Fields is a wacky inventor who wants to fit into society for his daughter's sake; a chance meeting with a kind-hearted princess turns his luck. Lots of funny W.C. Fields material is loosely hung on the plot. Fields's golf routine finds its way into the story, too.
I rated this 8/10 for the database. What did you rate this film? And what do you think of it?
... Justin
JUST SAW THIS AND MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE... MADE ME FEEL THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE....AWESOME WORK FROM THE GREAT MAN
NOW WHERE IS "IF I HAD A MILLION?"
It's funny you just watched this and The Man on the Flying Trapeze. I just saw both of those myself. Both are first-rate Fields. In Trapeze we feel the frustration of our inebriated hero; in this film we feel the frustration of those who have to deal with him. Two sides of Fields's character and both hilarious.
... Justin
i wish they would release "Tillie and Gus" on DVD, another classic
shareIt looks as if neither Tillie and Gus nor If I Had a Million have ever been released on video or DVD.
There must be a copyright issue. Let's hope the people involved settle the matter and release DVDs of both movies soon.
... Justin
If I Had a Million is available both on video and DVD on Amazon.com (only through private sellers, though).
I've yet to see You're Telling Me!, but I received it a few days ago and can hardly wait to see it! I'll tell you what I thought of it within a short time.
"Virtue needs some cheaper thrills." - Hobbe
I hope you like it as much as I did. I'll have to check out Amazon re If I Had a Million. Maybe those private sellers aren't asking too much .......
... Justin
two more WCF must see appearances: INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, he does a crazy amazing thing which I will not reveal
also TALES OF MANHATTAN ( I believe it's on Netflix): one of those "episode" movies with Edw. G. Robinson and other stars, a wonderful movie, but the best episode is Fields'
About If I had a Million, it's quite cheap in both formats, but there are currently only two DVD's available, so one better be quick.
I've yet to see Tales of Manhattan, but I liked International House very much; Fields is in top-form and it had an interesting story ("Television" was not a common word in movies in 1933) and was filled with highly amusing dialogue and slapstick. However, my favorite of Fields's movies so far is, unoriginally but understandably, It's a Gift.
"Virtue needs some cheaper thrills." - Hobbe
interesting how "It's A Gift" ends, like other films of that period, in a very zenlike fashion...somehow it works by just stopping
I love all those little cryptic zen(zeno?) like moments and non sequiturs that make WCF's movies so unique....which are actually moments of respecting the audience's intelligence, rather than dumbing down to them...we've lost that
Solid 10! This is one of Fields' best.
shareIt's such a funny movie. But then there are probably no Fields films that aren't worth watching.
...Justin Glory be, Delbert, you should eat! You're a count, for God's sake!
Can you tell me if the following scene is from this movie?
Fields character is talking to a desk clerk and from behind he hears "mister, mister" Fields character without looking back says "go away little boy" The child then says "Mister, give me a dollar" Field's character, again without looking back says "Ahhh, it's a little girl"
Cracks me up every time I think of it.
It's possible he used that gag in more than one movie, but it's definitely in The Golf Specialist (one of his short films). See that bit at 5:11: youtube.com/watch?v=XUMJ3U3qFmg.
...Justin
I gave it a ten. It has so many excellent scenes, it's hard to pick a favorite. I dearly love the gossips on the train and in town. Nora Cecil plays the part so well, as did that 'ugly' woman who was in "The Dentist." This movie shows the many sides of W. C. Fields.
shareThanks for replying. Have you rated any other W.C. Fields film that high?
By the way, it's nearly three years past time I fixed this sentence in the original post. Oops:
Lots of funny W.C. Fields material hung is loosely on the plot.
Hee hee...five years ago I promised to come back here and say what I thought of this film as soon as I'd watched it. Well since that time I've seen it 3 times, the last time being this evening. Needless to say, I love it; due to the scenes involving Fields's daughter it may not be quite as uninterruptedly hilarious as "It's a Gift," but plenty of the material EASILY displays Fields at his very, very best. He's in top form both verbally and physically; from the very beginning, with Fields arriving home "at 8.30" I'm in stitches. It's also nice (a great advantage, in fact) that although the plot provides a few scenes where Fields is not present or not given that much opportunity to be funny, at least it directly involves him, unlike the "sub-plots" in some of his other films. It's incredible how Fields starred in (and co-wrote) no less than THREE of the funniest films of all time within the single year of 1934, the other two being "It's a Gift" and "The Old-Fashioned Way."
share9/10 but was very tempted to give it a 10. Just loved it! =)
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