You're Telling Me (1934) :
Brief Review -
Madness overloaded! WC Fields knocks the ball out of the park in Julian Leonard Street's hilarious cinematic adaptation. The name WC Fields needs no further introduction as his legacy is still unmatchable even after decades. The man who knew exactly how to make you laugh with his out-and-out crazy persona and innocently eccentric behaviour does it again. The 20s belonged to iconic comedies by Buster Keaton, Charles Chaplin and Harold Lloyd, and in the same way, the 30s were ruled by Marx Bros. And WC Fields. Gregory La Cava made a silent comedy out of Julian Leonard Street's "Mr. Bisbee's Princess", which is remembered for Andolh Zukor's act. But one must understand that the silent era had some limits to comedy. WC Fields' talkie version overcomes that obstacle, and he himself made it work with all his signature laughter. A hard-drinking, socially awkward inventor, Mr. Brisbee, wrecks his daughter's chances of marriage into a rich family. He meets Princess Lescaboura on a train by chance, and the princess decides to make things right for him. This is a great script for an outright comedy film. The comedies aren't really dependent on stories, but this one makes sure that the writing leaves an impact too. All the situations are well-placed, nicely lined-up, and how crazily funny they are. There is no need to say that the performance by WC Fields stands out. But I was mesmerised by Adrienne Ames's presence too, unexpectedly. Louise Carter and Joan Marsh add good support. I didn't know that Erle C. Kenton was so good at comedies. He showed Fields just how it should have been done. WC Fields was at his peak in the 1930s, and this film just adds another apple to the basket. Overall, an excellent comedy with organic gags, brilliant performances, and timeless tricks.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Madness overloaded! WC Fields knocks the ball out of the park in Julian Leonard Street's hilarious cinematic adaptation. The name WC Fields needs no further introduction as his legacy is still unmatchable even after decades. The man who knew exactly how to make you laugh with his out-and-out crazy persona and innocently eccentric behaviour does it again. The 20s belonged to iconic comedies by Buster Keaton, Charles Chaplin and Harold Lloyd, and in the same way, the 30s were ruled by Marx Bros. And WC Fields. Gregory La Cava made a silent comedy out of Julian Leonard Street's "Mr. Bisbee's Princess", which is remembered for Andolh Zukor's act. But one must understand that the silent era had some limits to comedy. WC Fields' talkie version overcomes that obstacle, and he himself made it work with all his signature laughter. A hard-drinking, socially awkward inventor, Mr. Brisbee, wrecks his daughter's chances of marriage into a rich family. He meets Princess Lescaboura on a train by chance, and the princess decides to make things right for him. This is a great script for an outright comedy film. The comedies aren't really dependent on stories, but this one makes sure that the writing leaves an impact too. All the situations are well-placed, nicely lined-up, and how crazily funny they are. There is no need to say that the performance by WC Fields stands out. But I was mesmerised by Adrienne Ames's presence too, unexpectedly. Louise Carter and Joan Marsh add good support. I didn't know that Erle C. Kenton was so good at comedies. He showed Fields just how it should have been done. WC Fields was at his peak in the 1930s, and this film just adds another apple to the basket. Overall, an excellent comedy with organic gags, brilliant performances, and timeless tricks.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.