Groucho Marx played the role of Prime Minister Rufus T. Firefly in which 1933 comedy with an animal title?

In the 1933 classic, Rufus T. Firefly leads the bankrupt nation of Freedonia. This chaotic political satire stars Groucho Marx in the lead role, with his brothers Harpo and Chico playing inept spies from the rival country of Sylvania. The film is a whirlwind of slapstick, musical numbers, and rapid-fire puns that lampoon the absurdity of diplomacy, government, and war. It features some of the most famous sequences in comedy history, including the legendary "mirror scene" where Harpo, disguised as Firefly, perfectly mimics Groucho's every move.

Interestingly, the film was a box-office disappointment upon its release. Audiences during the Great Depression were not receptive to its cynical take on patriotism and power, and it was the last film the Marx Brothers made for Paramount Pictures. Its anti-authoritarian message was so potent that it was reportedly banned in Italy by Benito Mussolini, who took the satirical portrayal of a dictator as a personal insult.

Over time, however, the film's reputation was completely re-evaluated. Critics and film scholars began to recognize it as a masterpiece of anarchic comedy and a brilliant anti-war statement that was far ahead of its time. Today, it is widely considered the Marx Brothers' finest work and one of the greatest American comedies ever made, proving that sometimes a "flop" just needs a few decades for the rest of the world to catch up.