International House, It's a Gift & The Bank Dick

·51 min·5 clips

Who is the modern-day incarnation of W.C. Fields, and why does the host dismiss obvious answers like Dudley Moore?

In the 731st episode of 'Have You Ever Seen', host Ryan Ellis presents a triple-header review of W.C. Fields comedies. He opens by questioning who the modern-day incarnation of Fields might be, dismissing suggestions like Dudley Moore. Ellis explains his process of acquiring the films through the library and Internet Archive. He provides release dates: 'International House' (May 27, 1933), 'It's a Gift' (November 17, 1934), and 'The Bank Dick' (November 29, 1940). The host shares Rotten Tomatoes scores: 'International House' has 83% critic and 71% audience ratings, 'It's a Gift' has 94% and 76%, and 'The Bank Dick' has 96% and 74%. He notes 'It's a Gift' ranked 58th on AFI's 100 Laughs list, while 'The Bank Dick' was nominated for the AFI Top 100. Ellis discusses National Film Registry inductions: 'The Bank Dick' entered in 1992, and 'It's a Gift' in 2010. He explains the Librarian of Congress selects the 25 annual entries based on board recommendations and public suggestions. For 'International House', Ellis summarizes the plot involving a radioscope invention, starring Peggy Hopkins Joyce, George Burns, Gracie Allen, and Bela Lugosi. He critiques its pre-Code elements and episodic structure. For 'It's a Gift', he praises director Norman Z. McLeod and highlights the famous 'trying to sleep' sequence with physical gags. Ellis analyzes the plot where Harold Bissonette inherits money and buys a worthless orange grove that becomes valuable. For 'The Bank Dick', he notes Stanley Kubrick was a fan and details the plot where Egbert Sousé becomes a bank detective after accidentally thwarting a robbery. Ellis compares Fields' character across all three films as a bumbling, drunken figure who ends up rich. He reflects on Fields' legacy, placing him alongside Chaplin, Keaton, and Mae West as early talkie comedy icons. The episode concludes with Ellis answering a listener question about favorite film decades, ranking the 1970s and 1990s first, followed by the 1980s and 1940s. He previews next week's review of 'Out of the Past' and possibly 'The Spiral Staircase'.

As heard by us

A W.C. Fields triple header finds its best energy in the household chaos of It's a Gift.

Ryan Ellis gives W.C. Fields a three-film spotlight, moving through International House, It's a Gift, and The Bank Dick with the most animated focus on the domestic mess of It's a Gift.

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Why you'd press play

You get a W.C. Fields triple header, a spinning mirror, and enough household friction to make the room feel busy.

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