Alice in Wonderland 1933 N/R, 70 min. Genre: Family / Fantasy
Director: Norman Z. McLeod Cast: Charlotte Henry, Richard Arlen, Roscoe Ates, Charles Ruggles, Roscoe Karns, Gary Cooper, W.C. Fields, Cary Grant, Sterling Holloway, Edward Everett Horton, Leon Errol, Ned Sparks
This is the Lewis Carroll story brought to the screen with Alice (Charlotte Henry) dealing with the offbeat characters in Wonderland. This is the first full-length film of the story.
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The Bank Dick 1940 N/R, 74 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Edward F. Cline Cast: W.C. Fields, Cora Witherspoon, Una Merkel, Evelyn Del Rio, Jessie Ralph, Franklin Pangborn, Shemp Howard, George Moran, Dick Purcell, Pierre Watkin, Eddie Acuff, Russell Hicks, Al Hill, Jack Norton, Bill Wolfe
After a bank robber trips over the park bench that barfly Egbert Souse (W.C. Fields) is lying on, the robber is caught, and Egbert becomes the town hero. Egbert is given a job at the bank as a guard and becomes involved in a bank scam convincing Og Oggilby (Grady Sutton)–who happens to be the fiance of Egbert's daughter Myrtle (Una Merkel)–to embezzle funds to buy shares in the Beefsteak Mines. When bank examiner J. Pinkerton Snoopington (Franklin Pangborn) arrives on the scene, mayhem ensues culminating in a great car chase. W.C. Fields' mastery of the comic art makes this film a classic.
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The Big Broadcast of 1938 1938 N/R, 88 min. Genre: Comedy / Musical / Romance
Director: Mitchell Leisen Cast: W.C. Fields, Martha Raye, Dorothy Lamour, Shirley Ross, Lynne Overman, Bob Hope, Ben Blue, Leif Erickson, Patricia Wlder, Lionel Pape, Russell Hicks, Grace Bradley, Rufe Davis, Virginia Vale, Kirsten Flagstad
The series of "Big Broadcasts" continues. This time around, the setting is aboard an ocean liner, the S.S. Gigantic, that is owned by T. Frothingill Bellows (W.C. Fields). Bellows challenges another ship, the S.S. Challenger to a race while announcer Buzz Fielding (Bob Hopes) hosts shows aboard ship with popular stars of the day. Hope makes his film debut and sings the Academy Award-winning song, "Thanks for the Memories," and Martha Raye, Ben Blue, and Dorothy Lamour add to the humor.
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David Copperfield 1935 N/R, 133 min. Genre: Drama
Director: George Cukor Cast: W.C. Fields, Freddie Bartholomew, Frank Lawton, Elizabeth Allan, Basil Rathbone, Roland Young, Lionel Barrymore, Maureen O'Sullivan, Madge Evans, Edna May Oliver
Mr. Mudstone (Basil Rathbone), Wikins Micawber (W.C. Fields), and Uriah Heap (Roland Young) are all there as David Copperfield starts out as a poor boy and grows up to be a wealthy man in London. The young David is played by Freddie Bartholomew, while Frank Lawton plays the older David.
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Down Memory Lane 1949 N/R, 70 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Phil Karlson Cast: Bing Crosby, W.C. Fields, Steve Allen, Donald Novis, Gloria Swanson, Ben Turpin, Franklin Pangborn, Irving Bacon, James Finlayson, Mack Sennett
Steve Allen introduces classic Mack Sennett comedies and presents film clips from the sound through silent eras.
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Follow the Boys 1944 N/R, 122 min. Genre: Comedy / Musical / Drama
Director: A. Edward Sutherland Cast: George Raft, Vera Zorina, Charley Grapewin, Jeanette MacDonald, Regis Toomey, Orson Welles, Marlene Dietrich, W.C. Fields, Gale Sondergaard, Grace McDonald, Charles Butterworth, Ramsay Ames, Elizabeth Patterson, George Macready, Theodore von Eltz
This is Universal Studio's all-star effort to help morale in America during World War II. The story involves a brother-sister-father (George Raft, Jeanette MacDonald, and Charley Grapewin) vaudeville act that moves to Hollywood where Tony (Raft) gains stardom with Gloria Vance (Vera Zorina). When World War II erupts, Tony, whose bad knee keeps him out of the service, organizes an all-star tour to entertain the troops. Dozens of stars are featured in the show, which features songs, dances and comedy skits.
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If I Had a Million 1932 N/R, 85 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Ernst Lubitsch Cast: Gary Cooper, George Raft, Charles Laughton, Frances Dee, Charles Ruggles, W.C. Fields, Mary Boland, Roscoe Karns, Jack Oakie, Wynne Gibson
This film is a series of stories about what happens when an anonymous man picks names at random from the telephone book and gives those chosen gifts of money.
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International House 1933 N/R, 71 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: A. Edward Sutherland Cast: Peggy Hopkins Joyce, W.C. Fields, Stuart Erwin, Sari Maritza, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Bela Lugosi, Franklin Pangborn, Rudy Vallee, Sterling Holloway, Cab Calloway
A new invention–television–creates a stir as radio and stage personalities gather at International House to celebrate the introduction of the new phenomenon.
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It's a Gift 1934 N/R, 73 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Norman Z. McLeod Cast: W.C. Fields, Kathleen Howard, Jean Rouverol, Julian Madison, Tammany Young, Tommy Bupp, Spencer Charters, Guy Usher, Baby LeRoy, Morgan Wallace, Charles Sellon, Josephine Whittell, Diana Lewis, Dell Henderson
In this classic W.C. Fields comedy, Harold Bissonette (Fields), despite objections from his nagging wife (Kathleen Howard), uses a mail-order service to buy a California orange grove that, of course, turns out to be worthless. Comedy reigns as Bissonette finds a way out of his financial mess.
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Man on the Flying Trapeze 1935 N/R, 65 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Clyde Bruckman Cast: W.C. Fields, Mary Brian, Kathleen Howard, Grady Sutton, Vera Lewis, Lucien Littlefield, Oscar Apfel, Walter Brennan, Minerva Urecal, James Flavin, Lew Kelly, Tammany Young, Edward Gargan, James Burke, Carlotta Monti
This story is about one day in the life of a harried man, Ambrose Wolfinger (W. C. Fields), who is henpecked by his wife Leona (Kathleen Howard) at home and suffers stresses at work. Ambrose wants to take the afternoon off from work to attend a wrestling match, and the excuse he uses for time off is to tell a lie that his mother-in-law Cordelia (Vera Lewis) has died. On his way to the wrestling match Ambrose experiences many misadventures –including getting four traffic tickets in a row. The delays prevent him from getting to the match on time. When he arrives home, Ambrose realizes by their cold stares that his family has learned about the lie. Now, Ambrose's loving daughter Hope (Mary Brian) offers support, and Ambrose's lie turns into a win-win situation at home and at work.
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Million Dollar Legs 1932 N/R, 64 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Edward F. Cline Cast: Jack Oakie, W.C. Fields, Andy Clyde, Lyda Roberti, Susan Fleming, Ben Turpin, Hugh Herbert, Dickie Moore, George Barbier, Irving Bacon
To off-set bankruptcy, the citizens of the country of Klopstokia aspire to win the gold at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games in this zany comedy.
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Mississippi 1935 N/R, 75 min. Genre: Musical
Director: A. Edward Sutherland Cast: Bing Crosby, W.C. Fields, Joan Bennett, Queenie Smith, Gail Patrick, Claude Gillingwater, John Miljan, Edward Pawley, Fred Kohler, Dennis O'Keefe
With a Rogers and Hart score to back him, Bing Crosby shines as Tom Grayson who is rejected by his Philadelphia family and becomes a singer with the troupe on a Mississippi riverboat under the command of Commodore Jackson (W.C. Fields). This story was based on Booth Tarkington's "Magnolia."
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Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch 1934 N/R, 80 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Norman Taurog Cast: Pauline Lord, W.C. Fields, Zasu Pitts, Evelyn Venable, Kent Taylor, Donald Meek, Charles Middleton, Jimmy Butler, Virginia Weidler, George Reed
This is the story of Mrs. Wiggs (Pauline Lord), the mother of five children, who handles adversity and manages to instill positive messages in her brood. Remade in 1942.
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My Little Chickadee 1940 N/R, 83 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Edward F. Cline Cast: Mae West, W.C. Fields, Joseph Calleia, Dick Foran, Margaret Hamilton, Si Jenks, Fuzzy Knight, Anne Nagel, Ruth Donnelly, Donald Meek, Willard Robertson, Lloyd Ingraham, Jackie Searl, Lane Chandler, Al Bridge
Flower Belle Lee (Mae West) is kidnapped by the Masked Bandit/Jeff Badger (Joseph Calleia) during a stagecoach robbery. Later, when Belle returns to town, she is suspected of having sexual relations with the Masked Bandit and is run out of town. On the train, she meets Cuthbert J. Twille (W.C. Fields) and fakes a marriage to him. Now, they return to town as a "respectable" couple, and the fun begins. Just watching the cavorting of W.C. Fields and Mae West in the same film makes this movie worthwhile.
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Never Give a Sucker an Even Break 1941 N/R, 70 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Edward F. Cline Cast: W.C. Fields, Gloria Jean, Franklin Pangborn, Margaret Dumont, Leon Errol, Leon Belasco, Anne Nagel, Mona Barrie, Irving Bacon, Claud Allister, Billy Lenhart, Kenneth Brown, Susan Miller, Charles Lang, Minerva Urecal
W.C. Fields plays himself going through a day trying to sell a story to Esoteric Studios' producer Franklin Pangborn. The script reading becomes the story of Uncle Bill (Fields) and his niece (Gloria Jean) flying to Mexico to sell wooden nutmegs. Along the way, Uncle Bill dives out of an airplane to retrieve a whiskey bottle–and survives! He lands on a mountain where he meets and woos Mrs. Hemogloben (Margaret Dumont) who eats men. Many funny gags and moments.
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The Old-Fashioned Way 1934 N/R, 66 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: William Beaudine Cast: W.C. Fields, Joe Morrison, Judith Allen, Jan Duggan, Nora Cecil, Baby LeRoy, Jack Mulhall, Tammany Young, Samuel Ethridge, Ruth Marion, Richard Carle, Jeffrey Williams, Larry Grenier, William Blatchford, Donald Brown
A widow, Cleopatra Pepperday (Jan Duggan), has provided board for the cast and funding for the production of The Great McGonigle's (W.C. Fields) production of "The Drunkard" in exchange for a role in the play. Cleopatra's son Albert (Baby LeRoy) becomes McGonigle's nemesis, and Albert enjoys tormenting him by throwing food in his face. McGonigle must also deal with his daughter Betty (Judith Allen) and her romance with Wally Livingston (Joe Morrison). The show goes on, but McGonigle deletes Cleopatra's role in the play and skips out without paying the bills after the performance–but he does ensure Betty's happiness in a future with Wally.
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Poppy 1936 N/R, 75 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: A. Edward Sutherland Cast: W.C. Fields, Rochelle Hudson, Richard Cromwell, Granville Bates, Catharine Doucet, Lynne Overman, Maude Eburne, Bill Wolfe, Adrian Morris, Rosalind Keith, Wade Boteler, Ralph Remley, Frank Sully, Dewey Robinson, Dell Henderson
Poppy (Rochelle Hudson), the daughter of carnival con-man Professor McGargle (W.C. Fields), falls in love with Mayor Farnsworth's (Granville Bates) son Billy (Richard Cromwell). Meanwhile, McGargle is wooing "Countess" Maggie Tubbs De Puizzi (Catharine Doucet) who is a phony claimant to the valuable Putnam estate. McGargle plots with Attorney E.G. Whiffen (Lynne Overman) to pass Poppy off as the real heir. By story's end, it is learned that Poppy was adopted by McGargle and, in fact, really is the heir to the Putnam estate. Now, Poppy plans to marry Billy and live happily ever after.
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Sensations of 1945 1944 N/R, 86 min. Genre: Musical aka: Sensations
Director: Andrew L. Stone Cast: Eleanor Powell, Dennis O'Keefe, C. Aubrey Smith, Eugene Pallette, Mimi Forsythe, Lyle Talbot, Marie Blake, W.C. Fields, Sophie Tucker, Bert Roach
This is really a showcase for vaudeville acts and lacks much of a plot. There are some pretty good acts and musical numbers, which includes W.C. Fields' last film appearance.
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You Can't Cheat an Honest Man 1939 N/R, 76 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: George Marshall, Edward F. Cline Cast: W.C. Fields, Edgar Bergen, Constance Moore, John Arledge, James Bush, Thurston Hall, Edward Brophy, Mary Forbes, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Irving Bacon
Struggling circus owner Larson E. Whipsnade (W.C. Fields) struggles to stay away from legal trouble. This trait provides the backdrop for a very funny story about how one problem can quickly multiply into many more.
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You're Telling Me 1934 N/R, 66 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Erle C. Kenton Cast: W.C. Fields, Joan Marsh, Buster Crabbe, Adrienne Ames, Louise Carter, Kathleen Howard, Dell Henderson, Robert McKenzie, George Irving, Nora Cecil, Tammany Young, James B. "Pop" Kenton, Don Brodie, Eric Mayne, George MacQuarrie
W.C. Fields develops the complicated character of Sam Bisbee, an eccentric inventor, in this vintage film made great by Fields' acting and comedy skills. Sam has become nothing more than a joke in his town because of his inability to sell his inventions. But, when he meets Princess Lescaboura (Adrienne Ames) and tells her how he wants to market his inventions as the means to aid his family, Princess Lescaboura steps in. She tells the townsfolk how much she admires Sam, and Sam rises to new heights among the town's citizens and finally earns their respect.
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| 1. Alice in Wonderland (1933)
2. The Bank Dick (1940)
3. The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938)
4. David Copperfield (1935)
5. Down Memory Lane (1949)
6. Follow the Boys (1944)
7. If I Had a Million (1932)
8. International House (1933)
9. It's a Gift (1934)
10. Man on the Flying Trapeze (1935)
11. Million Dollar Legs (1932)
12. Mississippi (1935)
13. Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1934)
14. My Little Chickadee (1940)
15. Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941)
16. The Old-Fashioned Way (1934)
17. Poppy (1936)
18. Running Wild (1927)
19. Sensations of 1945 (1944) aka: Sensations
20. You Can't Cheat an Honest Man (1939)
21. You're Telling Me (1934)
In The News
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