IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
The owner of a debt-ridden circus contends with pursuing bill collectors and sheriffs, and his beloved daughter's relationships with one of his performers and a stuffy but wealthy young man.The owner of a debt-ridden circus contends with pursuing bill collectors and sheriffs, and his beloved daughter's relationships with one of his performers and a stuffy but wealthy young man.The owner of a debt-ridden circus contends with pursuing bill collectors and sheriffs, and his beloved daughter's relationships with one of his performers and a stuffy but wealthy young man.
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
- Rochester
- (as Eddie Anderson)
Ernie Adams
- Eddie - Circus Attendant
- (uncredited)
Dorothy Arnold
- 1st Debutante
- (uncredited)
Irving Bacon
- Jailer
- (uncredited)
Arthur Berkeley
- Circus Attendant
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaW.C. Fields turned down the role of the Wizard in Phù Thủy Xứ Oz (1939) to make this film.
- GoofsMiss Sludge's cigarette changes length from scene to scene. It's also full length and unlit when she hits W.C. Fields with it.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits are shown on canvas screens, on loops and ropes, to mimic the circus tent being raised when the circus comes to town. We see the first screen get hauled up with ropes, and there are dummies showing the stars of the show.
- ConnectionsFeatured in W.C. Fields: Straight Up (1986)
Featured review
Very familiar material bolstered by Edger Bergen and Charlie McCarthy.
W.C. Fields made several films that were essentially the same stories with a few variations. While I love Fields films, I am not a huge fan of these derivative tales. They are derivative but still mildly entertaining---and far from his best work. "Poppy", "The Old Fashioned Way" and "You Can't Cheat and Honest Man" all share many story elements--many. Each have Fields playing the leader of a two-bit circus or acting troop. Each has a grown daughter who Fields dotes upon. Each has Fields on the verge of bankruptcy. And, in each, the daughter faces a crisis. Because of this, even if this film is done well, it's still very familiar.
Fortunately for "You Can't Cheat and Honest Man", there is one major difference that sets it apart. Because of the success of Fields and Charlie McCarthy on the radio, the folks at Universal decided to add Edger Bergen and his dummies to the movie to give it a bit of punch. Bergan's humor was quite welcome and made this film less sentimental than the two previous incarnations...and a bit funnier.
Overall, it's worth seeing. However, if at all possible, try watching one of Fields' best films first to see just how good he can be with a more original story. "It's a Gift" is probably his best, though "The Bank Dick" and "You're Telling Me" are all wonderful Fields films. They are similar in that in each W.C. appears to fall on his face but by the end has become HUGELY successful, but otherwise each is very unique and better suited for his great personality.
Fortunately for "You Can't Cheat and Honest Man", there is one major difference that sets it apart. Because of the success of Fields and Charlie McCarthy on the radio, the folks at Universal decided to add Edger Bergen and his dummies to the movie to give it a bit of punch. Bergan's humor was quite welcome and made this film less sentimental than the two previous incarnations...and a bit funnier.
Overall, it's worth seeing. However, if at all possible, try watching one of Fields' best films first to see just how good he can be with a more original story. "It's a Gift" is probably his best, though "The Bank Dick" and "You're Telling Me" are all wonderful Fields films. They are similar in that in each W.C. appears to fall on his face but by the end has become HUGELY successful, but otherwise each is very unique and better suited for his great personality.
- planktonrules
- Apr 7, 2010
- Permalink
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Details
- Runtime1 hour 19 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was You Can't Cheat an Honest Man (1939) officially released in Canada in English?
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