Everything's Ducky
| Everything's Ducky | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Don Taylor |
| Screenplay by | Benedict Freedman John Fenton Murray |
| Produced by | Allen Baron Merrill S. Brody Red Doff |
| Starring | Mickey Rooney Buddy Hackett Jackie Cooper Joanie Sommers Roland Winters Elizabeth MacRae |
| Cinematography | Carl E. Guthrie |
| Edited by | Richard K. Brockway |
| Music by | Bernard Green |
Production company | Barbroo Productions |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Everything's Ducky is a 1961 American comedy film directed by Don Taylor and written by Benedict Freedman and John Fenton Murray.[1] The film stars Mickey Rooney, Buddy Hackett, Jackie Cooper, Joanie Sommers, Roland Winters and Elizabeth MacRae. It was released on December 20, 1961, by Columbia Pictures.[2][3]
Plot
Two sailors sneak a talking duck aboard their ship. Complications ensue. The duck waddles all over the ship until he escapes.
Cast
- Mickey Rooney as Kermit 'Beetle' McKay
- Buddy Hackett as Seaman Admiral John Paul 'Ad' Jones
- Jackie Cooper as Lt. J.S. Parmell
- Joanie Sommers as Nina Lloyd
- Roland Winters as Capt. Lewis Bollinger
- Elizabeth MacRae as Susie Penrose
- Gene Blakely as Lt. Cmdr. Bernard Kemp
- Gordon Jones as Chief Petty Officer Conroy
- Richard Deacon as Dr. Deckham
- James Millhollin as George Imhoff
- Jimmy Cross as drunk
- Robert Williams as duck hunter
- King Calder as Frank
- Ellie Kent as nurse
- William Hellinger as corpsman
- Ann Morell as Wave
- George Sawaya as Simmons
- Dick Winslow as Fröehlich
- Alvy Moore as Jim Lipscott
- Walker Edmiston as Scuttlebutt – the duck
Reception
Boxoffice wrote: "If the writers who concocted this humorless morsel of alleged comedy and Don Taylor, who directed their ridiculous scrivening, were undertaking to establish themselves as ranking magicians, they succeeded admirably – they turned a talking duck into a turkey. ... Mickey Rooney and Buddy Hackett have proved by countless past performances that they can be funny men. Herein they individually and collectively are hog-tied from scratch by amateurish script situations and dialog. ... Joanie Sommers, with some TV background, is the femme lead and introduces a pale ray of sunshine in an otherwise dull overcast. Producer Red Doff makes a limited budget cover a multitude of sins."[4]
Variety wrote: "Director Don Taylor has done what he can to make capital of the lean material. There isn't much to work with."[5]
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A sluggish attempt to make comedy capital out of the queasy idea of a talking duck. ... Mickey Rooney, cut down to size by being cast as straight feed to Buddy Hackett's roly-poly clown, is unexpectedly good. The comedy routines of both actors will possibly entertain children. Otherwise direction and general presentation are slipshod."[6]
References
- ^ "Everything's Ducky". American Film Institute Catalog. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
- ^ "Everything's Ducky (1961) – Overview". Turner Classic Movies. November 8, 1961. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
- ^ "Movie Review – - 'Mysterious Island' and Comedy Open". NYTimes.com. December 21, 1961. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
- ^ "Everything's Ducky". Boxoffice. 80 (4): a11, a12. November 13, 1961. ProQuest 1670955905.
- ^ "Everything's Ducky". Variety. 224 (11): 6. November 8, 1961. ProQuest 1017072958.
- ^ "Everything's Ducky". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 29 (336): 10. January 1, 1962.
External links
- Everything's Ducky at IMDb
- Everything's Ducky at the TCM Movie Database (archived version)