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.
I would really like to be laughing watching this movie. Unfortunately, nothing seemed worth laughing to me.
This was my first Fields movie - and seeing that it's "considered by film historians to be one of Fields' best and funniest films" - while to me it was as funny as movies about Holocaust - makes me shriek at the thought of watching other Fields' films.
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'.
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...
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.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 17
jmars
https://ok.ru/video/52150751133897Dimitris Psachos Springer
https://archive.org/details/itsagift1934umnegociodachinaunericheaffairethetramp
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.
MMDan
I haven't been able to find this online, so I just ordered a VHS copy from Amazon.John Milton
not a Fields fan, but this was quite enjoyable! easily the best I've seen from his many filmsClassicLady
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.melle224
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 badmayshake
I would really like to be laughing watching this movie. Unfortunately, nothing seemed worth laughing to me.This was my first Fields movie - and seeing that it's "considered by film historians to be one of Fields' best and funniest films" - while to me it was as funny as movies about Holocaust - makes me shriek at the thought of watching other Fields' films.
lauli
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)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.
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...
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.TheGallopingGhost
Maybe I missed something, but nothing in this film made me laugh.Showing items 1 – 15 of 17