A W.C. Fields comedy and drama, in which he plays the lead, as The Great McGonigle, of a smalltime traveling vaudeville group, who seldom pay their boarding bill before disappearing from town, and try to get others to pay for their performance expenses, so they can keep most of the receipts. The sheriff is at the train, waiting for W.C. to show up, to serve him a warrant. But W.C. has a hot idea how to destroy the warrant and board the train with the rest of his troupe.
W.C. is having dinner with the troupe in Mrs. Wendelschiffer's boarding house, when the wealthy widow Cleopatra Pepperday(Jan Duggan) shows up with her young son, Albert(Baby LeRoy). They join the feast, with Albert sitting in a high chair next to W.C., who becomes the victim of several baby pranks. Albert takes his watch and dunks it in a bowl of molasses, then tweaks W.C.'s bulbous nose. Next, he throws some oatmeal on W.C.'s face. In retaliation, after the others have left, W.C. kicks Albert in the butt lightly, so as not to make him cry.
W.C. gets Cleopatra to sponsor the troupe's play "The Drunkard" by flattering her awful singing(Gathering the Shells at the Seashore" and by promising to give her a small part, with one line, in the play. She's excited by this prospect, but is disappointed when the final curtain closes, without having been on stage. The play is a dull affair: late 19th century styled, and takes up a significant amount of time. However, it is followed by the highlight of the film: an exhibition of W.C.'s juggling talent. Juggling was the chief showbiz skill of W.C. in his early career. It's said he used to juggle oranges and apples when not tending customers to his father's street fruits and vegies cart.
W.C.'s film daughter, Betty(Judith Allen), has an admirer(Wally), who has been following the troupe wherever they go. She's hesitant to accept, because his parents are wealthy upper class, who typically look down on theatrical performers. In fact, Wally's father, who comes to see what Wally is up to, says he doesn't want his son to merry her. Fortunately, he later changes his mind, and gives his blessing to their engagement. However, he doesn't want to see W.C., whom he considers a low life. W.C overhears this conversation, and announces he's quitting the troupe, and moving to NYC. But, he doesn't say what he will do there. I have the impression he has done some of this before.
Overall, not one of my favorite W.C. comedies, but worthwhile to see his juggling skill.
W.C. is having dinner with the troupe in Mrs. Wendelschiffer's boarding house, when the wealthy widow Cleopatra Pepperday(Jan Duggan) shows up with her young son, Albert(Baby LeRoy). They join the feast, with Albert sitting in a high chair next to W.C., who becomes the victim of several baby pranks. Albert takes his watch and dunks it in a bowl of molasses, then tweaks W.C.'s bulbous nose. Next, he throws some oatmeal on W.C.'s face. In retaliation, after the others have left, W.C. kicks Albert in the butt lightly, so as not to make him cry.
W.C. gets Cleopatra to sponsor the troupe's play "The Drunkard" by flattering her awful singing(Gathering the Shells at the Seashore" and by promising to give her a small part, with one line, in the play. She's excited by this prospect, but is disappointed when the final curtain closes, without having been on stage. The play is a dull affair: late 19th century styled, and takes up a significant amount of time. However, it is followed by the highlight of the film: an exhibition of W.C.'s juggling talent. Juggling was the chief showbiz skill of W.C. in his early career. It's said he used to juggle oranges and apples when not tending customers to his father's street fruits and vegies cart.
W.C.'s film daughter, Betty(Judith Allen), has an admirer(Wally), who has been following the troupe wherever they go. She's hesitant to accept, because his parents are wealthy upper class, who typically look down on theatrical performers. In fact, Wally's father, who comes to see what Wally is up to, says he doesn't want his son to merry her. Fortunately, he later changes his mind, and gives his blessing to their engagement. However, he doesn't want to see W.C., whom he considers a low life. W.C overhears this conversation, and announces he's quitting the troupe, and moving to NYC. But, he doesn't say what he will do there. I have the impression he has done some of this before.
Overall, not one of my favorite W.C. comedies, but worthwhile to see his juggling skill.