W.C. Fields

  • It’s a Gift (1934)

    It’s a Gift (1934)

    ByChristian Sauvé Movie Review

    (On Cable TV, February 2021) It’s really not a good sign when you finish watching a movie only to wonder if that’s it — if there’s not something missing. To be fair, It’s a Gift is not a movie made for the narrative experience. Barely clocking in at 68 minutes, it’s a collection of vaudeville sketches arranged around a very thin plot. Trying to watch the film for its story is a losing proposition, so clumsily does the film make its way from problem to conclusion before you even expect it. Somewhat more successful are the comic set-pieces — the film features WC Fields acting the way he best knew, reprising some of his theatrical routines for the cinema and mugging throughout. A strong irritant is the misogynistic portrayal of marriage, with the male character being hounded almost non-stop by a shrewish wife and ungrateful children as he chases his dream of a Californian orange grove. He gets it almost accidentally, with a windfall raining down on him as part of a happy conclusion. I have a higher-than-average appreciation for mid-1930s comedies, but I’m at a loss regarding It’s a Gift — is that it? Have I missed anything?

  • The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observation of David Copperfield the Younger aka David Copperfield (1935)

    The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observation of David Copperfield the Younger aka David Copperfield (1935)

    ByChristian Sauvé Movie Review

    (On Cable TV, May 2019) As faithful an adaptation of Dicken’s semi-autobiographical novel as could be expected from a mid-thirties Hollywood super production. (Today, David Copperfield would be best handled as a miniseries.)  Great production values, from costumes to sets to then-rare outdoors shots. But the film is perhaps best seen to the semi-amazing cast, including W. C. Fields in a more or less serious role, the incomparable Edna May Oliver in a likable role, and other 1930s notables such as Basil Rathbone and Lionel Barrymore. Directed by George Cukor, showing early prowess handling complex ensemble cast.