You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man (1939): Cast
You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man is a 1939 comedy directed by George Marshall and Edward F. Cline, starring W.C. Fields as Larson E. Whipsnade, John Arledge and Constance Moore. It runs 1 hour 16 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 16m (76 min)
- Directors
- George Marshall and Edward F. Cline
- Genre
- Comedy
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man About?
The premise of You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man without spoilers.
Fields portrays Larsen E. Whipsnade, the scheming owner of a traveling carnival perpetually evading the authorities. Facing foreclosure, Whipsnade neglects to pay his troupe, including Bergen and the unscrupulous McCarthy. The performers press him for their wages, while McCarthy resorts to outright theft.
You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man Themes & Keywords
· 49 tags- screwball comedy
- charlie mccarthy character
- ventriloquist dummy
- mortimer snerd character
- ventriloquist's dummy
- stage magician
- reference to william shakespeare
- ventriloquism
- lion tamer
- alligator
- swallowed alive
- swallowed by an alligator
+37 more Show fewer
- circus owner
- spittoon
- turban
- maharajah
- circus act
- sawed in half magic act
- stage magic
- father daughter relationship
- hot air balloon
- hiccups
- bathing
- shower
- black eye
- elephant trunk
- circus elephant
- lighter than air
- hydrogen balloon
- parachute
- jail
- wedding
- financial trouble
- night court
- fainting
- ping pong
- social class
- chariot
- late for wedding
- circus
- lion
- elephant
- blackface
- con game
- ventriloquist
- sideshow
- greed
- title spoken by character
- racial slur
You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man Cast & Characters
W.C. Fields leads the cast as Larson E. Whipsnade, with John Arledge as Phineas Whipsnade and Constance Moore as Victoria Whipsnade. Directed by George Marshall and Edward F. Cline; 83 actors are credited in all.
- Co-director George Marshall
- Co-director Edward F. Cline
- W.C. Fields as Larson E. Whipsnade
- John Arledge as Phineas Whipsnade
- Constance Moore as Victoria Whipsnade
-
Irving Bacon as Jailer (uncredited)
Also Starring in You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man
· 79 more- Edward Brophy Corbett
- Edgar Bergen The Great Edgar / Charlie McCarthy / Mortimer Snerd
- Sam Harris Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Lee Phelps Sheriff (uncredited)
- Harold Miller Party Guest (uncredited)
- Frank O'Connor Cop with Judge (uncredited)
- Edmund Mortimer Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Eddy Chandler Highway Patrol Officer (uncredited)
- Ralph Brooks Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Eddie Dunn Cop (uncredited)
- Thurston Hall Mr. Archibald Bel-Goodie
- Charles Coleman Robinson - Bel-Goodie's Butler (uncredited)
- Ernie Adams Eddie - Circus Attendant (uncredited)
- Minerva Urecal Screaming Spinster at Circus (uncredited)
- Lloyd Ingraham Mayor / Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Grady Sutton Chester Dalrymple (uncredited)
Show all 83 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Florence Wix Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Dale Van Sickel Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Leyland Hodgson Butler (uncredited)
- Mary Forbes Mrs. Bel-Goodie
- Frank Jenks Jerry - Assistant (uncredited)
- Eric Mayne Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Ralph Sanford Truck Driver (uncredited)
- Jack Gardner Ticket Seller (uncredited)
- Joe King Policeman (uncredited)
- James C. Morton Judge (uncredited)
- Ethelreda Leopold Blonde at Party (uncredited)
- Arthur Hohl Burr
- Si Jenks Hillbilly (uncredited)
- Jack Kenney Barker (uncredited)
- Duke York Minor Role (uncredited)
- Otto Hoffman Mayor (uncredited)
- George Offerman, Jr. Western Union Man (uncredited)
- Billy Engle Circus Attendant
- Russell Wade Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Bobby Hale Circus Attendant (uncredited)
- Ferris Taylor Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
- Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson Cheerful
- Charles Murphy Lon - Roustabout (uncredited)
- Tiny Jones Spectator (uncredited)
- James Bush Roger Bel-Goodie
- Ivan Lebedeff Ronnie (uncredited)
- Jack Rube Clifford Riding Master (uncredited)
- Frank Melton First Yokel (uncredited)
- Walter Tetley Boy with Candy Cane (uncredited)
- Delmar Watson Boy with Slingshot (uncredited)
- David Oliver Man Cheated at Window (uncredited)
- Hazel Dohlman Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Dora Clement Woman (uncredited)
- Lulu Mae Bohrman Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Dick Dickinson Contortionist (uncredited)
- Grace Goodall Screaming Spinster / Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- George Ovey Circus Attendant (uncredited)
- Bill Wolfe Ticket Buyer / Brentwood - World's Smallest Giant (uncredited)
- Edward Thomas Bel-Goodie Butler (uncredited)
- Jimmie Lucas Barker (uncredited)
- Drew Demorest Barker (uncredited)
- Jan Duggan Mrs. Sludge (uncredited)
- Ruth Cherrington Party Guest (uncredited)
- Don Terry Ping-Pong Player (uncredited)
- Jennifer Gray 3rd Debutante (uncredited)
- Lelah Tyler Society Woman / Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- June Preston Little Blond Girl Singing and Dancing (uncredited)
- Harry Stafford Party Guest (uncredited)
- Beryl Wallace Girl (uncredited)
- Mortimer Snerd Mortimer (ventriloquist dummy)
- Richard Clucas Little Boy (uncredited)
- Evelyn Del Rio Little Girl Who Cries (uncredited)
- Dorothy Arnold 1st Debutante (uncredited)
- Arthur Yeoman Barker (uncredited)
- Charlie McCarthy Charlie (ventriloquist dummy)
- Byron Munson Ping-Pong Player (uncredited)
- Kathryn Marlowe 2nd Debutante (uncredited)
- Princess Baba Princess Baba, The Great Edgar's Assistant
- Blacaman Blacaman - The Lion Tamer (uncredited)
- Ted Hardy Russian Circus Performer (uncredited)
- Ray Moyer Fire Eater (uncredited)
- Edward Woolf Thin Man (uncredited)
- Bill Worth Elwood - World's Largest Midget (uncredited)
More from George Marshall and Edward F. Cline
More films directed by George Marshall and Edward F. Cline, best-rated first: How the West Was Won, Eight on the Lam, Hook, Line and Sinker and The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz.
You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 1 trailer, 1 clip and 1 featurette.
- Clip Never ...smarten up a chump
- Featurette Joe Dante on YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN
Cars in You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man
4 cars on screen, including the 1937 Ford V8 De Luxe and the 1930 Buick Series 40.
-
1937 Ford V8 De Luxe Important role -
1930 Buick Series 40 Minor role -
1931 Chrysler Eight Minor role -
1930 Packard Standard Eight Minor role
Seen You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man?
Movies Like You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Are Crooks Dishonest?, There Was a Crooked Man and The Story of a Cheat.
You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man, each answered in a sentence.
How long is You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man?
You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man runs 1 hour 16 minutes (76 minutes).
When was You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man released?
You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man was released on February 17, 1939.
Who directed You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man?
You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man was directed by George Marshall and Edward F. Cline.
More films by George Marshall Who is in the cast of You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man?
You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man stars W.C. Fields as Larson E. Whipsnade, John Arledge as Phineas Whipsnade and Constance Moore as Victoria Whipsnade, among 83 credited actors.
Does You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man have a post-credit scene?
No. You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
