Tillie ja Gus

Genuinely, one of the best comedies to come out of the 1930s. If you are old enough, TILLIE AND GUS was long a fave on television during the 4th of July, if not popping up for a return engagement all summer. This was W. C. Fields at his early best, and peppered with some hilarious dialogue and one liners that he wrote himself, which the studio brass was at first against, but he eventually won and won big at the box office. This was the second teaming of Fields and Alison Skipworth, who both scored a hit in IF I HAD A MILLION, and both seasoned veterans made the most of their screen time together. In fact, Skipworth had her fair share of snappy one-liners, thus beginning a comedic duel of sorts between both, played out beautifully. There are innumerable classic scenes at work here, beginning with Fields and Skipworth's card game aboard a train against a bunch of sharks. The 'paint mixing scene' with Fields is probably now legend, but the best comes at the end with the twosome involved in a ferry boat race (which was largely filmed in Toluca Lake, near Hollywood) and an Fourth of July fight to the finish line! Also the notorious one liner, where Skipworth asks if he likes children (with the equally notorious Baby LeRoy nearby), and Fields' matter of fact response, "I do if they're properly cooked!" MANY, SO MANY MORE TO BOOT! This is a hoot and a holler to remember for years to come. There is a runner up tie between Baby LeRoy (naturally) and their niece and nephew's roving pet duck! The versatile Clarence Thomas, as the bad guy lawyer, is also one to keep your eye on, he's that nasty! Thank you Paramount for all those summer memories in front of our old black and white tv!