Customer Reviews

You Can't Cheat an Honest Man [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a truly classic comedy featuring W.C. Fields and Edgar Bergen. Fields plays circus proprietor Larson Whipsnade. His circus is not a blazing success, and Whipsnade and company are on the run from the law and on the lam from creditors. Despite all, Whipsnade has managed to keep his son and daughter in college. As the story begins, Whipsnade's son is urging his sister to marry a fellow student who is wooing her. The suitor is from a wealthy family and Whipsnade Jr. sees the marriage as a way to improve the Whipsnade family fortune. Unfortunateley, sis isn't in love with the boy. Instead, she falls for Bergen, who works in dad's circus.

I suppose, if you like Fields but not Bergen, you might think there is too much Bergen & company in this movie and not enough of Fields. Then, again, a Bergen fan might make the opposite argument. Personally, I find them both hilarious. The plot here is rather thin, but the comedy is non-stop. Of course, Whipsnade can't stand Bergen, and Charlie McCarthy is a constant thorn in his side. Similarly, the idea of Whipsnade as Bergen's father-in-law is more than Charlie can take. Both Fields and Bergen get in some classicly funny scenes. Add in a couple of cameo appearances by Mortimer Snerd, a whole load of one-liners, and you one of the best comedies ever filmed.

One of the great events to spring from Radio's Golden Age was the long running feud between W.C. Fields and Charlie McCarthy, the wooden alter ego of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen. Universal Pictures took full advantage of this by producing the classic comedy YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN. Fields plays circus proprietor Larson E. Whipsnade, Bergen plays sideshow star The Great Edgar, and Charlie McCarthy plays Edgar's assistant (and the eternal thorn in Whipsnade's side). When Whipsnade's daughter (Constance Moore) comes to visit, Edgar is smitten with her and the feeling is mutual. Charlie, of course, is disgusted at the idea of Whipsnade being Bergen's father-in- law! Let's not even talk about how Whipsnade feels! This gem of a comedy also features very funny performances from Grady Sutton, as Whipsnade's dimwitted apprentice, and Eddie "Rochester"Anderson as a roustabout called Cheerful. The video transfer is excellent. Now, if only MCA Home Video would release CHARLIE MCARTHY, DETECTIVE!

W.C. Fields' "You Can't Cheat An Honest Man" (1939) is a rather schizophrenic affair. As Larson E. Whipsnade, Fields remains his old inimitable self - whether playing high-society ping pong or getting hosed by a circus elephant. However, when he is off-screen for long stretches, the film becomes an Edgar Bergen-Charlie McCarthy vehicle and drags terribly. Though the Fields-McCarthy radio "feuds" have become classics, they do not translate as well in cinematic form. With the exception of a brief reunion in "Song of the Open Road" (1944), it's easy to see why there never was a Fields-Bergen encore on the big screen. "You Can't Cheat An Honest Man" has its moments of hilarity, but a little more Fields would have helped.

I've been a long time Edgar Bergen fan, and was delighted with his performance in this comical movie, "You Can't Cheat an Honest Man". I had never seen W.C. Fields on the screen before, and was also pleasantly surprised by his outragous antics (his hat bit is wonderful). For anyone looking for a good laugh, or a movie for the whole family (litterally-Grandpa & Grandma will remember them, and the children will be introduced to them), this is a great movie to buy or rent.

This is definatly W.C. Fields at his finest. While the plot maybe is not so great, all of the comedians bring this light hearted comedy to the highest expectations. Charlie McCarthy and Edgar Bergen are at their mischevious, cleverest best. Recommended for anyone who loves old comedies.

"You Can't Cheat an Honest Man" was a disappointing effort due to the fact that rather than featuring W.C. Fields director George Marshall chose to allow Edgar Bergen and protege Charlie McCarthy to hog the screen. I was under the impression that ventriloquists were not supposed to move their lips. This was a condition that was lost on Bergen. I'm at a loss as to understand what the captivation was with his tired act.

Fields playing perpetually indebted traveling circus owner Larson E. Whipsnade was given too few opportunities to perform his particular style of hijinks. One notable exception was the scene in the ticket booth where he used his excellent comedic tools.

The widowed Fields' kids Victoria and Phineas played by Constance Moore and John Arledge are being supported by him as they attend a prestigious college. Arledge aware of Fields' monetary plight is encouraging his sister to marry rich guy Roger Bel-Goodie played by James Bush. Such a union would provide a business opportunity for Arledge in the Bel-Goodie family banking business and a solution to Fields' insolvency. The only trouble is that Moore doesn't love the rich guy and inexplicably falls in love with Edgar Bergen.

The predictable plot proceeds on to an apparent happily ever after ending that caps an overall unsatisfying film.

I remembered this movie but had not seen it for years. W.C. Fields at his best. Edgar Bergen and Charlie, the perfect foils.

If Fields were alive and could rate this film, he would probably give it one star. He was very unhappy at the final result, in which most of his main story ideas were thrown out, he went through three directors although one extra stayed on and worked only with Edgar Bergen.

I'm sure most people who made this movie would be astounded that anyone would still be watching these movies seventy years later. In those days, it was strictly the business of selling the tickets and popcorn and using radio stars like Bergen and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson to draw in the customers.

At times, Fields may have gone overboard in his role as an inept scoundrel, but when he is good, he is terrific. There are so many hilarious bits in the movie that make you forget that it is a silly mishmash. It baffles science.

Once again there is the running gag on the Field's character's name: "It's not Larceny, it's Larson E." he yells, "And it's not Whipsnake, it's Whipsnade."

Once again he has a brilliant stock company to work with. Grady Sutton as "Colonel Dalrymple's Nephew" is the perfect imbecile. Bill Wolfe plays several different characters, once again getting cheated at the ticket window. Eddie "Rochester" Anderson helps ready Whipsnade for his shower provided by Queenie the Elephant's trunk. Anderson even helps Whipsnade when he gets mixed up about how to say his name.

Then little Evelyn Del Rio, "reeking of lollipops," successfully swindles Whipsnade out of fifty cents claiming that his elephant stepped on her dog. Later, she produces the pooch alive and well and laughing in his face. He tries to retrieve the money until an adult intervenes.

The Charlie McCarthy-Fields rivalry, immensely popular on radio and an act that literally kept Fields alive during a dry spell in the late 30's, is played out here as well.

Once he gets rolling, Field's improbable comedy sequences build like a crescendo in a musical composition. In the third act of the movie, he leaves the circus one step ahead of the law in a Roman chariot with a cape and top hat. He arrives for his daughter's wedding at the Bel Goodie home, the creme de la creme, and proceeds to work the room as the all time braggart and lout completely immune to their sensibilities. He tries to tell a story about a struggle with snakes but every time he mentions the word "snakes" Mrs. Bel Goodie faints and the room goes into a tizzy. Most of the guests ignore him. Finally, Whipsnade's son pulls him out of the room and chastises him for his lack of social graces...but it's not over yet. Inside the game room, Jan Duggan, another favorite of Fields leans against the wall leering at Whipsnade with an invitation, "Do you play ping pong?"

Does he play ping pong? Like nobody else. And when the wedding is a shambles, and the law almost catches up with him again. He makes one of the great exits in cinema.

I suggest getting Vol 2 of the W.C. Fields Comedy Collection on DVD.

So far this is one of the best W.C. Fields movies I've seen. The banter between Charlie McCarthy and Fields is classic. I wish they would have done more work together. Well worth the purchase.