Anyone who respects an original idea such as atomic duck eggs will be tempted to see "Mr. Drake's Duck." Unfortunately, he will find little originality and less humor in Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.'s web-footed producing and acting.

Spending his honeymoon with Yolanda Donlan (Mrs. Drake) on a farm in England, Fairbanks plays the dude. He continually argues with a cynical caretaker, whose Aroostook twang is painfully out of place, and with a handyman who can never finish a job. This too typical domestic scene is complemented by giggles from Yo-Yo (Yolanda, an actress who should have been left on the string) and snide marriage-night remarks from Drake.

The ducks, which are a welcome relief, arrive after Yo-Yo inadvertently nods during an auction. After quarreling over the poultry, the Drakes make up by writing on their first boiled duck eggs: "I'm sorry. Me too." When Fairbanks hits it with a knife, it gives off a note stolen from "Gerald McBoing-Boing" and the show is on. At this point, the sound track is cluttered with noise, and the plot filled with impossible sequences. A representative from some ministry shows up with hundreds of forms in triplicate (red tape in Socialist governments). Then the army invades with tanks and 245 soldiers (national emergency over uranium egg). And last but not least, the Navy and the Air Corps patrol the farm because a duck can also swim and fly.

Ridiculous military efficiency and continuous ham acting take it from there. At times, it is difficult to tell who is talking, the ducks or Mrs. Drake. Unless you have an interest in outdated weapons or ducks, leave this atomic dud alone.