W.C. Fields

W.C. Fields (1879 - 1946)

The anarchic and anti-authoritarian tone of the comedy of W.C. Fields probably has more resonance today than when his films were made. Fields was one of the funniest men ever to appear on film.

He began his film career in the silents with the short Pool Sharks (1915) which was supposed to show his famous pool table routine but did not. It wasn't until Six of a Kind (1934) that the classic routine was preserved on film. Returning to the stage Fields headlined the Ziegfeld Follies before appearing in the play Poppy. This was turned into a silent film Sally of the Sawdust (1925) and a Paramount talkie a decade later. Although he could display his great juggling skills the full force of Fields' personality wasn't felt until the arrival of sound when that rasping voice could be heard.

In the early 30s he starred in a series of shorts for Mack Sennett including The Barber Shop (1933) and the hilarious The Dentist (1932), a film I wouldn't advise you view if you have a dental appointment ! Signed by Paramount Fields entered the peak period of his career with films like The Old Fashioned Way (1934) (he plays the Great McGonigle in a fond tribute to the old vaudeville days), It's A Gift (1934) (probably his funniest and greatest film) and The Man On The Flying Trapeze (1935).

Fields was a heavy drinker though and by the mid Thirties this was beginning to seriously affect his health. He was out of showbusiness for a couple of years in the late 30s due to illness. In 1938 he left Paramount to join Universal where he made his last major films : the excellent The Bank Dick (1940) and Never Give A Sucker An Even Break (1941). A film with Mae West : My Little Chickadee (1940) had its moments but was overall disappointing. After 1941 Fields was relegated to cameo roles as his health deteriorated.

Fields' films are decidedly not PC in their outlook and they aren't cinematic masterpieces but his greatest routines have a comic brilliance which will shine forever.