This was WC Feilds' very first film. He's 35 here. It was supposed to feature the poolroom routine Feilds was performing on the stage at the time but the director felt it wouldn't play on film..
W.C. was the greatest, but sound really made it for him, with his amazing voice. He was asked to play the Wizard in Wizard of Oz, he would have been great but Universal gave him a film package where he wrote and starred in some classics....smart choice!!
+Joseph Calderon The film, Wizard, was a failure when released. It took years to catch on. His son said he preferred writing, directing and starring in the 4 Universal films with total control instead of a small part in an iffy film so...we disagree on that one...
Wow, I just realized my Mother would of been one years old when this film was made. She lived to 63 being killed by a drunk driver at a crosswalk in Thousand Oaks in Oct, 1978.
Well you have to remember that in 1915, people were paying a nickle a piece to see these films flickered on a bed sheet hung up in a barn. They were cheap novel thrills. Film was young, and nobody ever anticipated to watch this film 100 years later. There was no critique for knockabout humor. They had no idea we'd still be watching them today. How could they have. Remember, films weren't important as they are today.
I like your vid clip and I've rated it as awesome. I've done another video clip on some old cigarette cards of 1930's movie stars, including: W.C. Fields , Bing Crosby, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo,Johnny Weismuller, Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard.
I liked the stooges' moment of nose grabbing and eye poking (Don't try that at home, children!) If it wasnt that he would have been eleven at he time I would have sworn that the handsome bloke in the boater hat was Cary Grant.
Bit of sloppy editing.When the rival falls into the rain barrel just before the scene cuts away you can see someone rushing up to get him out! didn't cut the film off quite soon anough.
Nice to see such vintage fields in such great shape.
Anything W.C is alright with me. He was fantastic.To bad he's not here today.Love him
Folks, it simply does not get any better than this....period.
There's some really funny stuff in here. The pool game was very clever.
This is so well restored its impossible to imagine this was filmed almost 100 years ago! =O
Beautiful posting, Thank You 4 putting a Smile on my face! long live ART..
This was WC Feilds' very first film. He's 35 here. It was supposed to feature the poolroom routine Feilds was performing on the stage at the time but the director felt it wouldn't play on film..
Superb quality; I've never seen this film looking so good. Congratulations for a great presentation job.
This is a humorous short. They did a great job 'restoring' it.
WC looks remarkably like Steve Martin here...Love his movies
W.C. was the greatest, but sound really made it for him, with his amazing voice. He was asked to play the Wizard in Wizard of Oz, he would have been great but Universal gave him a film package where he wrote and starred in some classics....smart choice!!
+saintcruzin He turned down the role of wizard because his money demands weren't met with the producers of the soon to be great film.
+Joseph Calderon The film, Wizard, was a failure when released. It took years to catch on. His son said he preferred writing, directing and starring in the 4 Universal films with total control instead of a small part in an iffy film so...we disagree on that one...
Very impressive of old song of Donnelly Philadelphia! It was my Little Grandmom (Alyce Donnelly ) 's First Cousin , William Claude Duckinfields!
2:08 - the poke-in-the-eye is one of THE FUNNIEST visual gags EVER! And, at 1915, this is probably the first-ever filmed version of it!
Wow, I just realized my Mother would of been one years old when this film was made. She lived to 63 being killed by a drunk driver at a crosswalk in Thousand Oaks in Oct, 1978.
Well you have to remember that in 1915, people were paying a nickle a piece to see these films flickered on a bed sheet hung up in a barn. They were cheap novel thrills. Film was young, and nobody ever anticipated to watch this film 100 years later. There was no critique for knockabout humor. They had no idea we'd still be watching them today. How could they have.
Remember, films weren't important as they are today.
good fun - thank you
Excellent, thanks. Over a hundred years ago, when there was poor plumbing, poor laundry, and everyone smelled a bit rank, including the women.
this was just on TV a little while ago. Everything looks better in black and white.
My Little Grandmom 's first cousin, William Claude Duckinfields, most funniest cousin.
Crude slapstick. Thank god!
Pool tables haven't changed much, have they?
Thanks for putting this up....!
An incredibly clear print. No intertitles, though.
It is Scott Jopling
The Heliotrope Bouquet, The Wall Street Rag and if I'm not mistaken, Sugar Cane.
Thank you. Any idea who the pianist is, and what the tune is?
I sing about Fields and others in The Celebrity Song.
simpfann,
What is your favorite W.C. Fields Film?
I like your vid clip and I've rated it as awesome. I've done another video clip on some old cigarette cards of 1930's movie stars, including: W.C. Fields , Bing Crosby, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo,Johnny Weismuller, Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard.
I bought a w.c. fields dvd but they have different music on that one than this for this episode
Good
WC would have been 35 in this film, but he looks older here. I suppose it's the moustache, hair, and clothes
Genius ... ever do any Boondoggling?
way cool...
I liked the stooges' moment of nose grabbing and eye poking (Don't try that at home, children!)
If it wasnt that he would have been eleven at he time I would have sworn that the handsome bloke in the boater hat was Cary Grant.
in all due respect ...YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING.. Steve Martin on his best day..couldn't shine WC Fields shoes...
cool
Scott Joplin "Heliotrope Bouquet"
Bit of sloppy editing.When the rival falls into the rain barrel just before the scene cuts away you can see someone rushing up to get him out! didn't cut the film off quite soon anough.
Not sure if its Scott Joplin.. If it is its probably very early. Scott Joplin is usually impossible amounts of notes. Its defiantly Ragtime though.
You can't beat the early movies. I've given you five stars, please check out my silent movie memorabilia vids (includes WC Fields)
when you have time.
crude slapstick, his later stuff was much better.