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Author
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Topic: W.C. Fields appreciation thread
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Joseph Randall
Master Film Handler
Posts: 437
From: Wyckoff, NJ, USA
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted September 23, 2015 09:41 PM
I wanted to start this thread to discuss W.C. Fields -- anything about him, but mainly to discuss his films and collecting them.
First up: YOU'RE TELLING ME.
Similar to the Marx Brothers ANIMAL CRACKERS, this film was in legal limbo for many years and was unavailable for viewing. Castle released a one-reel excerpt, MUCH ADO ABOUT GOLF, in the mid-1970. Universal 8 released a two-reel one, using the film's original title, later. I don't recall it being part of the MCA-TV releases that were shown on TV. It started showing up on Showtime, Cinemax, and AMC late 80's/early 90's.
Does anyone have any more info on the legal issues and when/how they were cleared up? It's a great Field's film, right up there with IT'S A GIFT, THE BANK DICK, and MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE.
I have the two-reel abridgement, which includes the golf scene, so I assume that there is no additional footage in MUCH ADO ABOUT GOLF. Can anyone confirm?
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Mathew James
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 740
From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Dec 2014
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posted October 02, 2015 07:26 AM
This may be part my fault Joseph, for bashing W C FIELD's....
I never disliked him before super 8's, but now that I have watched some of the films, I find him boring. That is just my take.
If anyone is interested in him, I have these in the for sale/trade section:
http://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=005771
I am looking for sound blackhawk releases of little rascals that i don't have, 3 stooges i don't have, and perhaps any sound chaplins, buster keatons,charlie chase,monty banks etc.... We also like flip the frog cartoons:) Here is some of my list:
http://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=005772
Just for the record, the excerpts of Fields I am not selling i like a lot. These include 'If I had a Million', 'Hurry, Hurry', and 'Circus Slickers'.
I must really out to lunch with wc fields, so don't take my opinion as anything. I mean, I recently read someone who said that 'Fatal Glass of Beer' is a fine example of one of Field's funniest films....If this is true, then i am at a loss. My kids almost cry when i run that one they dislike it so much- he hee.. I think one must really know the back story surrounding some of his plots!
Cheers,
Matt
ps: @steve- Steve, I have 'The Dentist' if you want to get your feet wet!
--------------------
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Cheers,
Matt 📽
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Joe Caruso
Film God
Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted October 02, 2015 10:10 AM
Noticed you listed CIRCUS SLICKERS as a sale, then you mentioned wanting to keep it, I was looking for a nicely-boxed second print, that and THE BIG THUMB - Odd thing about film collectors, certain tastes grow on you - Fields was subtle; He was of the stage (Ziegfeld and others), so his approach is scaled down, he was one of the best-clever artists, like Lloyd, his inventive nature was prime - Keep watching some of his other work and you'll gradually be worked into the scheme, so to speak - It took me a while to warm-up to several actors, but eventually it'll happen - Shorty
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Joseph Randall
Master Film Handler
Posts: 437
From: Wyckoff, NJ, USA
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted October 02, 2015 06:38 PM
Thanks, Shorty -- any footage in MUCH ADO not in the 400' version? I used to watch on Channel 5, too, and his Universal releases on Channel 9 (WOR.)
All his Castle/U8 releases are worth getting:
Castle:
MUCH ADO ABOUT GOLF
THE BIG THUMB
CALIFORNIA BOUND
THE GREAT MCGONIGLE
HURRY, HURRY
THE GREAT CHASE
IF I HAD A MILLION
CIRCUS SLICKER (the box says SLICKERS but the on-screen title is singular)
UNIVERSAL 8:
YOU'RE TELLING ME
YOU CAN'T CHEAT A HONEST MAN
IT'S A GIFT (just combines THE BIG THUMB and CALIFORNIA BOUND)
IF I HAD A MILLION
THE BANK DICK
NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK
THE OLD FASHIONED WAY
You can make 2 nice nearly 600' versions by combining CIRCUS SLICKER with YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN, as well as combining NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK with HURRY, HURRY.
Blackhawk had:
POOL SHARKS (silent)
SALLY OF THE SAWDUST (silent)
THE DENTIST
THE PHARMACIST
THE BARBER SHOP
THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER
The only "must have" from Blackhawk is THE DENTIST.
Various distributors released THE GOLF SPECIALIST -- recommended to die-hard fans and collectors only.
THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER is an acquired taste that many people haven't acquired -- but I like it. That was also available from Niles -- but Blackhawk probably had better quality. Only get THE DENTIST from Blackhawk -- top-notch quality, and un-cut -- not sure if Niles was un-cut.
I think that that was all that was released in Super 8. Castle also had ALICE IN WONDERLAND but I'm not sure if that had Fields' scenes.
I listed this in General Yak so we could talk about other gauges as well as VHS/DVD/Blu-Ray. I haven't seen them, but almost all of his sound films are available in a few box sets that were released several years ago. TCM showed a few of his movies several weeks ago, including YOU'RE TELLING ME.
I think the following movies are essential viewing -- all talkies:
THE DENTIST
YOU'RE TELLING ME
THE OLD FASHIONED WAY
IT'S A GIFT
MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE
POPPY
YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN
THE BANK DICK
MY LITTLE CHICKADEE
NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK
My favorite book on Fields is W.C. FIELDS -- A LIFE ON FILM, by his grandson, Ronald J. Fields, who, at 66 years old, is now W.C.'s doppleganger.
Ronald J. Fields
[ October 02, 2015, 09:12 PM: Message edited by: Joseph Randall ]
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Joe Caruso
Film God
Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted October 03, 2015 02:36 PM
No, footage in Much Ado is in and of itself - the 400' is different - I have GOLF SPECIALIST (Niles), excellent, one of their best releases, not washy - They had a good neg on it - Had a 16 of the film years back - DENTIST, I'll have to say T-Bird's print is also top-notch, it has the Paramount (Clouds) opening as well - My favorite book, outside of Curtis' is WC FIELDS BY HIMSELF - Great information - I might add a film, seldom seen (except WNEW-5 years back), MRS. WIGGS OF THE CABBAGE PATCH
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Joseph Randall
Master Film Handler
Posts: 437
From: Wyckoff, NJ, USA
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted October 26, 2015 04:54 PM
I think it is worth giving a grade to the 2 major film companies that had the rights to Fields' movies. The grade takes into account quantity as well as quality. Did they capture the essence of Fields? Do the extracts give a good overview of his work? Did they miss any essential clips that one would normally include in a "best of" compilation?
Castle: B-
Universal 8: B+
Castle focused too much on car chase scenes, which, while well-done, was not the essence of Fields' humor. They missed out on some essential scenes from films they did excerpt, as well as ignoring altogether films from my essential list.
Universal 8 did a better job. They also included some chase scenes, but did a better job of covering his verbal humor. They only picked the films the Castle extracts covered, however, and took the lazy way out with IT'S A GIFT.
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