It's a Gift (1934)

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

Director:

Norman Z. McLeod (as Norman McLeod)

Writers:

Jack Cunningham (screen play), J.P. McEvoy (from "The Comic Supplement" by)

Stars:

W.C. Fields, Kathleen Howard, Jean Rouverol

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
W.C. Fields	...	Harold Bissonette
Kathleen Howard	...	Amelia Bissonette
Jean Rouverol	...	Mildred Bissonette
Julian Madison	...	John Durston
Tommy Bupp	...	Norman Bissonette (as Tom Bupp)
Baby LeRoy	...	Baby Dunk
Tammany Young	...	Everett Ricks
Morgan Wallace	...	James Fitchmueller
Charles Sellon	...	Mr. Muckle
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)

Storyline

The owner of a general store (Harold Bisonette) is hounded by his status-anxious wife ("That's 'Bee-soh-nay'" and "I have no maid you know"). To get some sleep he goes out on the porch where he is tormented by a little boy from the floor above (Baby Dunk) and an insurance salesman down below ("LaFong. Capital L, small a..."). He uses an inheritance to buy an orange ranch through the mail, then drives off with his family for California. The orange grove consists of a withered tree, the ranch house is but a shack, and the car falls to pieces. But a racetrack operator wants the land, so all ends happily.

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Plot Keywords:

kumquat | california | inheritance | overbearing wife | insurance salesman | 

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Taglines:

California or Bust! And what they don't burn, they practically wreck...just as they will wreck you with laughter in this coast-to-coast joy-ride!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the American Film Institute's 2000 list of the Top 100 Funniest American Movies (#58).

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Goofs

The shaving cream on Harold's face changes when he tries to use the can as a mirror.

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Quotes

Fitchmueller: How about my kumquats!
Harold: Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming.

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Crazy Credits

The confrontation between W.C. Fields and Baby LeRoy was such a popular success that for this rematch the title card includes "with Baby LeRoy" as if the infant had second billing.

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter (1982)

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Soundtracks

On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away
(1897) (uncredited)
Written by Paul Dresser
Performed by Chill Wills and The Avalon Boys

User Reviews

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.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 November 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

Back Porch

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

68 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1