Duck Soup (movie)

Last modified: 2006-01-21 by marc pasquin
Keywords: duck soup | movies | marx brothers | fredonia | sylvania |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

• Introduction
• Freedonia
• Sylvania

• Fictional flags
• Fictional Flags in movies

In the Marx brothers 1933 movie, "Duck Soup", Groucho plays Rufus T. Firefly, leader of Freedonia.
Albert S Kirsch, 19 april 2003

The movie shows the warring nations of Freedonia and Sylvania.
James Dignan, 05 jan 2005

by James Dignan, 5 january 2005

I googled and found a number of "imagi-nations" by that name, but the only mention of the flag of the original Freedonia said it had an "F" on it. Does anyone know anything more?
Albert S Kirsch, 19 april 2003

I do have the movie and I try produce the image of the flag. Of course I wouldn't know the colour of it, because it's a black and white film.
Wendy Elizabeth Houle, 19 april 2003

"The film opens with the flag of Freedonia (emblazoned with an "F") flying over the small village."

Any guesses at the colour would be simply that, guesses, but by the shades of grey I'd say that Freedonia's flag is probably blue or red with a gold star and green leaves.
James Dignan, 5 january 2005

Freedonia was the "Land of the Spree and Home of the Knave", though I don't know if that line is in the movie.
Albert S Kirsch, 5 january 2005

There was an actual Fredonia (with flag) in Texas when it was part of Mexico.
Tom Green, 5 january 2005

There is also a city of Fredonia in the western part of New York State.
Ron Lahav, 6 january 2005

Actually it is officially a Village, not a City. There are also at least 2 other municipalities named Fredonia- in Kansas and Wisconsin- and possibly more, but I do not know if any of them have a flag.
Ned Smith, 6 january 2005

by James Dignan, 5 january 2005

"in neighboring Sylvania (introduced with a waving flag with an emblazoned "S")"

Any guesses at the colour would be simply that, guesses, but by the shades of grey I'd say that Sylvania's is probably yellow and black.
James Dignan, 5 january 2005

It should be noted that Sylvania is (was?) the name of an electrical products company. I have no doubt the choice was deliberate.
Albert S Kirsch, 5 january 2005

Sylvania was also the first suggested name for Pennsylvania.
Elias Granqvist, 5 january 2005