Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941)

Director:

Edward F. Cline

Writers:

Prescott Chaplin (screenplay)
W.C. Fields (original story)

Release Date:

10 October 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot:

Fields wants to sell a film story to Esoteric Studios. On the way he gets insulted by little boys, beat up for ogling a woman...

Plot Keywords:

Niece | Movie Director | Russian Accent | Film In Film | Movie Studio

Cast

W.C. Fields	...	The Great Man
Gloria Jean	...	His Niece
Leon Errol	...	His Rival
Billy Lenhart	...	His Heckler (as Butch)
Kenneth Brown	...	His Heckler (as Buddy)
Margaret Dumont	...	Mrs. Hemogloben
Susan Miller	...	Ouilotta Hemogloben
Franklin Pangborn	...	The Producer
Mona Barrie	...	The Producer's Wife
Charles Lang	...	The Young Engineer
Anne Nagel	...	Madame Gorgeous
Nell O'Day	...	The Salesgirl
Irving Bacon	...	The Soda Jerk
Jody Gilbert	...	The Waitress
Minerva Urecal	...	The Cleaning Lady

Also Known As:

What a Man (UK)

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The title came from dialog in the final scene of W.C. Fields' big stage hit (and later film) "Poppy".

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the ladder of the fire truck lifts the car into the air, a shadow on the front of the building reveals the rigging and crane that actually did the lifting.

Quotes:

Motorcycle Cop: Where do you think you're going, to a fire?
The Great Man: Ah... Ah... maternity hospital.
Motorcycle Cop: Okay, Tomato-Puss, follow me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Daffy's Southern Exposure (1942)

Soundtrack:

VOICES OF SPRING

A sad and funny sign-off

Fields adds a commentary on the indignities of old age to his repertoire. Often more somber than his reputation -- and all the funnier because of it -- Fields here plays a version of himself trying to sell a script to a movie studio. So we see a drawling, slow-moving older fellow in the humiliating position of pitching an idea to a producer who isn't necessarily honored or interested. Fields's script is, of course, ridiculous, just as his ideas in real life must have seemed crazy to many a studio executive. We "see" the script played out as the producer reads it, giving Fields a chance to go through his paces -- delightful, as usual, even if his obviously failing health makes it melancholy at the same time. Leaving the meeting with his tail between his legs, Fields is lovingly embraced by his niece, Gloria Jean, who contrary to what you might think, is wonderful. Her love for her uncle, and all his eccentricities, is endearing throughout. What can one say about the Keystone Kops-like windup, except that they probably had to tack a conventional finish onto a very unusual movie? This was Fields's final full-length performance, as if he knew the end was near. A sad and funny sign-off by the best comedian in movie history.