Its a gift 1934 relies heavily on a number of his revue staples, as well as from his 1926 silent film, its the old army game. Fields is in fine fettle as smalltown grocer harold bissonette. Of course, the scene plays better in its a gift with the addition of exaggerated sound effects and fields sour mutterings. Fieldss humor and screen persona need look no further than norman z. Fields, jean rouverol, julian madison, kathleen howard, tom bupp, t. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Save its a gift wc fields to get email alerts and updates on your ebay. By this time, audiences responded to his characterization of the bemused, beleaguered everyman, attacked from all sides by nagging wives. The powder burns caused him to scream bloody murder, and the film. Filled with physical bits and an occasional wisecrack, it s a gift showcases w.
The 1934 movie, which was successful but not highly regarded at the time, has become the defining film in the comics screen career. Fields is a true comedy legend and remains one of the most recognizable and beloved actors of all time. Sharp, biting dialogue and timeless comedic elements like the universally recognized nagging wife, pesky kids, delivery people, and, horrors even the visually impaired get the fields treatment. Harold bissonnette fields, an inept grocer who is constantly badgered by his family, dreams of escaping to the california sunshine. Henpecked egbert souse has comic adventures as a substitute film director and unlikely bank guard. Fields comic persona was a misanthropic and harddrinking egotist, who remained a sympathetic character despite his supposed contempt for children and dogs. Fields, rochelle hudson, richard cromwell, catherine doucet. Well refund your credit card or we can credit your fandango account to use for another movie. November 30 is the anniversary of the release date of the w. From 1930 through 1934, fields appeared in talking feature films and short subjects, truly hitting his stride in its a gift 1934, which contained his famous sleeping on the back porch stage. Filled with physical bits and an occasional wisecrack, its a gift showcases w. Id love to see a full box set of all wc fields, even the bit part movies, imo he is important enough for that, and make it blu ray. Based on several stage sketches from fields broadway years strung together into a slim modicum of a plot, the film casts him as harold bissonette, a longsuffering husband, father and grocer who decides to.
Having grown up in a family of seven with a father he routinely butted heads with, he also knew how to stand out in a crowd. Small town grocer harold bissonette takes his family to. Its a gift is a 1934 film directed by norman mcleod, starring w. International house, its a gift, you cant cheat an honest man, my little chickadee, the bank dick are all available on wc fields dvd collection 1.
During a break in filming le roy s mother was about to give him some orange juice when fields said,take a break dear lady, ill give the little nipper his juice. In its a gift, fields is harold bisonnette thats pronouned bisonay a new jersey grocer who spends his inheritance on a californian orange grove. Academy award winner rod steiger plays the quickwitted lead, depicting this comedy giants ultimate decline and retreat into alcoholism. Moreau1996, val kilmer ruined a costars closeup by putting out his cigarette in the cameramans arm. C fields was not only full of funny quotes and one liners, he also had a knack for making profound statements on life. Based on several stage sketches from fields broadway years strung together into a slim modicum of a plot, the film casts him as harold bissonette, a long. It was fields s sixteenth sound film, and his fifth in 1934 alone. This heartbreaking, revealing film is based on the book detailing carlotta monti s stormy relationship with the irascible comedic genius w. Fields 1941 free movie chicago comedy film festival duration. Several funny gags involving slapstick humor with a little girl had me rolling. A shop owner comes into an inheritance and moves his family to california. Fields full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films.
Life after death experience nde with steve gardipee, vietnam war story one of the best ndes duration. On the set of treasure island 1934 wallace beery was accidentally shot in the foot by jackie cooper with a prop gun. Fields movie appearance edwin middleton film by change before going. It s a gift 1934 is a remake of fields s 1926 silent it s the old army game, and was the first sound feature devoted to fields s inimitable talent. Sos your old man 1926 alice in wonderland 1933 fields plays humpty dumpty, which was later caricatured in the silly symphony mother goose goes hollywood 1938 its a gift 1934 david copperfield 1935 fields plays mr. From 1930 through 1934, fields appeared in talking feature films and short subjects, truly hitting his stride in it s a gift 1934, which contained his famous sleeping on the back porch stage.
I dont know if modern audiences can appreciate how radical fields was in his day presenting a central character with few redeeming graces and every vice conceivable and endearing this character to a far different, far less cynical and snarky. Its a gift 1934 is a remake of fieldss 1926 silent its the old army game, and was the first sound feature devoted to fieldss inimitable talent. Academy award winner rod steiger plays the quickwitted lead, depicting this comedy giant s ultimate decline and retreat into alcoholism. International house, it s a gift, you cant cheat an honest man, my little chickadee, the bank dick are all available on wc fields dvd collection 1. Watch for a hilarious shaving scene by fields early in the film. Fields comedy its a gift 1934, which is today one of the best known and loved films from fieldss paramount period. A great movie that wastes no time and moves from one classic bit to the other without distraction. He became famous as a vaudeville performer in the ziegfeld follies and most of his films borrow from gags he performed on the stage. William claude dukenfield january 29, 1880 december 25, 1946, better known as w. Highly recommended for those that can play non us region dvd s.
It concerns the trials and tribulations of a grocer as he battles a shrewish wife. Its a gift, based on a screen play by jack cunningham from a story by charles bogle w. With a supporting cast that includes julian madison john, mildreds fiance, baby leroy baby dunk, tammany young everett ricks, josephine whittell mrs. Fields, classic comedy fans, and everyone who enjoys debunking the guises of stuffy respectability needs this movie for their personal movie collection. Unfollow its a gift wc fields to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. The owner of a debtridden circus contends with pursuant bill collectors and sheriffs and his beloved daughters relationships with one of his performers and a stuffy but wealthy young man. For the best experience please update your browser. William claude dukenfield was the eldest of five children born to cockney immigrant james dukenfield and philadelphia native kate felton.
The earlier work has to be viewed in the light of the times and the simplicity of comedy that prevailed then, but it is still years ahead. Most importantly is the inclusion of its a gift in my view his finest work, followed by the bank dick which is a close second. Fields, kathleen howard, jean rouverol, julian madison. Harold dreams of becoming an orange farmer, but his gorgon wife will have none of it.
The owner of a debtridden circus contends with pursuant bill collectors and sheriffs and his beloved daughter s relationships with one of his performers and a stuffy but wealthy young man. It s a gift, based on a screen play by jack cunningham from a story by charles bogle w. Fields screwball comedy wherein things go wrong and wrong and wronger. A henpecked new jersey grocer makes plans to move to california to grow oranges, despite the resistance of his overbearing wife. At eleven, after many fights with his alcoholic father who hit him on the head with a shovel, he ran. Im still happy to have this collection as it s nice to have all these in one box. Stones its a gift, from paramount, is one of comedian w. Like many fields protagonists he is trapped in a miserable home life, constantly nagged by his shrewish wife amelia and irritated by his loud, bratty young son norman.
Fields is up to his hilarious antics again alongside baby leroy in its a gift. As soon as the grateful woman was out of sight, fields took out his flask and spiked the orange juice with a generous helping of gin. Fields, was an american comedian, actor, juggler, and writer. The funny gags in this film will have you rolling in the aisles. What were talking about here, however, is its a gift, an old w. This heartbreaking, revealing film is based on the book detailing carlotta montis stormy relationship with the irascible comedic genius w. The movie industry has always had its share of nasty characters. Fields comic persona was a misanthropic and harddrinking egotist, who remained a sympathetic character despite his supposed contempt for children and dogs his career in show business began in vaudeville, where he attained international. Unlike some comedies which think they need to have love interest to be popular, fields makes us laught at him for 73 minutes nonstop. Fields fields is harold bissonette pronounced bissonay, owner of a notexactlythriving grocery store in new jersey. Carny con artist and snakeoil salesman eustace mcgargle tries to stay one step ahead of the sheriff but is completely devoted to his beloved daughter poppy. Fields comic style stresses physical humor, sight gags, and his trademark asides. Fields arthur ripley the pharmacist 1933 best free legal movies ever 46 comedy. As beleaguered husband and wouldbe orange farmer, fields revives vintage routines from vaudeville and broadway, and his first encounter with baby.
Fields, edgar bergen, charlie mccarthy, eddie rochester anderson. The screenplay by bob merrill is based on a memoir by carlotta monti, mistress of actor w. Read our faqs or reach out to our customer service team. Upgrade to a letterboxd pro account to add your favorite services to this listincluding any service and country pair listed on justwatchand to enable oneclick filtering by all your favorites. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing its a gift w. The comic side of drinking is part of his standard routine, good taste notwithstanding. In fact, some of our favorite quotes of all time are attributed to him. C fields is rarely thought of as a physical comedian, his performance is as graceful and athletic as youre likely to see. From 1930 through 1934, fields appeared in talking feature films and short subjects, truly hitting his stride in its a gift 1934, which contained his famous sleeping on the back porch stage sketch. Harold dreams of becoming an orange farmer, but his gorgon. It was fieldss sixteenth sound film, and his fifth in 1934 alone.
It was directed by norman mcleod, who had directed fields in his cameo as humpty dumpty in alice in wonderland 1933. The bank dick 1940 never give a sucker an even break 1941. This perfect comedy is, for my money, the funniest film w. Ive only seen a few movies here and there over the years. Nov 30, 2014 november 30 is the anniversary of the release date of the w. From his early days on stage in vaudeville and broadway through his live appearances on radio, he created an iconic persona that has never been matched. Fields in its a gift blind man with cane by cragarrows. Fields may have resented being buttoned up, but he had little choice in the silent film era. Even though i am not the biggest fan of wc fields, i thought that this was a very delightful movie. Wc fields amazing juggling by uasked4itproductions. Fields and me is a 1976 american biographical film directed by arthur hiller and starring rod steiger and valerie perrine. He went to school for four years, then quit to work with his father selling vegetables from a horse cart. Many of which are relevant almost 70 years after his death. Man on the flying trapeze, never give a sucker an even break, youre telling me, the old fashioned way, poppy are all available on wc fields dvd collection 2.