Absolutely hilarious and the manner in which Fields seems to casually accept his misfortune in each scene as if it's the natural state of things, but keeps pressing on is great, and his timing and delivery is always exceptional.
Great dialogue even if it doesn't have the one liner crackle and pop of a Marx brothers routine. Deservedly an all timer.
The lines and jokes in this film aren't much different from a Married...with Children episode, so I don't see what some people refer to as 'dated comedy'.
I think the problem with Fields today, as with so many other comedians of the era, is that so much of their acts have been absorbed. To modern viewers, there's nothing in this film that we haven't seen before a dozen times over. To contemporary audiences, this would have been groundbreaking comedy.
Indeed.
However, great material generally keeps its appeal "forever", which is the reason many of Marx Brothers' comedies still work - Everyone can fall on their ass, not everyone can come up with great lines though ("Women should be obscene, not heard!")
Slapstick generally ages badly unless it is particularly daring, like some of Keaton's or Lloyd's stunts.
Other Fields-stuff, such as "The Bank Dick", have moments of greatness ("Take your hat off in the presence of a gentleman!" - adressing a liquor bottle), this one just falls flat unfortunately...
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Comments 1 - 15 of 17
John Milton
not a Fields fan, but this was quite enjoyable! easily the best I've seen from his many filmsmelle224
I think that guy wanted some kumquats.george4mon
i liked the last 2 minutes. the rest was very frustratinginvisiblecities
man this film stressed me out so badthetramp
Absolutely hilarious and the manner in which Fields seems to casually accept his misfortune in each scene as if it's the natural state of things, but keeps pressing on is great, and his timing and delivery is always exceptional.Great dialogue even if it doesn't have the one liner crackle and pop of a Marx brothers routine. Deservedly an all timer.
Dimitris Psachos Springer
https://archive.org/details/itsagift1934umnegociodachinaunericheaffaireClassicLady
There are funny scenes (the porch sleeping scene) which stand up over time. There are others that didn't age so well. Overall, a very funny movie.TheMajor
The lines and jokes in this film aren't much different from a Married...with Children episode, so I don't see what some people refer to as 'dated comedy'.I thought it was hilarious. Very good.
Duke of Omnium
I think the problem with Fields today, as with so many other comedians of the era, is that so much of their acts have been absorbed. To modern viewers, there's nothing in this film that we haven't seen before a dozen times over. To contemporary audiences, this would have been groundbreaking comedy.jmars
https://ok.ru/video/52150751133897lauli
I'm not crazy about it. I too thought it was quite dated, and I see nothing in it that matches the Marx brothers (who still manage to crack me up)MarkE89
Indeed.However, great material generally keeps its appeal "forever", which is the reason many of Marx Brothers' comedies still work - Everyone can fall on their ass, not everyone can come up with great lines though ("Women should be obscene, not heard!")
Slapstick generally ages badly unless it is particularly daring, like some of Keaton's or Lloyd's stunts.
Other Fields-stuff, such as "The Bank Dick", have moments of greatness ("Take your hat off in the presence of a gentleman!" - adressing a liquor bottle), this one just falls flat unfortunately...
jhhayes
Very funny film with great dialogue.monty
Spectacularly unfunny.MMDan
I haven't been able to find this online, so I just ordered a VHS copy from Amazon.Showing items 1 – 15 of 17