Magic Lantern Video & Book StoreW.C. Fields
![color portrait of W.C. Fields [1880-1946]](images/WCFields-color.jpg) |
short profile |
A merry Christmas to all my friends except two.
— Christmas card from W.C. Fields, circa 1940
You can fool half of the people all of the time and that's
enough to make a good living.
— W.C. Fields
(about W.C. Fields) Any man who hates dogs and children can't be all bad.
— Byron Darnton, New York Times reporter
Links
W.C. Fields entry at Wikipedia
W.C. Fields credits [1915-42] at Internet Movie Database
W.C. Fields credits [1905-31] at Internet Broadway Database
browse W.C. Fields on DVD
W.C. Fields posters category at AllPosters.com
TW's Official W.C. Fields Fan Club
http://www.wcfields.com/
http://www.duckprods.com/projects/wcf/wcf-scrapbook.html
http://silentgents.com/PFieldsWC.html
http://www.movieactors.com/superstars/wc_fields.htm
Movies of W.C. Fields
W.C. Fields credits [1915-42] at Internet Movie Database
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"The Complete Films of W. C. Fields" [2000] by Donald Deschner
Kensington/Citadel 11x8½ hardcover [6/2000] out of print/used "The Films of W. C. Fields" [1966] by Donald Deschner, Introduction by Arthur Knight Lyle Stuart 11x8½ pb [6/66] out of print/many used Lyle Stuart hardcover [6/66] out of print/used Citadel Press 10¾x8½ hardcover [6/66] out of print/many used |
 | "The Art of W. C. Fields" [1967] by William K. Everson Bonanza Books 10x7 hardcover [1967] out of print/used Bobbs-Merrill 10¼x7¼ hardcover [1967] out of print/many, many used |
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"The Golden Age of Comedy" [D.C.A. Dec 1957] features silent comic actors Billy Bevan, Charley Chase, Andy Clyde, W.C. Fields, Harry Langdon, Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy (from their 1929 short "Big Business"), Harold Lloyd, Our Gang, and others Co-produced, written & directed by Robert Youngson; narrated by Dwight Weist & Ward Wilson VidAmerica b&w VHS [3/92] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb available on DVD on "The First Kings of Comedy Collection" [1957 & 1960] Genius Ent b&w DVD set [10/2007] for $9.95 along with "When Comedy Was King" [Fox March 1960]: full credits from IMDb |
 | "Hidden Hollywood: Treasures From The 20th Century Fox Vaults" [1997 TV special]
Co-written, co-produced & directed by Kevin Burns Volume 2: hosted by Joan Collins; the mostly song-and-dance clips include Margaret Dumont, Alice Faye, W.C. Fields, Kay Francis, Betty Grable, skater Sonja Henie, Danny Kaye, Buster Keaton, Carole Landis, Victor Mature, Mitzi Mayfair, Carmen Miranda, the Nicholas Brothers, Martha Raye, the Ritz Brothers & Phil Silvers Image Ent. 90-min. color DVD [3/2002] for $13.99 full credits at IMDb |
 | "W.C. Fields: 6 Short Films" DVD Box Set [2000]
Criterion b&w DVD [8/2000] for $24.49 contains 6 b&w short films: "Pool Sharks" [Gaumont/Mutual 1915 silent]; "The Golf Specialist" [R.K.O. 1930]; "The Dentist" [Sennett Pictures 1932]; "The Fatal Glass of Beer" [Sennett Pictures 1933]; "The Barber Shop" [Sennett Pictures 1933]; and "The Pharmacist" [Sennett Pictures 1933]; extras include interviews & commentary NOTE: Transfer quality below Criterion's usual standard. "W.C. Fields Collected Shorts" [2002] Alpha Video b&w DVD [10/2002] for $7.98 contains 3 shorts: "The Golf Specialist" [1930], "The Dentist" [1932] & "The Fatal Glass of Beer" [ 1933] |
 | "W.C. Fields Comedy Collection - Volume One" DVD Box Set [2004] Universal Studios b&w DVD [11/2004] 5 disks for $47.49 contains 5 b&w feature films: "International House" [1933]; "It's A Gift" [1934]; "You Can't Cheat An Honest Man" [1939]; "The Bank Dick" [1940]; and "My Little Chickadee" [1940]; extras include trailers & the docufilm "W.C. Fields: Behind The Laughter" [Biography 1994] |
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"W.C. Fields Extravaganza" DVD Box Set [2005]
Passport Video DVD [3/2005] 3 disks for $17.99 contains 1 feature film, 5 shorts, 1 color cartoon, and 9 trailers & clips: "Sally of The Sawdust" [1925 silent feature] directed by D.W. Griffith; "Pool Sharks" silent short [Gaumont/Mutual 1915]; "The Golf Specialist" short [R.K.O. 1930]; "The Dentist" short [Sennett Pictures 1932]; "The Fatal Glass of Beer" short [Sennett Pictures 1933]; "Cupid Gets His Man" color cartoon short [Van Beuren 1936]; and 24-minute b&w short "Wayne and Shuster Take An Affectionate Look At W.C. Fields" [C.B.C./Revue 1965] |
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"W.C. Fields Comedy Collection - Volume Two" DVD Box Set [2007]
Universal Studios b&w DVD [3/2007] 5 disks for $43.99 contains 5 b&w feature films: "You're Telling Me!" [1934]; "The Old Fashioned Way" [1934]; "The Man On The Flying Trapeze" [1935]; "Poppy" [1936]; "Never Give A Sucker An Even Break" [1941]; extras include 2 trailers |
"Pool Sharks" silent comedy short [Gaumont/Mutual 1915]
"Sally of The Sawdust" [1925 silent feature]
Directed by D.W. Griffith; based on the hit Broadway play "Poppy"; starring Carol Dempster & W.C. Fields
http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Sawdust-Carol-Dempster/dp/6305211264/
"That Royle Girl" silent feature [Paramount Dec 1925]
Directed by D.W. Griffith; starring Carol Dempster, W.C. Fields, Harrison Ford, Paul Everton, Kathleen Chambers
& James Kirkwood; video/DVD not available {this silent film is considered lost};
full credits from IMDb
"It's the Old Army Game" [1926 silent feature] + poster
"So's Your Old Man" [1926 silent feature]
later remade as "You're Telling Me" [1934]
"Running Wild" [1927 silent feature]
"The Golf Specialist" comedy short [R.K.O. 1930]
"The Dentist" comedy short [Sennett Pictures 1932]
"If I Had A Million" [Paramount Dec 1932]
 | An unusual 'anthology' film from Paramount, with seven directors; based on the 1931 novel "Windfall" by Robert Hardy Andrews; an episodic delight, finally available on DVD: A dying millionaire gives money away to strangers chosen from the phone book. (Likely inspiration for the TV show 'The Millionaire'.)
Norman Taurog directed the "Prologue" & "Epilogue" segments; James Cruze directed the "Death Cell" segment; H. Bruce Humberstone directed the "The Forger" segment; Ernst Lubitsch directed "The Clerk" segment; Norman Z. McLeod directed the "China Shop" & "Road Hogs" segments; Stephen Roberts directed the "Violet" & "Grandma" segments; William A. Seiter directed the "Three Marines" segment; starring Richard Bennett; ensemble cast includes Gary Cooper, Frances Dee, W.C. Fields, Roscoe Karns, Charles Laughton, Jack Oakie, George Raft, Gene Raymond, May Robson & Charlie Ruggles
The DVD is offered for sale at Movies Unlimited (6/2009) but darned if I can find a new link at Amazon! Nostalgia Home Video DVD [2/2007] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb movie entry at Wikipedia |
"The Fatal Glass of Beer" comedy short [Sennett Pictures 1933]
"The Barber Shop" comedy short [Sennett Pictures 1933]
"The Pharmacist" comedy short [Sennett Pictures 1933]
"The Singing Boxer" [Sennett Pictures Jan 1933]
written by W.C. Fields, starring Donald Novis
"International House" [1933 sound feature]
"It's A Gift" [1934]
"The Old Fashioned Way" [1934]
"You're Telling Me!" [1934]
a remake of his silent comedy "So's Your Old Man" [1926]
"The Man On The Flying Trapeze" [1935]
"David Copperfield" [M.G.M. Oct 1935]
Directed by George Cukor; starring Freddie Bartholomew, Edna May Oliver, Elizabeth Allan, Hugh Walpole,
Basil Rathbone, Fay Chaldecott, Una O'Connor, Lionel Barrymore, Violet Kemble Cooper, Elsa Lanchester,
Jean Cadell, W.C. Fields, Roland Young, Lewis Stone, Frank Lawton, Madge Evans, Hugh Williams &
Maureen O'Sullivan; Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Assistant Director & Best Editing
full credits from IMDb
"Poppy" [1936]
"You Can't Cheat An Honest Man" [1939 comedy film]
starring and scripted by W. C. Fields
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Can%27t_Cheat_an_Honest_Man
"The Bank Dick" [1940] starring W.C. Fields
"My Little Chickadee" [1940]
starring W.C. Fields & Mae West
"Never Give A Sucker An Even Break" [1941]
"Tales of Manhattan" [1942]
A sequence with Fields & Margaret Dumont & Phil Silvers was cut from the original release of the film,
but is included in some home video releases. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035415/
"Song Of The Open Road" [1944]
Cameo role: Fields actually juggled for a few moments, remarking "This used to be my racket".
"Sensations of 1945" musical revue [1944]
Cameo role:
"Down Memory Lane" [Sennett/Eagle-Lion Aug 1949]
| 70-minute b&w compilation using four Mack Sennett shorts: "The Dentist" [Dec 1932] starring W.C. Fields; "In The Blue of The Night" [Jan 1933] starring Bing Crosby; "The Singing Boxer" [Jan 1933] written by W.C. Fields, starring Donald Novis; "Sing, Bing, Sing" [March 1933] starring Bing Crosby Co-produced by Mack Sennett; directed by Phil Karlson; written & hosted by Steve Allen {his first film}; with Frank Nelson & Mack Sennett
DVD/Blu-ray not available; full credits at IMDb |
Other Works by W.C. Fields
W.C. Fields Bibliography at Amazon
W.C. Fields credits [1905-31] at Internet Broadway Database
http://www.amazon.com/W-C-Fields-Himself-Autobiography/dp/0139444629/
http://www.amazon.com/quotations-W-C-Fields/dp/084731300X/
http://www.amazon.com/Fields-day-best-W-C/dp/0875292666/
spoken-word album, with his comic "Temperance Lecture" and "The Day I Drank A Glass of Water"
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"Fields for President" [1940] by W.C. Fields
The 1940 edition includes illustrations by Otto Soglow; the 1971 reprint is illustrated with photographs of Fields, with 'Introduction & Commentary' by Michael M. Taylor Bantam Doubleday Dell 9x5½ pb [1972] for $0.00 Dodd, Mead & Co. 9½x6¼ hardcover [1971] out of print/many, many used |
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"Tales For Males: Selected For Man's Enjoyment" [1945] Edited by Ed Fitzgerald Cadillac Publng hardcover [1/45] out of print/rare stories by Konrad Bercovici, James M. Cain, Morley Callaghan, George S. Chappell, John Collier, Clarence Day Jr., John Fante, W.C. Fields, Corey Ford, Benjamin Franklin, C.A. Hamilton, Fred C. Kelly, Arthur Kober, Ring Lardner, Dorothy Parker, William Saroyan, Bernard Sobel, Donald Ogden Stewart, Frank Sullivan, James Thurber, George Weller and others |
 | "Drat! Being The Encapsulated View of Life by W. C. Fields In His Own Words" [1969] Edited by Richard J. Anobile, Introduction by Ed McMahon Signet/NAL mass pb [7/69] out of print/used Signet/NAL 7x5 pb [7/69] out of print/many used |
Works About W.C. Fields
"Cupid Gets His Man" color cartoon short [Van Beuren/R.K.O. July 1936]
Cupid must bring all his resources into play to corral two crabby neighbors, obvious caricatures
of comedian W.C. Fields and spinster actress Edna Mae Oliver [1883-1942]; credits at IMDb
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"W.C. Fields: His Follies and Fortunes" [1949] by Robert Lewis Taylor, with 16 pages of photos St. Martin's Press 8¼x5½ pb [9/89] out of print/used Signet/NAL mass pb [1967] out of print/used Bantam mass pb [1951] out of print/used Doubleday hardcover [1949] out of print/used |
"Wayne and Shuster Take An Affectionate Look At W.C. Fields" [C.B.C./Revue 1965]
24-minute b&w short, available on "W.C. Fields Extravaganza" DVD box set {above};
credits at IMDb
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"A Flask of Fields: Verbal & Visual Gems From The Films of W.C. Fields" [1972] Edited by Richard J. Anobile, Introduction by Raymond Rohauer W.W. Norton 11x8½ hardcover [6/72] out of print/many, many used Crown/Darien House hardcover [6/72] out of print/many used "Godfrey Daniels: Verbal & Visual Gems From The Short Films of W.C. Fields" [1975] Edited by Richard J. Anobile, Introduction by Raymond Rohauer Avon 10¾x8¼ pb [1975] out of print/used Crown/Darien House 11x8¾ hardcover [1975] out of print/many used |
 | "W.C. Fields: Straight Up" documentary [PBS-TV March 1986]
94-minute color/b&w docufilm with clips from his silent films, his early talkie shorts for Mack Sennett, and his later classic sound films; Co-produced & co-written by Robert B. Weide & Ronald J. Fields; co-written & directed by Joseph Adamson; narrated by Dudley Moore; featuring Ronald J. Fields, Will Fowler, Gloria Jean, Madge Kennedy, Leonard Maltin & Joseph L. Mankiewicz; won Emmy for Outstanding Informational Special Whyaduck Prodns color/b&w DVD [5/2004] out of prodn/scarce Whyaduck Prodns color/b&w VHS [7/2002] out of prodn/scarce full credits at IMDb |
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"W.C. Fields: Behind The Laughter" [A&E Biography Aug 1994] hour-long 'Biography' episode directed by Andrea Black, written by Russ Firestone; narrated by Peter Graves; featuring Ronald J. Fields, Will Fowler, Gloria Jean, Ed McMahon & Rod Steiger available on "W.C. Fields Comedy Collection - Volume One" DVD box set {above} full credits at IMDb |
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"Groucho and W.C. Fields: Huckster Comedians" [1994] by Wes D. Gehring Univ Press of Mississippi 9x6&frac4 pb [12/94] for $18.00 Univ Press of Mississippi 9½x6½ hardcover [12/94] for $42.00 Groucho Marx [1890-1977] at Magic Lantern Video & Book Store |
 | "A Fatal Glass of Beer" [1997] by Stuart M. Kaminsky [1934-2009]
When comedy actor W.C. Fields learns that the money is being taken from his many secret bank accounts (set up across America during his vaudeville career), he hires Hollywood private investigator Toby Peters to help hunt down the culprit, one Lester O. Hipnoodle Mysterious Press hardcover [4/97] out of print/many used |
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"Man On The Flying Trapeze: The Life and Times of W.C. Fields" [1997] biography by Simon Louvish W.W. Norton 9¼x6¼ pb [3/99] for $15.39 W.W. Norton hardcover 9¼x6¼ [9/97] out of print/many used |
 | "Never Give A Sucker An Even Break: W.C. Fields On Business" [2000] by {grandson} Ronald L. Fields, with Shaun O'L. Higgins Prentice Hall Press illustrated 8¼x5½ pb [1/2000] out of print/many used Prentice Hall Press illustrated 8¼x5½ hardcover [1/2000] out of print/many used |
 | "W.C. Fields: A Biography" [2003] by James Curtis
Back Stage Books 9x6 pb [9/2004] out of print/used Knopf 9½x6½ hardcover [3/2003] out of print/used |
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"The Great Man: W.C. Fields" [Passport Intl. Ent. video release Feb 2005] 80-minute documentary co-produced, written & directed by Phillip Dye Passport Video DVD [2/2005] for $9.98 credits at IMDb |
 | "Hollywood's Classic Comedies: Featuring Slapstick, Romance, Music, Glamour or Screwball Fun!" [2007] by John Howard Reid
Lulu.com 10¾x8 pb [6/2007] for $19.95 200 films reviewed and rated, covering all genres of movie comedy; featured comedy teams include Bud Abbott & Lou Costello, George Burns & Gracie Allen, The Crazy Gang, Bob Hope & Bing Crosby, Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy, Ole Olsen & Chic Johnson, and Bert Wheeler & Robert Woolsey; featured comedians include Joe E. Brown, Eddie Cantor, Charlie Chaplin, Claudette Colbert, Joan Davis, W.C. Fields, Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Stanley Holloway, Buster Keaton, Percy Kilbride, Arthur Lake, Harold Lloyd, Marjorie Main, Will Rogers, Penny Singleton, Red Skelton, The Three Stooges, Jacques Tati, Clifton Webb & Norman Wisdom |
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"Hollywood's Hellfire Club: The Misadventures of John & Lionel Barrymore, W.C. Fields, Errol Flynn, and 'The Bundy Drive Boys'" [2007] by Gregory William Mank, with Charles Heard & Bill Nelson Among the notable off-screen hell-raisers here are John Barrymore, John Carradine, artist John Decker, W.C. Fields, Errol Flynn, writers Gene & Will Fowler, art critic Sadakichi Hartmann, writer Ben Hecht & Anthony Quinn Feral House 9½x6 pb [10/2007] for $15.61 |
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"Hollywood's Original Rat Pack: The Bards of Bundy Drive" [2008] by Stephen C. Jordan Parties hosted by eccentric artist John Decker at his home on Bundy Drive in West Los Angeles included notable off-screen hell-raisers John & Lionel Barrymore, John Carradine, W.C. Fields, Errol Flynn, writers Gene & Will Fowler, art critic Sadakichi Hartmann, writer Ben Hecht & actor Anthony Quinn Scarecrow Press 8¾x6 pb [1/2008] for $45.00 |
W.C. Fields's Family & Friends
wife Harriet 'Hattie' Hughes Fields []
married 1904, separated 1907, divorced 1940
son William Claude Fields, Jr. [1904-?]
son William Rexford Fields Morris [1917-?]
with Zeigfield Follies performer Bessie Poole []
grandson William Claude Fields III
grandson Ronald L. Fields
 | "Children of Hollywood: Accounts of Growing Up As The Sons & Daughters of Stars" [2005] by Michelle Vogel Drawn from interviews with celebrity offspring – sons, daughters & grandchildren of Eddie Cantor, Douglas Fairbanks, W.C. Fields, Ruth Hussey, Boris Karloff, Mario Lanza, Jerry Lewis & the Marx Brothers – who also provided never-before-published snapshots of Hollywood legends at home. McFarland & Co. 8¾x6 pb [3/2005] for $35.00 |
paramour Carlotta Monti [1907-93] from 1932-1946
  | "W.C.Fields and Me: Memories of The Great One - By The Woman Who Lived With Him For 14 Years" [1971 bestseller] by Carlotta Monti, with Cy Rice New English Library Ltd mass pb [12/75] out of print/used Warner Books mass pb [1976] out of print/used M. Joseph hardcover [1974] out of print/used |
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TITLE [studio mo YR] 1976 film of the same name starring Rod Steiger DVD [8/00] for $0.00 VHS [8/00] for $0.00 full credits at IMDb |
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