It's a Gift (1934)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Norman Z. McLeod

Writers:

Jack Cunningham (writer)
J.P. McEvoy (play)

Release Date:

17 November 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

LOOK THIS GIFT IN THE FACE IF YOU WANT A BIG HORSE-LAUGH (original herald - all caps)

Plot:

A henpecked New Jersey grocer makes plans to move to California to grow oranges, despite the resistance of his overbearing wife.

Plot Keywords:

Orange | California | Inheritance | Insurance Salesman | Porch

Cast

W.C. Fields	...	Harold Bissonette
Kathleen Howard	...	Mrs. Amelia Bissonette
Jean Rouverol	...	Mildred Bissonette (also as Jean Rouveral)
Julian Madison	...	John Durston (Mildred's fiance)
Tommy Bupp	...	Norman Bissonette (as Tom Bupp)
Baby LeRoy	...	Baby Elwood Dunk
Tammany Young	...	Everett Ricks, Mr. Bissonette's assistant
Morgan Wallace	...	Fitchmueller (where are my kumquats?)
Charles Sellon	...	Mr. Muckle (blind man)
Josephine Whittell	...	Mrs. Dunk
T. Roy Barnes	...	Insurance Salesman
Diana Lewis	...	Miss Dunk
Spencer Charters	...	Gate Guard
Guy Usher	...	Harry Payne Bosterly
Dell Henderson	...	Mr. Abernathy (as Del Henderson)

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate number not listed)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Ranch - 2813 Cornell Road, Agoura, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Film debut of Chill Wills.

Goofs:

Continuity: The earphone that the old blind man has disappears from his hand when he falls into the boxes.

Quotes:

Amelia: Harold!
Harold: Don't argue with them, dear, they're beneath our dignity.

Movie Connections:

Featured in W.C. Fields: Straight Up (1986) (TV)

Soundtrack:

California, Here I Come

When Fields met his match ...

If W.C. Fields is the funniest comedian in sound films, and perfectly hilarious in starring vehicles (Bank Dick) and guest shots (International House), why is this one is his best? Because Fields' antagonists are, for once, as grand as The Great Man himself. Aside from an evil blind man, and a cheerfully homicidal baby (ever reliable Baby Leroy), there is the ultimate Spouse from Hell. Former Vogue editor turned actress Kathleen Howard is pure outraged selfishness (Fields' mirror image) as the wife; her declamatory style of acting would be at home in a John Waters epic. She is divine, and so is the film.