Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that the Marx Brothers are the epitome of anarchy in this movie. They're rude, insulting, pranksterish, and loyal to nobody. Later, tamer features usually would cast them in some good-guy roles, their destructive mayhem having a secret agenda to help out a pretty girl in distress or the like, but not in this movie. There is some dated and tame sexual innuendo. There are explosions, gunfire, and mortar shells during a comical battle sequence. There is slapstick roughhousing throughout by Chico and Harpo -- characters are often kicked in the rear end. Parents who think the Three Stooges are a bad influence may feel the same applies here. Also, the opening-credit image of live ducks floating in a pot with a fire under it is a little disturbing.

Sexual Content

Some mild innuendo from Groucho. Various young women, one in lingerie, are chased around by Harpo.

Violence

Explosions, gunfire, and mortar shells during a comical battle sequence. Slapstick roughhousing throughout by Chico and Harpo -- characters are often kicked in the rear end.

Language

Some dated and tame sexual innuendo. In the middle of a series of quips, Groucho Marx says, "My father was headstrong. My mother was armstrong. The Armstrongs met the Headstrongs...and that's how darkies were born!" Although the reference in the punch line is to a song satirizing the African-American experience (a song performed by Paul Robeson, among others), it's easy enough to take this out of context and interpret it as racist.

Social Behavior

As a classic slapstick comedy satirizing government, espionage, and warfare, there isn't much in the way of positive messages, except that "laughter is the best way to get through difficult times."

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Unsurprisingly, in a movie starring Groucho Marx, there is frequent cigar smoking.