70. Never Give a Sucker an Even Break

Edward F. Cline, 1941

“I didn’t squawk about the steak, dear. I merely said I didn’t see the horse that used to be tethered outside here.”

Much as with my love for The Jerk, my love for this film is really more about my admiration of the man at its center, W. C. Fields. In this, his last picture as a leading man, W. C. plays his usual grouch/cheapskate/boosehound character. This time, however, the film is a bit more transparent. Instead of hiding behind a ridiculous name or commonplace, family man style role, Fields plays himself, credited as “The Great Man.” The plot, such as it is, revolves around W. C. pitching a film idea to a big wig at Esoteric Studios. The film will star Fields and his costar Gloria Jean, here playing Fields’ niece. Gloria Jean is an excellent foil for fields. Unlike Fields’ other seminal costars, like Mae West (in only one film, admittedly), Charlie McCarthy, or Baby Leroy, you really get a feeling that Gloria loves her “Uncle” Bill and that he loves here. The way he identifies with Gloria is wholly different and much more fatherly. He shows her none of the thinly veiled contempt he shows the rest of the world in his films. Ultimately, Gloria softens our perception of Fields just a bit, making him that much more likable and sympathetic. Of course, we don’t want a Fields who is wholly likable, that would defeat the entirety of his screen persona. Luckily, the trademark Fields wit is aimed squarely at ever other character in the film, which includes Marx Brothers regular Margaret Dumont.

Anyway, the film begins on the studio with Fields pitching his idea. The rest of the film, then, is that idea. Fields and Gloria fly to Mexico to sell wooden nutmegs at a Russian colony. Fields falls out of the plane and meets Mrs. Hemogloben, Dumont, some sort of Vampire/cannibal person. Noticing that she’s rich, Fields begins to woo Hemogloben, while making eyes at her cute daughter. The scenario also involves a gorilla (played by a man in a gorilla suit). It’s all very confusing, but, then, the film really isn’t about the plot, but about showcasing Fields, which the film does expertly. The ape, Dumont, Gloria Jean, a waitress earlier on, they all give Fields ample opportunities to exercise his character and humor. The restaurant sequence is particularly good, giving some excellent bits of physical comedy and witticisms like the one at the top of this post. To be honest, I’m finding this a hard one to write up. It’s such a weird little movie, but also such a perfect showcase that I really just have to suggest watching it. Like I say, the soda fountain scene is great, although Fields clearly doesn’t like having to go to a soda fountain instead of a saloon, “I feel like someone stepped on my tongue with muddy feet,” as is anything in and around Dumont’s castle, and anything with the ape. That said, I’ll leave you with a final line, uttered by Fields after Gloria asks him why he isn’t married, “I was in love with a beautiful blonde once, dear. She drove me to drink. That’s the one thing I’m indebted to her for.”