to mirror gags, we’re unpacking the madness of Freedonia, laughing at the absurdity of war, and wondering if Groucho…

Listen to this episodeYour place is saved on this device.

0:00 / 49 min

Speed Download

YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts RSS Feed

Show notes

This week we dive into Duck Soup (1933), the Marx Brothers’ chaotic masterpiece of political satire, slapstick, and pure nonsense. From peanut stands to mirror gags, we’re unpacking the madness of Freedonia, laughing at the absurdity of war, and wondering if Groucho should really be trusted to run a country. Spoiler: probably not.

Whether you’re a Marx Brothers superfan or just ducking in for the first time, this one is a quack-up you won’t want to miss.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Quince and use my code TMOS for a great deal: https://www.quince.com
* Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code TMOS for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

TranscriptRead Transcript · EN

Search transcript

[SPEAKER_14]: Summer isn't just a season, it's a feeling.

[SPEAKER_14]: Zip lighting through a rain forest in Maui.

[SPEAKER_14]: Mountain biking in Sedona.

[SPEAKER_14]: And of course, driving off in a new Lexus during the cold and opportunity sales event.

[SPEAKER_14]: It offers on select luxury SUVs now through September 2nd, because the greatest measure of an automobile is how it makes you feel.

[SPEAKER_14]: Experience amazing at your Lexus dealer.

[SPEAKER_12]: Just one bite of the deliciously comforting flavor of easy-cooked and accurate smoked sausage is enough to take you all the way home.

[SPEAKER_12]: It's naturally hardwood smoke taste sends you away to those summer days with data to grill.

[SPEAKER_12]: Take a bite and see for yourself, accurate.

[SPEAKER_12]: Michael Mera, radio entertainment.

[SPEAKER_02]: Hicks, nicks, sticks, picks.

[SPEAKER_02]: A podcast about Rob's movies with your hosts.

[SPEAKER_02]: Rob's UAC and Josh Sroka.

[SPEAKER_02]: And now, ladies and gentlemen, let the show begin.

[SPEAKER_16]: Thank you, AI guy, and it feels good to be back in Black and White, Josh.

[SPEAKER_16]: I was uncomfortable last week, being in full color.

[SPEAKER_05]: I prefer the color, but the black and white works.

[SPEAKER_16]: It does.

[SPEAKER_16]: It's kind of our thing, and welcome everybody to Hicks Nick Sticks, Picks, a service of the Michael Marisho.

[SPEAKER_05]: Maybe, you know, if we move out of these like, once we finish, for like the 1930s, 40s movies, yeah, maybe we'll change the color of our logo, kind of brighten it up.

[SPEAKER_16]: You know, we don't have any sort of, you know, no orderation.

[SPEAKER_16]: So yeah, maybe, but for now, let's just go with black and white movies, black and white.

[SPEAKER_05]: If we get into like in all 80s movies, then we can go with some of the, or something.

[SPEAKER_16]: and I'll make, I'll have a big hair.

[SPEAKER_16]: I will go ahead and get big hair and a swatch and I can wear my vans.

[SPEAKER_16]: It'll be a great 80 show.

[SPEAKER_16]: But before we move on to today's program and I hope everyone watched the movie that we recommended last week, remember last week we were talking about the natural.

[SPEAKER_16]: Yes.

[SPEAKER_16]: And I got this wonderful letter.

[SPEAKER_16]: Oh, and here's, never, never too shy.

[SPEAKER_13]: Matters, oh, we get letters.

[SPEAKER_13]: We get your letters every day.

[SPEAKER_13]: Any chance.

[SPEAKER_16]: And I hope you're sending a long and home.

[SPEAKER_02]: You better find out what you've got to say.

[SPEAKER_02]: Oh boy!

[SPEAKER_16]: Mailman!

[SPEAKER_16]: So this is a letter about the natural that I got and I'll just take it from the top here because it's fascinating.

[SPEAKER_16]: Dear guys, I guess that's us.

[SPEAKER_16]: We'll be the guys.

[SPEAKER_16]: Thank you.

[SPEAKER_16]: Hope all is well.

[SPEAKER_16]: I am a big fan of the shoe of you and the show and I live in Buffalo.

[SPEAKER_16]: My life hasn't been too great the past year and I've been out of work since March, but you, my Josh have kept me sane while dealing with a lot of the crap in the past year.

[SPEAKER_16]: Well, that's the nicest thing you can say.

[SPEAKER_16]: Thank you.

[SPEAKER_16]: A comment you made during the natural last week literally made me spit out my drink.

[SPEAKER_16]: You were looking at a clip and you said, I could have been the bat boy.

[SPEAKER_16]: Yeah, I do too that I could have been the bad boy.

[SPEAKER_16]: Well, this guy says my claim to fame is that I was supposed to be the bad boy.

[SPEAKER_05]: What?

[SPEAKER_05]: Yeah, but on he's supposed to be the bad boy in the natural.

[SPEAKER_05]: This is great in the summer.

[SPEAKER_16]: In the summer of my freshman year of high school, the natural, which was filmed in Buffalo.

[SPEAKER_16]: We knew this was casting for the bad boy.

[SPEAKER_16]: My mother sent a picture to the casting director and I got called in to read for the park.

[SPEAKER_16]: I read for the casting director and after a short wait, she said that director Barry Levinson would like to meet me.

[SPEAKER_16]: Wow.

[SPEAKER_16]: And so on the way to the office, I even passed Robert Redford, who greeted me with a great big hello, spoke to Mr. Levinson for a while and he really liked me.

[SPEAKER_16]: He even wanted me to go and meet Robert Redford properly.

[SPEAKER_14]: Summer isn't just a season, it's a feeling. [SPEAKER_14]: Zip lighting through a rain forest in Maui. [SPEAKER_14]: Mountain biking in Sedona. [SPEAKER_14]: And of course, driving off in a new Lexus during the cold and opportunity sales event. [SPEAKER_14]: It offers on select luxury SUVs now through September 2nd, because the greatest measure of an automobile is how it makes you feel. [SPEAKER_14]: Experience amazing at your Lexus dealer. [SPEAKER_12]: Just one bite of the deliciously comforting flavor of easy-cooked and accurate smoked sausage is enough to take you all the way home. [SPEAKER_12]: It's naturally hardwood smoke taste sends you away to those summer days with data to grill. [SPEAKER_12]: Take a bite and see for yourself, accurate. [SPEAKER_12]: Michael Mera, radio entertainment. [SPEAKER_02]: Hicks, nicks, sticks, picks. [SPEAKER_02]: A podcast about Rob's movies with your hosts. [SPEAKER_02]: Rob's UAC and Josh Sroka. [SPEAKER_02]: And now, ladies and gentlemen, let the show begin. [SPEAKER_16]: Thank you, AI guy, and it feels good to be back in Black and White, Josh. [SPEAKER_16]: I was uncomfortable last week, being in full color. [SPEAKER_05]: I prefer the color, but the black and white works. [SPEAKER_16]: It does. [SPEAKER_16]: It's kind of our thing, and welcome everybody to Hicks Nick Sticks, Picks, a service of the Michael Marisho. [SPEAKER_05]: Maybe, you know, if we move out of these like, once we finish, for like the 1930s, 40s movies, yeah, maybe we'll change the color of our logo, kind of brighten it up. [SPEAKER_16]: You know, we don't have any sort of, you know, no orderation. [SPEAKER_16]: So yeah, maybe, but for now, let's just go with black and white movies, black and white. [SPEAKER_05]: If we get into like in all 80s movies, then we can go with some of the, or something. [SPEAKER_16]: and I'll make, I'll have a big hair. [SPEAKER_16]: I will go ahead and get big hair and a swatch and I can wear my vans. [SPEAKER_16]: It'll be a great 80 show. [SPEAKER_16]: But before we move on to today's program and I hope everyone watched the movie that we recommended last week, remember last week we were talking about the natural. [SPEAKER_16]: Yes. [SPEAKER_16]: And I got this wonderful letter. [SPEAKER_16]: Oh, and here's, never, never too shy. [SPEAKER_13]: Matters, oh, we get letters. [SPEAKER_13]: We get your letters every day. [SPEAKER_13]: Any chance. [SPEAKER_16]: And I hope you're sending a long and home. [SPEAKER_02]: You better find out what you've got to say. [SPEAKER_02]: Oh boy! [SPEAKER_16]: Mailman! [SPEAKER_16]: So this is a letter about the natural that I got and I'll just take it from the top here because it's fascinating. [SPEAKER_16]: Dear guys, I guess that's us. [SPEAKER_16]: We'll be the guys. [SPEAKER_16]: Thank you. [SPEAKER_16]: Hope all is well. [SPEAKER_16]: I am a big fan of the shoe of you and the show and I live in Buffalo. [SPEAKER_16]: My life hasn't been too great the past year and I've been out of work since March, but you, my Josh have kept me sane while dealing with a lot of the crap in the past year. [SPEAKER_16]: Well, that's the nicest thing you can say. [SPEAKER_16]: Thank you. [SPEAKER_16]: A comment you made during the natural last week literally made me spit out my drink. [SPEAKER_16]: You were looking at a clip and you said, I could have been the bat boy. [SPEAKER_16]: Yeah, I do too that I could have been the bad boy. [SPEAKER_16]: Well, this guy says my claim to fame is that I was supposed to be the bad boy. [SPEAKER_05]: What? [SPEAKER_05]: Yeah, but on he's supposed to be the bad boy in the natural. [SPEAKER_05]: This is great in the summer. [SPEAKER_16]: In the summer of my freshman year of high school, the natural, which was filmed in Buffalo. [SPEAKER_16]: We knew this was casting for the bad boy. [SPEAKER_16]: My mother sent a picture to the casting director and I got called in to read for the park. [SPEAKER_16]: I read for the casting director and after a short wait, she said that director Barry Levinson would like to meet me. [SPEAKER_16]: Wow. [SPEAKER_16]: And so on the way to the office, I even passed Robert Redford, who greeted me with a great big hello, spoke to Mr. Levinson for a while and he really liked me. [SPEAKER_16]: He even wanted me to go and meet Robert Redford properly. [SPEAKER_16]: So it sounds like he's got this. [SPEAKER_05]: Yeah, he's got it. [SPEAKER_16]: So it up. [SPEAKER_16]: While I was waiting to meet Bob Redford, someone else on the crew, interrupted Mr. Levinson, and said that there was another kid here for the Batboy role, and he was told to come down after being spotted at a Polish market on the east side of Buffalo. [SPEAKER_05]: Oh, no. [SPEAKER_16]: Yes, Barry was pretty perturbed, but finally said the other kid could come in, so we both read for the part with a director. [SPEAKER_16]: Well, I read for the part. [SPEAKER_16]: The other kid could hardly read. [SPEAKER_16]: We both left and a couple of days later, I was heartbroken to find out the other kid got the part. [SPEAKER_05]: Oh, so all based on looks. [SPEAKER_16]: I guess, but the fact that he can't read, well, you know, he wasn't much of a talker in the movie either. [SPEAKER_16]: But here's this is the great part because I think we discussed last week how much we love the character of the bad boy. [SPEAKER_16]: Yeah, you know, great character and well done this letter continues. [SPEAKER_16]: I later learned that the bad boy caused so much tension on the set that readford almost took a swing. [SPEAKER_05]: Oh, he had a head about the size of a basketball. [SPEAKER_16]: I never got another chance at acting, but telling this story makes me so happy many decades later. [SPEAKER_16]: Life isn't always easy, but I appreciate the entertainment you provide. [SPEAKER_16]: Sincerely, Dave Chick. [SPEAKER_16]: I can't imagine the guy that played in that way, making Redford take a swing at him. [SPEAKER_16]: But, you know, if you're totally not into the whole motion picture system and you can't read, maybe it was tough. [SPEAKER_16]: Right, but I don't know your lines. [SPEAKER_05]: it speaks well to the director though and that it comes off so well yeah and that listeners got the perfect like to that game of two lies and a truth yeah exactly try to guess which outrageous thing is true that's the perfect story for that [SPEAKER_16]: We're keeping a little later today than I wanted to because I was down at the Polish market hoping to be discovered for a little kid. [SPEAKER_16]: Yeah, no, I want to be the kid. [SPEAKER_16]: I want to be in it But that's not what we're doing today because today we take on a movie from 1933 Duck soup and I know Josh has never seen it one of my favorites. [SPEAKER_16]: It's a paramount picture It runs only 69 minutes which you had to appreciate [SPEAKER_16]: Yes. [SPEAKER_16]: Okay. [SPEAKER_16]: That's it. [SPEAKER_16]: Good. [SPEAKER_16]: It stars Groucho Harpo Chico and Zepo Marks with Margaret Dumont, Louis Calhurn and Edgar Kennedy directed by a very notable director, Leo McCary, who did going my way, the awful truth and a fair to remember, and it was written by... [SPEAKER_16]: Probably the Marks Brothers' best writers, Bert Colmar, Harry Ruby, Nat Perrin, and Arthur Sheekman, Gratcher's State in touch with all of them throughout his entire life. [SPEAKER_16]: He loved their work. [SPEAKER_16]: Now, before we start, I have to address one thing. [SPEAKER_16]: Chico Marks [SPEAKER_16]: his name should be pronounced chico that's how they did it but I my entire life have called him chico which I guess is what the Spanish pronunciation I have no problem with that okay so know this folks it's just me being me doing I call him that I'm not ignorant of what you should call him but that's how we're gonna go. [SPEAKER_05]: and I'll tell you I invited Kelly to watch this movie with me and and she said I don't think we can watch this movie anymore and I said why why and she said well isn't that who created Marxism? [SPEAKER_16]: Oh, no. [SPEAKER_05]: And I said, I don't know. [SPEAKER_05]: You've got the long mark mark. [SPEAKER_05]: Yeah, that's been worth it. [SPEAKER_05]: That doesn't do with that. [SPEAKER_16]: No, that's not worth it. [SPEAKER_05]: And then she still said no because it was a rob movie. [SPEAKER_16]: And it was black and white, but just a quick plot summation, really not as much going on here as in the natural. [SPEAKER_16]: So this won't take as long. [SPEAKER_16]: A fictional country named Fredonia is in financial crisis. [SPEAKER_16]: They've borrowed a lot of money from a rich dowager named Mrs. T's Dale. [SPEAKER_16]: She says she'll only lend them more money. [SPEAKER_16]: as the leader of Fredonia. [SPEAKER_16]: Rufus Firefly is played by Grautro Marks. [SPEAKER_16]: It's never explained why she loves him as a leader or what he has to do with him or exactly. [SPEAKER_16]: And it doesn't seem like they know each other that well because once he meets her, he starts hitting on her. [SPEAKER_16]: So there's a welcome reception for ambassador. [SPEAKER_16]: I'm sorry. [SPEAKER_16]: There's a welcome reception for Rufus T. Fireplay, and that's where we meet Ambassador Torrentino from the neighboring country of Sylvania. [SPEAKER_16]: And he is set on marrying Mrs. T's Dale. [SPEAKER_16]: So he and Liz a famous Fredonian dancer, Vera Markell, to seduce Firefly, clearing the way for him to woo Mrs. T's Dale. [SPEAKER_16]: uh... then we also need a groucher secretary or sorry firefly secretary bob rolin played by zepo marks and uh... he says firefly is never late and they do a whole production number about the fact that he's never late and then he's late uh... this is him arriving at his own reception and it's some of grouchers greatest greatest work as to one of the reception committee i extend the good wishes of every man woman child of redone and my best i'll take a card [SPEAKER_03]: Car, I'll leave you with the car. [SPEAKER_04]: You can keep it, I've got 51 left. [SPEAKER_03]: I'll be using as chairwoman of the reception committee. [SPEAKER_03]: I will come you with hope and all. [SPEAKER_04]: Is that so? [SPEAKER_04]: I'll let you stay open. [SPEAKER_03]: I've sponsored you on appointment because I think you do all the most able statesman and all afraid don't you? [SPEAKER_04]: Well, that covers a lot of ground. [SPEAKER_04]: Say you cover a lot of ground yourself. [SPEAKER_04]: You better be today. [SPEAKER_04]: You're going to tell you, Donald, put up an office building way of standing. [SPEAKER_04]: You can leave an attack, see? [SPEAKER_04]: If you can't get attacked, see? [SPEAKER_04]: You can leave in a hop. [SPEAKER_04]: If that's too soon, you can leave in a minute and a half. [SPEAKER_04]: You know you haven't stopped talking since I came here. [SPEAKER_04]: You must have been vaccinated with a photograph needle. [SPEAKER_16]: Now in the old days, a phonograph needle was something that you know you used to play a rap. [SPEAKER_16]: Just so you know. [SPEAKER_05]: I don't think so. [SPEAKER_05]: In that shot, he multiple times looks down at the floor. [SPEAKER_05]: I never noticed that. [SPEAKER_16]: Okay, that could very well be because it's down. [SPEAKER_16]: There's a lot of words there. [SPEAKER_16]: You have to admit. [SPEAKER_16]: So let's see. [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, you're excellency. [SPEAKER_03]: Pretty expecting you. [SPEAKER_03]: As Chair, woman of the Reception Committee, I extend the good wishes of every man, woman and child, if we don't yet. [SPEAKER_04]: Never mind this, don't take a card. [SPEAKER_04]: I'm still planning. [SPEAKER_04]: You can keep it, I've got 51 left. [SPEAKER_04]: Now I'll be using. [SPEAKER_03]: As Chair, woman of the Reception Committee, I welcome you with

Find a moment

Show notes

You Might Also Like

TMOS Classic: September 25, 2026

TMOS Classic: September 11, 2027

TMOS Classic: September 18, 2026