Lord Love a Duck (1966)

71% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(1,308 ratings)

An intelligent, eccentric high school senior devotes his life to indulging the every whim of the beautiful girl he adores in this quirky, dark-humored comedy. Roddy McDowall plays Alan Musgrave, an odd duck who immediately falls for the school's new student, Barbara Ann Greene (Tuesday Weld). Using… More An intelligent, eccentric high school senior devotes his life to indulging the every whim of the beautiful girl he adores in this quirky, dark-humored comedy. Roddy McDowall plays Alan Musgrave, an odd duck who immediately falls for the school's new student, Barbara Ann Greene (Tuesday Weld). Using his quick wits, he helps her win acceptance amongst the popular girls and a cushy job in the principal's office. Never demanding anything in return, Alan doesn't even complain when she falls for an upper-class college boy, and he does everything he can to bring the two together. However, as time passes, this seemingly well-intentioned dedication spins out of control, with results that become increasingly bizarre and even potentially fatal. The irreverent attitude and erratic tone may be an acquired taste, but the film's audacious humor and idiosyncratic approach have won it a cult following. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: George Axelrod
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Dec 2, 2003

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Kooky satire.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Bizarre, underrated black comedy deserving rediscovery
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Daffy

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

This is a fun movie, I loved Roddy McDowall and Ruth Gordon together in the movie they were hilarious. This comedy is really zany and very funny. I really liked it.
Eric B

If you're one of those people who wanted to hug Ferris Bueller rather than throw him under the wheels of Mr. Frye's prize Ferrari, then you'll hold Roddy McDowell's smarmy, obnoxious character in "Lord Love a Duck" close to your heart. Hey, at least… More
If you're one of those people who wanted to hug Ferris Bueller rather than throw him under the wheels of Mr. Frye's prize Ferrari, then you'll hold Roddy McDowell's smarmy, obnoxious character in "Lord Love a Duck" close to your heart. Hey, at least Matthew Broderick wasn't a 37-year-old trying to pass himself off as a high-school senior. The above Flixster review is right to emphasize the cashmere-sweater scene, though...that is seriously twisted. But shame on the reviewer for daring to compare this film with the incomparable satire of "The Loved One."
Sean S

Dark and somewhat evil satire of the shallow "want" society of Southern California where appearance and desire are the be all end all of existence. Everything is attacked here: religion, school, psychiatry, age, the movie industry, love and "Wild Bikini" beach… More
Dark and somewhat evil satire of the shallow "want" society of Southern California where appearance and desire are the be all end all of existence. Everything is attacked here: religion, school, psychiatry, age, the movie industry, love and "Wild Bikini" beach movement of the 60's. Perhaps the funniest thing is that no matter how bad and shallow the writers and director thought things were at the time in this society 44 years later it is sooo much worse. Hmm, perhaps nobody watched this movie and got it's message.