Another chance to Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx

dublin | arts and media | event notice Tuesday July 18, 2006 14:46 by kaz - Irish Film Archive

Irish Film Archive screening at the Irish Film Institute

The Irish Film Archive Presents
16th August , 6.30, Irish Film Institute

Quackser Fortune has a Cousin in the Bronx dir. Warris Hussein
U.S. Colour, 1970, 90 mins

For all those who couldn't get tickets to last year's sold out screening , here is another chance to see this off beat comedy starring Gene Wilder

Gene Wilder, David Kelly, and Margot Kidder

The Irish Film Archive Presents
16th August , 6.30, Irish Film Institute

Quackser Fortune has a Cousin in the Bronx dir. Warris Hussein
U.S. Colour, 1970, 90 mins

For all those who couldn't get tickets to last year's sold out screening , here is another chance to see this off beat comedy starring Gene Wilder. A year before he found world-wide fame as Willy Wonka, Wilder attempts an Irish accent to play the beleaguered horse manure collector, Quackser Fortune. Nagged by his family and in danger of losing his livliehood when horse-drawn delivery wagons are banned, the uneducated Quackser falls for Zazel (Margot Kidder) an upper class American studying in Trinity College. Despite their mutual fascination with each other, the mismatched pair quickly realise the romantic limitations caused by their differences. This chalk and cheese theme culminates in a truely cringe worthy scene at the Trinity Boat Club, when Zazel introduces Quackser to her well to do friends, with disasterous results.

In addition to Wilder’s eccentric turn, there is a great performance by Eileen Colgan, as the blowsy Betsey Bourke, who Quackser regularly calls into for a spot of sex and tea. Shot on location in Dublin the film serves as a vivid snapshot of Dublin in late '60s, in addition to the wonderfully stylised fashions, there are some great scenes in Trinity College, the 'Gravediggers' pub, Kavanagh’s in Prospect Square and at the back gate of Glasnevin cemetery.

Please note that the screening of Odd Man out ( as listed in the Archive brochure) has been postponed until later in the year and will form part of a Carol Reed retrospective.