The legendary W.C. Fields cultivated the persona of a misanthropic cynic; and many found it hard to tell where the stage character ended and the real person began. The Great Man lives on in his movies and the appreciation of comedy fans everywhere. Here is a collection of films starring the immortal W.C. Fields, featuring some of his best loved movies along with cinema rarities. A comedy cavalcade! Included are favorite films such as THE DENTIST and THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER.
Disc 1: COMEDY TALKIE SHORTS:
THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER 18 MINUTES B&W In this spoof of creaky melodramas, Fields is a pioneer in the Yukon, bemoaning the loss of son to drink and ruin because of the ‘fatal glass of beer.’ This 1933 classic comedy short contained some of Fields most absurd humor, including the gag "And it ain’t a fit night out for man or beast."
THE GOLF SPECIALIST 20 MINUTES B&W This classic 1930 comedy short captures on film the comedy sketch performed by W.C. Fields in Ziegfeld’s Follies in the 1920s. Teaching a young lady to play golf, Fields is beset be dozens of distractions that prevents the golf ball from ever being struck, not least of which is the worst caddy in history. This short gets funnier with each viewing!
THE DENTIST 21:50 B&W Whether on the golf course in the dentist office, W.C. Fields wreaks havoc in this 1932 short made by the ‘King of Comedy’ Mack Sennett. The notorious ‘tooth-pulling’ scene which shocked audiences of the day and was later cut out of the film by order of the censors. Now it is restored to astonish audiences anew.
Disc 2 SALLY OF THE SAWDUST 113 MINUTES B&W W.C. Fields’ first starring role in a feature film, made in 1925 and based on his hit Broadway play ‘Poppy’. Fields reprised his role as the juggler and carnival huckster Professor McGargle. Pretty Carol Dempster co-stars as Sally, the orphaned girl McGargle takes under wing. Years pass, and McGargle is torn between keeping Sally as his adoptive daughter in the rough carny life, or turning her over to her grandparents, who are rich but intolerant. When Sally lands in jail, McGargle comes to her rescue in one of the wildest chases ever caught on film. Also in this movie, Fields demonstrates some of the juggling which made him famous during his Vaudeville days, and also develops the conman character for which he is best remembered. Pioneer filmmaker and Hollywood legend D.W. Griffith directed this classic from the golden age of silent movies.
DISC 3: W.C. FIELDS MIXED NUTS AN AFFECTIONATE LOOK AT W.C. FIELDS 24 minutes B&W This 1965 tribute to the great man is hosted by comedians Wayne and Schuster, who tell stories about Fields and show clips from his greatest films.
POOL SHARKS 10 min. silent comedy short B&W In W.C. Fields’ 1916 movie debut, he plays a jovial rake in competition with another man for the affections of a pretty woman. They determine to decide the matter over a not-too-friendly pool game. Fields reprises his pool routine from his days at the Ziegfeld Follies and vaudeville. A rare comedy treat.
CUPID GETS HIS MAN 7:28 An ultra rare color cartoon with W.C. Fields as a dedicated woman hater (who would have thought it?) being paired up by determined cupids with a man-hating spinster, bearing a striking resemblance to actress Edna May Oliver. Will love triumph?
W.C. FIELDS FILM FOLLIES FESTIVAL: B&W & color APPROX. 15 MIN. NEED TITLE A collection of trailers and film clips from W.C. Fields’ greatest films, including : INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, TRT 02:52 earthquake 02:05:15 YOU CAN’T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN, TRT 01:33 MY LITTLE CHICKADEE TRT 01:33 THE BANK DICK, TRT 01:50 Fields coaching a game of checkers END 01:11:56 Promo: W.C. Fields Festival TRT 00:55 CHICKADEE GAME COMMERCIAL TRT 00:30
