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 frantic race down the Hyperion Street bridge on Glendale Avenue when Field's car is hooked onto the firetruck: Look to the upper far right of the scene in the distance and you will see the Great Mausoleum of Forest Lawn where Fields would eventually be interred in the Columbarium of Nativity.

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:

Ouliotta Delight Hemogloben: Are you really a man?
The Great Man: Well, I've been called other things...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Daffy's Southern Exposure (1942)

Soundtrack:

HOT CHA CHA

Otis Criblecobis

W.C. Fields was a pioneer of the American cinema. As such, he was a true original who not only acted, but also wrote most of the material for his films. Mr. Fields left an important body of work for us to watch, laugh and admire.

His "Never Give a Sucker an Even Break" was his last film. The film, although a bit dated, still has some sparks thanks to Mr. Fields, playing the Uncle Bill of the story. The film, directed by Edward C. Cline, still has a lot of laughs.

The film is a satire about the movie industry that Mr. Fields knew so well. Mr. Fields takes us behind the cameras to show us the craziness that is associated with making films. Of course, it is somewhat exaggerated as we don't believe what goes on at some of the Esoteric Studios.

Aside from Mr. Fields, Gloria Jean plays his niece, the sweet voiced girl appearing in one of the films in production. Also, Leon Errol, Margaret Dumont and some old pros are seen doing their best.