University of Virginia Library

CINEMA

The Life Of A Manure Peddler

By Susan Hardwicke
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Can a New England VIP's
daughter find happiness with an
Irishman who sells horse manure?
That's the plot, folks. Horse
manure, you say?

Needless to point out, the plot is
not within the bounds of credulity.
In fact, it's the only incredible
aspect of "Quackser Fortune Has a
Cousin in the Bronx," except for
the Irish scenery.

Quite A Caricature

Rather than a deep, profound
social commentary or a shallow
skin flick, the film is a light-hearted
caricature of a man, and that's
quite a caricature. Can you imagine
a man named Quackser pushing a
green cart beside a duck pond while
calling out "Fresh dung for sale!?"
He's not the kind you would expect
to see in Central Park. But Gene
Wilder plays the role of Quackser
Fortune with a good mixture of
playfulness and sensitivity, and,

creates a more credible character
than would be supposed.

Margot Kidder portrays Margot
Kidder in the role of Zazel Pierce,
the Connecticut socialite-intellectual.
She doesn't do a bang-up
job of acting, but the part doesn't
require it. She plays the bedroom
scene with sensitivity and she has
an expressive face.

May Ollis is humorously real in
the role of Mrs. Fortune, as are
many of the film's minor
characters. They provide good
support for the two majors.

"Quackser Fortune" contains
some very humorous scenes,
especially the ones in which Betsy
Bourke (Eileen Colgan) appears.
She and Quackser have had a thing
going for years; they talk about the
quality of her tea while casually
undressing to go to bed. Later,
when Quackser returns, he eats a
sandwich while wallowing in the
sheets. "God, you've got lovely
hands, Quackser," she tells him
repeatedly. Of course, like every
popular film, "Quackser Fortune"
has its share of bedroom scenes.
But they are more humorous than
superfluous.

Contrast Worlds

Director Waris Hussein has well
presented the contrast between the
worlds of Quackser and Zazel,
which heightens the contrast
between the two characters. The
greatest contrast is that of the
sophisticated Trinity College dance
to the brawling, rowdy, typically
Irish tavern where Quackser feels
more at ease.

"Quackser Fortune" is funny
and it has beautiful shots of Irish
scenery. What more could you want
for escapist entertainment?

(Now at the Cinema)