W.C. Fields Steals the Show


I was watching this film on TCM this morning, primarily to catch Mr. Fields in it. I was familiar with the general outline of the story, having seen a British production on PBS of a few years back, but had forgotten many of the details. I'm a relatively recent fan of Mr. Fields and have been trying to catch everything he was in. I'd known of his appearance in this film for some years, so I was looking forward to finally seeing him as Mr. Micawber. I thought he was great as the kindly and good-natured ne'er-do-well, with all his clever lines and witticisms, but I was disappointed by his fairly short screen time. I stopped watching after I realized his scenes were over. I've continued taping, though, in case he yet reappears. Although the cast and overall production values are very impressive, for me, Fields was worth the price of admission, and literally steals the show. On the other hand, I found the movie a little slow-going and tedious at first. The voices of the British cast seemed shrill, high-pitched, and screechy, due, I guess, to the actual quality of the sound as it was restored from original to digital, or however they do it. I found it difficult to understand much of the dialogue. Fortunately, I heard everything Mr.Fields said perfectly. His character of Mr. Micawber was a welcome breath of fresh air after all the unlikeable and unsavory people in little David's life up till then. Hopefully, Fields will return before the film ends. I'll check my recording of it shortly. As Mr. Micawber himself might say, "In short, a great performance from W.C. Fields".

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Yes, British accents can be hard to catch - I've had years of practice from watching 'Coronation Street' (a Brit soap). And, too, they used some colloquial expressions (and some that were 'archaic/periodic') so you have to have some experience with older films to catch them.

When I first starting watching classic movies, I used a dictionary quite a bit but, nowadays, I guess you simply need to 'google' any expressions/words you're not clear on. How times change!

'There’s a name for you ladies, but it’s not used - Outside a kennel! (Crystal Allen in The Women)'

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I hope you've checked your video tape. Fields does reappear in the film. In fact, it is he who helps take down the villain, Uriah Heep. (Sorry -- if you haven't watched the end, I just ruined it for you.)

I have seen other film versions of this novel, and I believe W.C. Fields to be the best Wilkins Micawber. I also think Edna May Oliver is the best Betsy Trotwood.

Spin

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I agree with you that W.C. Fields is the best Micawber ever. And I enjoy Edna May Oliver who is so very good as Betsey Trotwood. But I also like Edith Evans as Betsey in the 1970 version. I can't decide who is best out of those two ladies. I like the character and her relationship with Mr Dick. I enjoy those two characters most of all in the David Copperfield story.

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I agree 100%. This would be a good movie w/o Fields but is an excellent one with him. Clearly the best performance of his career.




Remember When Movies Didn't Have To Be Politically Correct?

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Yes, it's a great movie on its own, and Fields was superb, brilliant and hilarious; stole the show. What a cast. Edna May Oliver, as always, lights up the set with her spellbinding eccentricity.

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yes, it is true,... W.C. Fields literally stole this film.

A propmaster on the film originally was blamed, but when confronted by policeman told them it was "Dukenfield!" and W.C. Fields was arrested.

After showing up drunk, Fields entertained the court with his juggling to the point that the Judge (laughing so hard with tears in his eyes)released him without reprimand.

7 years after his death, in late 1953 it is rumored Fields again stold this film along with a film called "gentlemen prefer blondes" starring a young starlet named Marilyn Monroe.

It was not me.

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I totally agree! Bill was well known for his dislike of kids, yet he pulls off a gem of a performance here.
The English accent notwithstanding, he's great and playing it mostly straight for a change.
Absolutely he "steals the show".

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From what I know about the film career of W.C. Fields, "David Copperfield" was the only movie in which Fields never slipped in his famed ad libs; he remained strictly within the confines of the script and did a quite admirable job with his serio-comic acting performance.

Whatever you do, DO NOT read this sig--ACKKK!!! TOO LATE!!!

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I'm currently reading &quot;David Copperfield&quot; and I found it an arduous struggle and exceedingly difficult - in short, impossible - to avoid hearing Field's particular vocal delivery in a passage like this:

'Under the impression,' said Mr. Micawber, 'that your peregrinations in this metropolis have not as yet been extensive, and that you might have some difficulty in penetrating the arcana of the Modern Babylon in the direction of the City Road, — in short,' said Mr. Micawber, in another burst of confidence, 'that you might lose yourself — I shall be happy to call this evening, and install you in the knowledge of the nearest way.'
Charles Laughton was originally cast in this role but, on the basis of the rushes, took against his own performance and begged to be released. It was he who suggested casting W.C.Fields in the role and the idea of casting a popular comedian in a costume drama was inspired.

However, this was a very rare magic. When it was tried again, with the casting of Michael Richards in the role in the 2000 TV version, the result was truly disastrous.


Call me Ishmael...

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Edna May Oliver's portrayal of Aunt Betsey was the stand out performance for me. A mixture of comical and stern moments were accelerated by her character, which is why she was the most memorable.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".

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I'll say...

Love The Oldies

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Edna May stole the movie without trying. She's more talented than she got credited for. For example, in "The Story of William and Irene Castle."

W. C. Fields was just annoying, especially knowing that he could not STAND children, personally. It was as if the studio kept looking for reasons to insert him into the script which were not in the book.

I guess he was the fashion back then. Fields should have stuck to Mae West movies, whom I also grew to find obnoxious. The same ol' schtick gets tired.

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W. C. Fields was just annoying, especially knowing that he could not STAND children, personally.


That was mere "shtick" and no more true of the real world and private Fields than Dean Martin's "drunk humor" or Jack Benny's "stinginess" were of Martin and Benny.

Okay folks, show's over, nothing to see here!

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I remember reading somewhere that Fields was a big fan of Dickens.

I'm all right, I'm alllll right!

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I liked Edna May Oliver, the Good Bitch of the West...


Love The Oldies

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Glad you like Miss Oliver but I wouldn't refer to her as any kind of "B-word" anymore than I would to my cranky old great-aunt who's trying to teach me manners.

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