Details
Movie Description
In his last starring role, W.C. Fields plays himself, having a typical day at his studio, Esoteric Pictures. Director Eddie Cline masterfully imparts a certain level of surreal spontaneity to Field's digressions and misadventures. Fields eats breakfast, spars with a sarcastic waitress (Jody Gilbert), and then pitches his fractured script to studio head Franklin Pangborn. The script reading becomes a film within a film, commencing with the hero of the tale (Fields again playing himself) leaping out of an airplane in hot pursuit of a flask of whiskey. He lands on the bed of an innocent young girl and tries to seduce her before her mom (Margaret Dumont) comes crashing in. Fields then escapes over a cliff in a basket. Things get even more bizarre before Pangborn throws him out, and back into a "reality" that culminates in a lengthy, frenetic car chase. There's also some musical interludes courtesy Gloria Jean, a singing star Universal was grooming for success at the time. Though Fields undoubtedly bristled at the studio's insistence he share the bill, the two actually display a touching rapport in their scenes together; just another small miracle in this truly unique and hilarious film.
Synopsis
The irrepressible W.C. Fields takes on Hollywood, as he tries to sell his action-packed movie idea to a producer at Esoteric Pictures. As the film takes off, Fields finds himself playing out all the stunts in this outrageous plot. After leaping from an airplane (without a parachute), he has an unlikely romance with an inexperienced girl, and everything culminates in a lengthy and frenetic car chase. Throughout it all, Fields maintains his corrosive world view and egalitarian contempt for everything and everyone.
Film Notes
Theatrical release: October 10, 1941.
The classic car chase finale was reused in Abbot & Costello's IN SOCIETY.
Although he appeared in four more films, this was W.C. Fields' last starring role.
Quotations
"I was in love with a beautiful blonde once, dear. She drove me to drink, that's the one thing I'm indebted to her for."--W.C. Fields to Gloria Jean, in reply to her asking if he was ever married.
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