Marx Brothers Special Double Feature To Roll At Newtown Theatre

NEWTOWN, PA — The historic Newtown Theatre will present a Marx Brothers double feature, screening “Duck Soup” (1933) and “A Night at the Opera” (1935) on Saturday, January 31 at 10 a.m. Each film will be introduced by Newtown Movie Club host Joe Amodei, who will share short Hollywood trivia before each film.

The Marx Brothers — Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo — redefined screen comedy with their blend of razor-sharp wit, physical comedy and gleeful disrespect for authority. Their films broke from conventional storytelling, favoring verbal assaults, visual gags and surreal logic that influenced generations of comedians and filmmakers.

In “Duck Soup” (run time 1:10), the country of Freedonia is in the middle of a financial crisis and on the brink of revolution. To gain a bailout from the wealthy Mrs. Teasdale, the government appoints Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho) as its president. Firefly and his cohorts Pinky (Harpo) and Chicolini (Chico) stumble their way into an absurd war with a neighboring country. The film is a relentless mockery of authority, patriotism and diplomacy.

“A Night at the Opera” (run time 1:31) is set against the backdrop of the highbrow opera world with the Marx Brothers infiltrating a snobbish cultural scene to help two young lovers succeed. Disguises, scams, and some of the brothers’ most famous routines — including the stateroom scene — turn elite society upside down. The film balances anarchic comedy with a more traditional romantic storyline.

Tickets for this special double-feature event are available at TheNewtownTheatre.com for $17 per person or $12 for theatre members.