Customer Reviews

Drat! Being the Encapsulated View of Life by W. C. Fields in His Own Words

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This is a review for the Signet paperback original titled "Drat!
Being The Encapsulated View Of Life By W.C. Fields In His Own Words."

This pocket-size paperback has an introduction by Fields fanantic
Ed McMahan and a few pages of notes by the editor Richard J. Anoble
and an opening essay by New York Times cultural news reporter
Richard F. Shepard.

Then we get into the meat of the matter, over
120 pages of amusingly funny stills taken from various stages of
W.C. Fields film career with mostly appropriate captions quotations from
those same films usually printed at the bottom of the photos.
Also at the top of the pages there is a running commentary by
the great man taken from a 1942 article Mr. Fields wrote for PIC Magazine
titled "Alcohol And Me."

And finally the last few pages of the book are taken up by an 1928 article
from "Theatre Magazine" titled "From Boy Juggler To Star Comedian."
Of course this book was concieved and published in 1969, before the days of home video.
But even now, when we can watch a Fields film whenever the mood strikes, it's fun
to go through these old photos and quotes using your own homemade mental Fields
imitation.

"Yes indeed, I'll give this little popinjay Four Stars!"

W. C. Fields starred in many movies with many co-stars, both math and female. Most of the movies are of dubious quality, a great deal of which is due to the fact that the art of filmmaking was still a work in progress. However, there is no mistaking his distinct voice and his screen persona is unforgettable. This book has some text explaining the personal and screen life of W. C. Fields but the bulk consists of images from his films with associated commentary.
If you have seen some films starring Fields, then looking through the images will conjure up the sound of his voice and intonation in your mind. It is a look at one of the best of the early stars and a man that pushed the limits of censorship as far as he possibly could. Fields also spoke candidly of his love of alcoholic beverages, which is a common theme here as well.
The introduction by Ed McMahon sets the proper tone for the images, it gives us some background on Fields' early career as a professional drowner and then at the end Fields gives an encapsulation of his early career in entertainment. Fields was one of the great early entertainers, his voice and bulbous nose defining characteristics of his personality and lifestyle. Hopefully, reading this book will convince people to view his films, with a little work on the part of the viewer, they are entertaining.