The Fatal Glass of Beer (1933)

Director:

Clyde Bruckman

Writers:

Release Date:

3 March 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Comedy

Plot:

The prodigal son of a Yukon prospector comes home on a night that "ain't fit for man nor beast."

Plot Keywords:

Prodigal Son | Dulcimer | Two Reeler | Canada | Dachshund

Cast

W.C. Fields	...	Mr. Snavely
Rosemary Theby	...	Mrs. Snavely
George Chandler	...	Chester Snavely the wastrel son
Richard Cramer	...	Officer Posthlewhistle Canadian Mounted Police (as Rychard Cramer)

Also Known As:

It Ain't a Fit Night Out for Man or Beast (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

21 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Certification:

Australia:G | UK:U

Company:

Mack Sennett Comedies

Trivia:

In Fields' first sound film, The Golf Specialist (1930) there is a wanted poster of Fields which shows him in his "Fatal Glass of Beer" costume. It evidently was taken from an earlier stage presentation of the classic Fields sketch.

Quotes:

Mr. Snavely: And it ain't a fit night out for man nor beast.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Old Fashioned Way (1934)

Fields at his best

I grew up during the '60s, when Fields was in vogue as a rebel along the lines of Bogart or Brando. Nevertheless, I didn't find myself laughing nearly as much at his feature films "The Bank Dick", "My Little Chickadee", or "You Can't Cheat an Honest Man" as at those of Keaton or the Marx Brothers. It wasn't until the '90s that I happened across this short, which finally convinced me that Fields was a comic genius.

With its absurd juxtaposition of dulcimer, Mountie, Salvation Army girl, wayward son, snow, tambourine, dachshund, bonds, the Yukon, student quarrymen, and unfit nights, this short has more laughs in it than any of Fields's features.

I'd say more, but I have to go milk the elk.