QUACKSER FORTUNE HAS A COUSIN IN THE BRONX
US, 1970, 90 minutes, Colour.
Gene Wilder, Margot Kidder, Eileen Golgen, Seamus Ford.
Directed by Waris Hussein
Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx is a pleasant Irish comedy, probably designed for an American and international audience. However, it was all filmed in Dublin, using the city to great effect.
The film was also a star vehicle for Gene Wilder, early in his career (after Bonnie and Clyde, The Producers, The Twelve Chairs). He was to emerge during the '70s as a strong comedian and writer. Margot Kidder is a pleasant lead - she was also at the beginning of her international career.
The film has a lot of humour, the light touch and emotion, some Irish eccentricity. Direction is by Waris Hussein, director of a number of films but, more especially, television movies and mini series - Divorce His, Divorce Hers, Callie and Son.
1. Enjoyable Irish comedy? The human touch?
2. The picture of Dublin, the city, its drabness, its beauty? Ordinary life in Dublin? The musical score and songs?
3. The title, the nickname for Quackser, the ducks? The American reference? America as the promised land, the hallowing of the Bronx? The bequest at the end and its results for Quackser?
4. Gene Wilder's performance as Quackser? In himself, his following the horses, collecting the manure, helping the women with their gardens? The scenes at home, his room, getting up, the family? His meeting Betsy and the sexual relationship? His meeting the American girl, speeding past in the car, her apology, on horseback? Their talking, his opening up to her, the meetings? His philosophy of life? Learning from her about the city? Going out? The invitation to the dance: his getting the suit, riding the bike, getting drenched in the rain, at the door, dancing with the wallflower girl, with his girlfriend, the snobby students and their reaction against him, the fight, rolling him up in the carpet? His going home, being looked after? His clash with the girl in the street, their reconciliation? His going home, learning from her? Setting the horses free? Going to Betsy?
7. Going home, the family waiting, the news of the fortune - and his investing in the car, becoming a guide, using the information from the American girl?
8. The American girl, studying, fascinating Quackser, being fascinated by him, talking, accompanying him, love and affection, their clashes, her embarrassment at the party, her student friends, her sympathetic treatment of Quackser, going home?
9. The sketch of his family, the parents, the sisters, their treatment of Quackser? The details of ordinary life?
10. Portrait of a young Irish man, in his environment? In the spirit of the times? The humour with his occupation - but the times changing?
