NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) will present two special screenings of “Ruthie the Duck Girl” at The Broad Theater on Saturday, April 4, at 5 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., accompanied by online access through the Film Society’s virtual screening portal from April 4-12. Presented as part of NOFS/365, the organization’s year-round cultural initiative, the screenings offer audiences a rare chance to experience a singular documentary portrait of one of New Orleans’ most unforgettable local figures.
Originally released in 1999, “Ruthie the Duck Girl” is a documentary feature directed, produced and shot by Rick Delaup, with editing by Tim Watson. The film tells the story of Ruth Grace Moulon, better known as Ruthie the Duck Girl, who roamed the streets of the French Quarter for nearly 50 years, often dressed in a wedding gown or fur coat, sometimes on roller skates, and frequently followed by her pet ducks.
A beloved and eccentric fixture of New Orleans life, Ruthie became part of the mythology of the Vieux Carré, drifting through neighborhood bars, charming strangers, and leaving an indelible impression on generations of locals and visitors. Yet despite her visibility, she remained largely unknowable. Ruthie the Duck Girl looks beyond the legend to uncover the history behind her decades-old “betrothal,” the heartbreak behind the wedding dress, and the remarkable details of a life lived on the margins of public fascination and personal mystery.
“This is exactly what NOFS/365 exists to do,” said Executive Director Dodd Loomis. “‘Ruthie the Duck Girl’ captures a figure who feels almost mythological in New Orleans lore, someone everyone knew and yet remained a mystery. NOFS/365 screenings are about more than just film. They are about bringing people together to celebrate the stories, the characters, and the spirit of this strange and beautiful city we all know, love and share.”
“We’re thrilled to bring ‘Ruthie the Duck Girl’ back to the big screen,” said Clint Bowie, artistic director of the New Orleans Film Society, “not only to introduce her to audiences who may have never encountered her story, but to give those who remember her a chance to reconnect with a piece of the city’s living history and mythology.”
These screenings mark an especially rare opportunity to see the film on the big screen. Ruthie the Duck Girl is difficult to access, making this theatrical presentation, accompanied by a weeklong run in the Film Society’s virtual cinema, a unique occasion for audiences to encounter an elusive piece of New Orleans documentary and cultural history.
Audiences are invited to purchase tickets here: https://nofs365.eventive.org/films/69b07d0fc41f4338d3d68c93
About NOFS/365:
This event is part of NOFS/365, the New Orleans Film Society’s year-round cultural programming that brings pop-up screenings, filmmaker talks, youth workshops, and creative workforce training into neighborhoods across the city while supporting local businesses and expanding cultural access.
Screening Details:
RUTHIE THE DUCK GIRL
Saturday, April 4, 2026
5:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
The Broad Theater
Ruthie the Duck Girl
Dir. Rick Delaup | USA | 1999 | Documentary Feature
Synopsis:
Ruth Grace Moulon, better known as Ruthie the Duck Girl, roamed the streets of New Orleans’ Vieux Carré for nearly fifty years, often in a wedding dress or fur coat, sometimes on roller skates, with her pet ducks waddling faithfully behind her. A beloved and eccentric fixture of the French Quarter, Ruthie could often be found drifting through her favorite bars, charming patrons while cadging cigarettes and beers “for later.”
Despite her local fame, Ruthie remained an enigma. This documentary finally reveals the history behind the legend, uncovering the story of her decades-old “betrothal,” the heartbreak behind the wedding dress, and the many surprising, nearly forgotten details of an extraordinary life lived on the margins of myth and memory.