W.C. Fields Comedy Collection, Vol. 2 (1941)

If you don't get Fields at first..."then try, try again"...and DON'T give up

"A thing worth having, is a thing worth cheating for."

That may be true, Great Man, yet I am sorry to admit that I could never try to cheat this set to me. Having done such an exquisite job restoring the rest of the very best of one of the most side-splitting and original funny-men to ever enter the screen, Universal deserves all the credit they can get. Not quite as much credit as the man who made it all possible in the first place, though: W.C. Fields!

The debate as to which film is the best in this set seems to vary to such a tremendous degree that I'll not bother to try telling you which one to watch first. MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE, YOU'RE TELLING ME!, THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY--if you appreciate golden humor from the golden era in the least sense, you can't go wrong with any of these. NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK is also terrific, despite what some may say. The only bit of a letdown to me was POPPY, which focused too much on the difficult love affair between a boy and the daughter of the Great Man than the Great Man himself (he's as hilarious as always, no worries; I just wish he could be seen more in it). There's a little documentary from the mid-1960's as a bonus on one of the discs, covering his life and (mostly) career through clips from his films. Sadly, the doco has not aged one tenth as well as the films it presents, but is nevertheless charming to the fan. Just don't try to introduce the unaqcuainted with it.

Fields does not seem to appeal to everyone. I, for one, had a hard time figuring out what this "Great Man" was all about for a while. Thankfully, I was patient, and now I am completely addicted; I can't get enough of this outstanding comic genius. His style is so delicately spontaneous and lacks every trace of self-absorbness that you may not recognize at first that only a true craftsman could do it. So if you happen to be one of those "jabbernowls" who don't appreciate his brand of comedy; Give Him An Even Break, will ya.

Best of all, Fields taught me to laugh at the pains of troubled family life, to recognize the absurdity which an argument of incomprehensible threats and acusassions actually possesses. Thank you ever so much. April 15, 2008

Essential for any fan - BUY IT!

Watch The Master at work. Laugh. Repeat.

For those that don't understand or care for Fields' brand of humor, tell them to take a hike while you watch it alone. If they pester you while you are watching it, enjoy having something in common with The Great McGonigle! March 19, 2008

Fields of Dreams!

If you love ol' W.C. this, and volume one, are must-haves! I guarantee you will laugh and marvel once again at the guy's genius, his delivery, timing, physical comedy, and daredevil political incorrectness. And if you want to turn your kids on to Fields, it's a sure shot- my son was laughing so hard we missed the next five lines of dialogue! Sure not every moment of every film is glowing. Unfortunately the studios seemed to have saddled W.C. with young starlets singing shmaltzy songs - but with the miracle of DVD you can just zip forward, or pick out the scenes that Fields is in from the menu. The films look and sound crisp, it's a great reissue, and most of these movies have been out of circulation for decades. So do yourself a favor and get a hold of these comedy treasures. February 23, 2008

It's About Time!

This much overdue compilation of some of W.C. Fields best work is a companion to Volume One which included the Comedy Classics "It's a Gift" and "The Bank Dick", Field's two best films in my opinion. While this volume does not have a close rival to those two films, the films included here nonetheless have quite a bit to offer any Fields Fan.

"You're Telling Me" features the hilarious extended Golfing Scene with Field's very suspect caddy...

"The Old Fashioned Way" included Fields at his best when it comes to dealing with little obnoxioius children (in this one, Field literally gives "the boot" to arch nemesis Baby LeRoy...

"Man on the Flying Trapeze" (which has nothing to do with a man on a flying Trapeze) features a memorable cast of family characters who Fields ultimately triumphs over... This film is often overlooked in the Fields Pantheon but I think it's a gem!

"Poppy" features the essential Fields personality, the con man who gets by on his personality flaws to make a living...

"Never Give a Sucker an Even Break" is perhaps most interesting in this collection as it is Fields Last Major Starring Film (1941) playing more or less himself but in fantasy sequences often laced with his special brand of boozing humour. Such lines as "I was in love with a beautiful blond once. She drove me to drink and that is the one thing I am indebted to her for!" This movie also contains Franklin Pangborn, who played the memorable Bank Examiner J. Pinkerton Snoopington in "The Bank Dick" the year before this film was made.

All in all, an excellent follow-up to Volume I and a must for the serious W.C. Fields Fan. It is encouraging to see these volumes come out to help preserve the legacy of this comic genius... February 17, 2008

Great DVD, TERRIFIC PRICE!!!

WC at his best, a must have for the old B&W comedy fan...or anyone who enjoys a real master of comedy at work. January 20, 2008

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