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{{Short description|1966 film by George Axelrod}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Lord Love a Duck
| name = Lord Love a Duck
| image = Lordloveaduck.jpg
| image = Lordloveaduck.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Theatrical poster
| caption = Theatrical poster
| director = [[George Axelrod]]
| director = [[George Axelrod]]
Line 18: Line 19:
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
| budget = $850,000<ref name="bart"/> or $1.2 million<ref name="back">{{cite book|pages=76–77|url=https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft138nb0zm;chunk.id=0;doc.view=print|last=McGilligan|first= Patrick|title= Backstory 3: Interviews with Screenwriters of the 60s|publisher=University of California Press|date=1997|isbn=0520204271}}</ref>
| budget = $850,000<ref name="bart"/>
}}
}}
'''''Lord Love a Duck''''' is a 1966 [[teen comedy]] produced, directed and co-written by [[George Axelrod]] and starring [[Roddy McDowall]] and [[Tuesday Weld]]. The film was a satire of [[popular culture]] at the time, its targets ranging from [[progressive education]] to [[beach party film]]s. It is based on [[Al Hine]]'s 1961 novel of the same name.
'''''Lord Love a Duck''''' is a 1966 American [[teen]] [[Black film|black]] [[comedy-drama]] film produced, directed and co-written by [[George Axelrod]] and starring [[Roddy McDowall]] and [[Tuesday Weld]]. The film was a satire of [[popular culture]] at the time, its targets ranging from [[progressive education]] to [[beach party film]]s. It is based on [[Al Hine]]'s 1961 novel of the same name.


==Plot==
==Plot==
From his prison cell, Alan Musgrave dictates his experiences of the previous year, which he dedicated to fulfilling the unending wishes and ambitions of high school senior Barbara Ann Greene. The daughter of Marie, a cocktail waitress sinking unhappily into her forties, Barbara Ann wants every kind of success and for everyone to love her.
From his prison cell, Alan Musgrave dictates his experiences of the previous year, which he dedicated to fulfilling the unending wishes and ambitions of high school senior Barbara Ann Greene. The daughter of Marie, a cocktail waitress sinking unhappily into her forties, Barbara Ann wants every kind of success and for everyone to love her.


Signing a pact with Alan in wet cement, Barbara Ann soon has the 12 cashmere sweaters needed to join an exclusive girls' club. She drops out of school to become the principal's new secretary and gets involved in church activities run by strait-laced but hyper-hormonal Bob Bernard. When Barbara Ann decides she wants Bob for her husband, Alan facilitates this by keeping Bob's eccentric mother Stella, who disapproves of Barbara Ann, perpetually drunk. Then Barbara meets producer T. Harrison Belmont, the King of Beach Party movies, and decides to become the biggest star that ever was. Bob refuses, however, to allow his wife to have a Hollywood screen test, so Barbara Ann decides she wants a divorce. Since Bob's mother frowns upon divorce, Alan takes matters into his own hands to kill Bob. Although Bob proves to be almost indestructible, by graduation time Alan has him in a wheelchair. At the graduation ceremony, Alan pursues Bob with a tractor, apparently killing him and several people on the speakers' platform. Barbara Ann goes on to Hollywood fame in her debut film ''Bikini Widow'', while Alan is sent to prison.
Signing a pact with Alan in wet cement, Barbara Ann soon has the 12 cashmere sweaters needed to join an exclusive girls' club. She drops out of school to become the principal's new secretary and gets involved in church activities run by strait-laced but hyper-hormonal Bob Bernard.
When Barbara Ann decides she wants Bob for her husband, Alan facilitates this by keeping Bob's eccentric mother Stella, who disapproves of Barbara Ann, perpetually drunk. Then Barbara meets producer T. Harrison Belmont, the King of Beach Party movies, and decides to become the biggest star that ever was. Bob refuses, however, to allow his wife to have a Hollywood screen test, so Barbara Ann decides she wants a divorce.
Since Bob's mother frowns upon divorce, Alan takes matters into his own hands to kill Bob. Although Bob proves to be almost indestructible, by graduation time Alan has him in a wheelchair. At the graduation ceremony, Alan pursues Bob with a tractor, apparently killing him and several people on the speakers' platform. Barbara Ann goes on to Hollywood fame in her debut film ''Bikini Widow'', while Alan is sent to prison.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{Div col}}
{{Div col}}
*[[Roddy McDowall]] as Alan "Mollymauk" Musgrave
*[[Roddy McDowall]] as Alan 'Mollymauk' Musgrave
*[[Tuesday Weld]] as Barbara Ann Greene
*[[Tuesday Weld]] as Barbara Ann Greene
*[[Lola Albright]] as Marie Greene
*[[Lola Albright]] as Marie Greene
Line 37: Line 42:
*[[Sarah Marshall (British actress)|Sarah Marshall]] as Miss Schwartz
*[[Sarah Marshall (British actress)|Sarah Marshall]] as Miss Schwartz
*[[Lynn Carey]] as Sally Grace
*[[Lynn Carey]] as Sally Grace
*Donald Murphy as Phil Neuhauser
*[[Donald Murphy (actor)|Donald Murphy]] as Phil Neuhauser
*[[Max Showalter]] as Howard Greene
*[[Max Showalter]] as Howard Greene
*Joe Mell as Dr. Milton Lippman
*[[Joseph Mell]] as Dr. Milton Lippman
*[[Dan Frazer]] as Honest Joe
*[[Dan Frazer]] as Honest Joe
*[[Martine Bartlett]] as Inez
*[[Martine Bartlett]] as Inez
*[[Jo Collins]] as Kitten
*[[Jo Collins]] as Kitten
⚫
*[[David Draper]] as Billy Gibbons
*[[Donald Foster (actor)|Donald Foster]] as Mr. Beverly
*[[Martin Gabel]] as T. Harrison "Harry" Belmont (uncredited)
*[[Martin Gabel]] as T. Harrison "Harry" Belmont (uncredited)
{{Div col end}}
{{Div col end}}
⚫
*David Draper as Billy Gibbons


==Production==
==Production==
The film was based on a novel published in 1961. The ''New York Times'' called the book "hilarious at times and often charmingly wicked."<ref>Gooney Bird and Friends: LORD LOVE A DUCK. By Al Hine. 367 pp. New York: Atheneum. $4.55. Gooney Bird and Friends
The film was based on a novel published in 1961. The ''New York Times'' called the book "hilarious at times and often charmingly wicked."<ref>{{cite news|title=Gooney Bird and Friends: LORD LOVE A DUCK. By Al Hine. 367 pp. New York: Atheneum. $4.55. Gooney Bird and Friends
By PAUL ENGLE. New York Times 16 Apr 1961: BR34.</ref>
|author=PAUL ENGLE|newspaper= New York Times |date=16 Apr 1961 |page=BR34|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/04/16/archives/gooney-bird-and-friends-lord-love-a-duck-by-al-hine-367-pp-new-york.html}}</ref>


Film rights were bought in December 1964 by Gordon Carroll and George Axelrod under the banner of their company, Charleston Enterprises. Axelrod called the book "a cross between [[Andy Hardy]] and [[Dr Strangelove]]."<ref>CABRIOLA,' VEHICLE FOR FERRER, MARISOL
Film rights were bought in December 1964 by Gordon Carroll and George Axelrod under the banner of their company, Charleston Enterprises. Axelrod called the book "a cross between [[Andy Hardy]] and [[Dr Strangelove]]."<ref>{{cite news|title=CABRIOLA,' VEHICLE FOR FERRER, MARISOL
By A.H. WEILER. New York Times 6 Dec 1964: X13.</ref> Larry Johnson wrote the script along with Axelrod.<ref>Alfred Hitchcock to Address Editors Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 17 Feb 1965: D9.</ref>
|author=A.H. WEILER |newspaper=New York Times|date= 6 Dec 1964 |page=X13|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/12/06/archives/new-york-previews-cabriola-vehicle-for-ferrer-marisol.html}}</ref> Larry Johnson wrote the script along with Axelrod.<ref>{{cite news|title=Alfred Hitchcock to Address Editors Hopper, Hedda|newspaper= Los Angeles Times |date=17 Feb 1965|page= D9}}</ref>


⚫
In May 1965 Roddy McDowall signed to play the lead.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rita's Next Is 'The Oscar'|author=Martin, Betty|newspaper= Los Angeles Times |date= 8 May 1965|page= B7}}</ref> United Artists agreed to finance and Axelrod decided to direct.<ref>{{cite news|title='Fog' Closing In on England |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=20 May 1965|page= d7}}</ref> Axelrod had directed three plays on Broadway, ''[[Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?]]'', ''Once More With Feeling'' and ''Goodbye Charlie'' but this was his first film.<ref name="george">{{cite news|title=Hollywood Memo: Let George Do It|newspaper= Los Angeles Times |date=29 November 1965|page= c23}}</ref> Axelrod said he asked [[George S. Kaufman]] how to direct and Kaufman said "you get good actors. He was right. And if it's a comedy you don't get Actors Studio actors".<ref name="george"/>
In May 1965 Roddy McDowell signed to play the lead.<ref>Rita's Next Is 'The Oscar'
⚫
Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times ( 8 May 1965: B7.</ref> United Artists agreed to finance and Axelrod decided to direct.<ref>'Fog' Closing In on England Los Angeles Times 20 May 1965: d7.</ref> Axelrod had directed three plays on Broadway, ''[[Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?]]'', ''Once More With Feeling'' and ''Goodbye Charlie'' but this was his first film.<ref name="george">{{cite news|title=Hollywood Memo: Let George Do It|newspaper= Los Angeles Times |date=29 November 1965|page= c23}}</ref> Axelrod said he asked [[George S. Kaufman]] how to direct and Kaufman said "you get good actors. He was right. And if it's a comedy you don't get Actors Studio actors".<ref name="george"/>


"I'm not really sure why I'm making this picture," said Axelrod. "Maybe I'm just trying to get revenge on my own teenagers. ''Lord Love a Duck'' will not be made specifically for the teenage market but teenagers will probably dig it. It puts everything down - society, vulgarity, adolescents. Teenagers like being put down."<ref name="bart">{{cite news|title=Standing Up To the Teen-Agers|first=Peter|last=Bart|newspaper= New York Times |date=5 August 1965|page= X7}}</ref>
"I'm not really sure why I'm making this picture," said Axelrod. "Maybe I'm just trying to get revenge on my own teenagers. ''Lord Love a Duck'' will not be made specifically for the teenage market but teenagers will probably dig it. It puts everything down - society, vulgarity, adolescents. Teenagers like being put down."<ref name="bart">{{cite news|title=Standing Up To the Teen-Agers|first=Peter|last=Bart|newspaper= New York Times |date=5 August 1965|page= X7|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/08/15/archives/standing-up-to-the-teenagers.html}}</ref>


Axelrod called the film "pop porn or Dirty Disney. It may yet give bad taste a bad name."<ref name="george"/>
Axelrod called the film "pop porn or Dirty Disney. It may yet give bad taste a bad name."<ref name="george"/>


===Shooting===
===Shooting===
Axelrod used as a music score the sound of teenagers with transistors.<ref name="bart"/>
Axelrod used as a music score the sound of teenagers with transistor radios.<ref name="bart"/>


He based his visual style on the films of Richard Lester such as ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]'' and ''[[The Knack ...and How to Get It|The Knack]]''. "Lester has shown us a freer form," said Axelrod. "I want to get away from the Hollywood syndrome of trying to make every shot look pretty and orderly."<ref name="bart"/>
He based his visual style on the films of Richard Lester such as ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]'' and ''[[The Knack ...and How to Get It|The Knack]]''. "Lester has shown us a freer form," said Axelrod. "I want to get away from the Hollywood syndrome of trying to make every shot look pretty and orderly."<ref name="bart"/>


The film was shot over 30 days for $850,000. "There's this gruesome prejudice in Hollywood that a picture made between $750,000 and $1 million cannot make a profit," said Axelrod. "I want to prove that this is nonsense. If I could do that and find new ways of saying things the film at least will serve the useful purpose of puncturing a hole in Hollywood's adolescent mystique."<ref name="bart"/>
The film was shot over 30 days for $850,000 ({{inflation|US|850,000|start_year=1966|fmt=eq}}). "There's this gruesome prejudice in Hollywood that a picture made between $750,000 and $1 million cannot make a profit," said Axelrod. "I want to prove that this is nonsense. If I could do that and find new ways of saying things the film at least will serve the useful purpose of puncturing a hole in Hollywood's adolescent mystique."<ref name="bart"/>


==Release==
==Release==
"We were worried about ''[[The Loved One (film)|The Loved One]]''," said Axelrod before the film came out. "We were afraid it might give bad taste a bad name. But I think we're alright. If the picture comes off well I may get an Oscar. If it comes off very well I may get deported."<ref name="george"/>
"We were worried about Lord Love a Duck," said Axelrod before the film came out. "We were afraid it might give bad taste a bad name. But I think we're alright. If the picture comes off well I may get an Oscar. If it comes off very well I may get deported."<ref name="george"/>

The film was a financial failure. "I can't imagine why it wasn't a hit," said Axelrod. "It got no reaction. I couldn't get anybody into the theaters to see it. It was one of those pictures that died. United Artists sold the shit out of it. I went on the road with it. I got reams of press. I ran what I thought was a clever ad campaign, parodying all the other campaigns."<ref name="back"/>


==Awards==
==Awards==
Line 82: Line 89:


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Sister project|project=commons|text=[[Wikimedia Commons]] has media related to: '''''[[Commons:Category:Lord Love a Duck (trailer screenshots)|Lord Love A Duck]]'''''}}
* {{IMDb title|0060636|Lord Love a Duck}}
* {{IMDb title|0060636|Lord Love a Duck}}
* {{TCMDb title|17204|Lord Love a Duck}}


[[Category:1966 films]]
[[Category:1966 films]]
[[Category:1960s black comedy films]]
[[Category:1966 black comedy films]]
[[Category:1960s teen films]]
[[Category:1960s teen comedy films]]
⚫
[[Category:1966 comedy-drama films]]
⚫
[[Category:1960s satirical films]]
[[Category:1960s high school films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American black comedy films]]
[[Category:American black comedy films]]
⚫
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American high school films]]
[[Category:American high school films]]
[[Category:American satirical films]]
[[Category:American satirical films]]
[[Category:American teen comedy films]]
[[Category:American teen comedy films]]
⚫
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
[[Category:Films directed by George Axelrod]]
[[Category:Films directed by George Axelrod]]
Line 101: Line 111:
[[Category:Films with screenplays by George Axelrod]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by George Axelrod]]
[[Category:1966 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:1966 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:1960s English-language films]]
[[Category:1960s American films]]

Latest revision as of 21:31, 20 December 2023

Lord Love a Duck
Theatrical poster
Directed byGeorge Axelrod
Screenplay byLarry H. Johnson
George Axelrod
Based onLord Love a Duck (novel)
by Al Hine
Produced byGeorge Axelrod
StarringRoddy McDowall
Tuesday Weld
Lola Albright
Martin West
Ruth Gordon
CinematographyDaniel L. Fapp
Edited byWilliam A. Lyon
Music byNeal Hefti
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • February 21, 1966 (1966-02-21) (New York City)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$850,000[1] or $1.2 million[2]

Lord Love a Duck is a 1966 American teen black comedy-drama film produced, directed and co-written by George Axelrod and starring Roddy McDowall and Tuesday Weld. The film was a satire of popular culture at the time, its targets ranging from progressive education to beach party films. It is based on Al Hine's 1961 novel of the same name.

Plot[edit]

From his prison cell, Alan Musgrave dictates his experiences of the previous year, which he dedicated to fulfilling the unending wishes and ambitions of high school senior Barbara Ann Greene. The daughter of Marie, a cocktail waitress sinking unhappily into her forties, Barbara Ann wants every kind of success and for everyone to love her.

Signing a pact with Alan in wet cement, Barbara Ann soon has the 12 cashmere sweaters needed to join an exclusive girls' club. She drops out of school to become the principal's new secretary and gets involved in church activities run by strait-laced but hyper-hormonal Bob Bernard.

When Barbara Ann decides she wants Bob for her husband, Alan facilitates this by keeping Bob's eccentric mother Stella, who disapproves of Barbara Ann, perpetually drunk. Then Barbara meets producer T. Harrison Belmont, the King of Beach Party movies, and decides to become the biggest star that ever was. Bob refuses, however, to allow his wife to have a Hollywood screen test, so Barbara Ann decides she wants a divorce.

Since Bob's mother frowns upon divorce, Alan takes matters into his own hands to kill Bob. Although Bob proves to be almost indestructible, by graduation time Alan has him in a wheelchair. At the graduation ceremony, Alan pursues Bob with a tractor, apparently killing him and several people on the speakers' platform. Barbara Ann goes on to Hollywood fame in her debut film Bikini Widow, while Alan is sent to prison.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

The film was based on a novel published in 1961. The New York Times called the book "hilarious at times and often charmingly wicked."[3]

Film rights were bought in December 1964 by Gordon Carroll and George Axelrod under the banner of their company, Charleston Enterprises. Axelrod called the book "a cross between Andy Hardy and Dr Strangelove."[4] Larry Johnson wrote the script along with Axelrod.[5]

In May 1965 Roddy McDowall signed to play the lead.[6] United Artists agreed to finance and Axelrod decided to direct.[7] Axelrod had directed three plays on Broadway, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, Once More With Feeling and Goodbye Charlie but this was his first film.[8] Axelrod said he asked George S. Kaufman how to direct and Kaufman said "you get good actors. He was right. And if it's a comedy you don't get Actors Studio actors".[8]

"I'm not really sure why I'm making this picture," said Axelrod. "Maybe I'm just trying to get revenge on my own teenagers. Lord Love a Duck will not be made specifically for the teenage market but teenagers will probably dig it. It puts everything down - society, vulgarity, adolescents. Teenagers like being put down."[1]

Axelrod called the film "pop porn or Dirty Disney. It may yet give bad taste a bad name."[8]

Shooting[edit]

Axelrod used as a music score the sound of teenagers with transistor radios.[1]

He based his visual style on the films of Richard Lester such as A Hard Day's Night and The Knack. "Lester has shown us a freer form," said Axelrod. "I want to get away from the Hollywood syndrome of trying to make every shot look pretty and orderly."[1]

The film was shot over 30 days for $850,000 (equivalent to $7,982,154 in 2023). "There's this gruesome prejudice in Hollywood that a picture made between $750,000 and $1 million cannot make a profit," said Axelrod. "I want to prove that this is nonsense. If I could do that and find new ways of saying things the film at least will serve the useful purpose of puncturing a hole in Hollywood's adolescent mystique."[1]

Release[edit]

"We were worried about Lord Love a Duck," said Axelrod before the film came out. "We were afraid it might give bad taste a bad name. But I think we're alright. If the picture comes off well I may get an Oscar. If it comes off very well I may get deported."[8]

The film was a financial failure. "I can't imagine why it wasn't a hit," said Axelrod. "It got no reaction. I couldn't get anybody into the theaters to see it. It was one of those pictures that died. United Artists sold the shit out of it. I went on the road with it. I got reams of press. I ran what I thought was a clever ad campaign, parodying all the other campaigns."[2]

Awards[edit]

Lola Albright won the Silver Bear for Best Actress award at the 16th Berlin International Film Festival in 1966.[9]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Bart, Peter (5 August 1965). "Standing Up To the Teen-Agers". New York Times. p. X7.
  2. ^ a b McGilligan, Patrick (1997). Backstory 3: Interviews with Screenwriters of the 60s. University of California Press. pp. 76–77. ISBN 0520204271.
  3. ^ PAUL ENGLE (16 Apr 1961). "Gooney Bird and Friends: LORD LOVE A DUCK. By Al Hine. 367 pp. New York: Atheneum. $4.55. Gooney Bird and Friends". New York Times. p. BR34.
  4. ^ A.H. WEILER (6 Dec 1964). "CABRIOLA,' VEHICLE FOR FERRER, MARISOL". New York Times. p. X13.
  5. ^ "Alfred Hitchcock to Address Editors Hopper, Hedda". Los Angeles Times. 17 Feb 1965. p. D9.
  6. ^ Martin, Betty (8 May 1965). "Rita's Next Is 'The Oscar'". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.
  7. ^ "'Fog' Closing In on England". Los Angeles Times. 20 May 1965. p. d7.
  8. ^ a b c d "Hollywood Memo: Let George Do It". Los Angeles Times. 29 November 1965. p. c23.
  9. ^ "Berlinale 1966: Prize Winners". berlinale.de. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  • Hine, Al. Lord Love a Duck (Atheneum, 1961)

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lord Love A Duck
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lord_Love_a_Duck&oldid=1190967811"