POPPY is a decent W.C. Fields film, though if you are looking for one of his better films I suggest you try IT'S A GIFT or THE BANK DICK. Now this isn't to say that this is a bad film--it just isn't as funny as many of his other films. I think the biggest difference between this and the better films is that POPPY has a very fully developed plot. Believe it or not, in many of Fields' better films, the plot is almost unnecessary! But here, there are romantic subplots that don't seem that at home with Fields' style--particularly making him a loving father!
The film begins with Fields and his 18 year-old daughter, Poppy, arriving in town. He is a grifter and immediately goes about fleecing many people as possible in very short order. His daughter, on the other hand, is honest and sweet--and this really makes no sense as you'd expect her to be a flim-flam artist as well. Regardless, during most of these early scenes, Fields is in his element--playing the lovable rogue people enjoy in films. Unfortunately, Poppy's romance does a lot to hinder the flow--I would have much rather seen more Fields.
Later, Fields discovers that there is a fortune waiting to be collected by a missing heiress--an heiress about the same age as Poppy. So, he fakes a marriage certificate and presents Poppy as this long-lost lady. At first, it goes well--people are quick to believe Poppy is the real thing. Later, however, things get mucked up a bit. How and what happens next is something you'll have to see for yourself.
Overall, a decent plot and Fields was surprisingly good as the loving father/con-man. But alas, too much of the film had to do with Poppy and her romance--making this a decent but definitely 2nd rate outing for Fields.
The film begins with Fields and his 18 year-old daughter, Poppy, arriving in town. He is a grifter and immediately goes about fleecing many people as possible in very short order. His daughter, on the other hand, is honest and sweet--and this really makes no sense as you'd expect her to be a flim-flam artist as well. Regardless, during most of these early scenes, Fields is in his element--playing the lovable rogue people enjoy in films. Unfortunately, Poppy's romance does a lot to hinder the flow--I would have much rather seen more Fields.
Later, Fields discovers that there is a fortune waiting to be collected by a missing heiress--an heiress about the same age as Poppy. So, he fakes a marriage certificate and presents Poppy as this long-lost lady. At first, it goes well--people are quick to believe Poppy is the real thing. Later, however, things get mucked up a bit. How and what happens next is something you'll have to see for yourself.
Overall, a decent plot and Fields was surprisingly good as the loving father/con-man. But alas, too much of the film had to do with Poppy and her romance--making this a decent but definitely 2nd rate outing for Fields.