Never Give a Sucker an Even Break 1941

At the bustling Hollywood studio of Esoteric Pictures, W.C. Fields, portraying himself, begins his day by admiring a large billboard advertising his previous classic, The Bank Dick (1940). As he wanders through the studio lot, he encounters a series of amusing and chaotic moments, including a sassy, brusque diner waitress—whom he humorously dubs “Blimpy Pie”—whose rude attitude sparks a few comic exchanges. Meanwhile, his loyal niece, played by Gloria Jean, is on her way to rehearse her impressive set of songs at the studio, revealing her talent as a trained coloratura soprano with shining clarity.

Fields is also there to pitch his surreal and wildly imaginative movie script to an eager producer at Esoteric Pictures, portrayed by Franklin Pangborn. As the producer delves into the bizarre story, it seems to come alive before the viewers’ eyes through a series of whimsical scenes. The story within the story takes us on a fantastical journey where Fields and Gloria Jean find themselves flying to an exotic destination aboard a peculiar airplane. This aircraft features a unique open-air rear observation deck, a detail that sparks some slapstick chaos when Fields, in a comical act, accidentally hits a large Turk with a croquet mallet while trying to manage the eccentric character.

On the flight, Fields engages with several oddball characters, including the Turk, and manages to convince him that someone else caused his predicament. During this adventure, Gloria Jean asks her uncle why he’s never married, to which he responds with a humorous anecdote: “I was in love with a beautiful blonde once, dear. She drove me to drink. That’s the one thing I’m indebted to her for.” The scene takes a slapstick turn when Fields drops his flask over the side of the plane’s observation deck, prompting him to leap after it. He ends up landing safely in a secluded nest perched atop a high cliff, inhabited by a lovely blonde woman, played by Susan Miller, who has never seen a man before, and her cynical mother, Margaret Dumont, known as Mrs. Hemogloben, a wealthy woman with a protective streak.

When the plane finally lands, Gloria Jean receives a phone call from Fields, guiding her to a remote Russian village nestled below the cliff. There, she sings the traditional Russian song “Ochi Chernye” before a gathered group of peasants. She reunites with Fields in the village, where he learns that Mrs. Hemogloben possesses a great deal of wealth. Returning to her luxurious cliffside “nest,” Fields discovers a rival suitor, played by Leon Errol, who is also after Mrs. Hemogloben’s fortune. In a comedic showdown, Fields disposes of the rival by kicking him over the cliff edge, much to the audience’s amusement. Just as Fields is about to propose marriage to Mrs. Hemogloben, Gloria Jean intervenes, convincing him that marriage to this wealthy but eccentric lady is not the right choice. She persuades him to leave swiftly, and they make a quick escape together.

The chaos continues when the producer at the studio, fed up with the absurdity of Fields’ script, shouts at him to quit and leave the studio. Seeking comfort, Fields heads to a soda fountain to drown his sorrows with an ice cream soda. Breaking the fourth wall, he jokes to the audience, “This scene is supposed to be in a saloon, but the censor cut it out!” His antics don’t stop there; when Gloria Jean learns that Fields has been sent away, she boldly states that she will quit if her uncle is fired. The duo then plans to go on a journey together. She stops at a clothing shop to buy a new outfit, only to encounter a middle-aged woman, played by Kay Deslys, who requests help getting to the maternity hospital where her daughter is about to give birth.

Fields, ever the comic hero, volunteers to assist, mistakenly believing the woman is in distress. He hurriedly drives her through the busy streets of Los Angeles, weaving through pedestrians, cars, and even a fire truck in his frantic attempts to get her to the hospital. His overzealous driving results in chaos, and when his passenger passes out, his urgency escalates. Despite wrecking his car in the process, he manages to arrive at the hospital, shaken but unhurt. As Gloria Jean, who has also arrived, asks if he’s okay, he quips with good humor, “Good thing I didn’t have an accident. I’d never have gotten here.” The movie concludes with Gloria Jean expressing her affection for her uncle, smiling at the audience, and saying, “My Uncle Bill… but I still love him!”

This film showcases a blend of slapstick comedy, surreal storytelling, and charming moments, all anchored by W.C. Fields’ timeless humor and eccentric personality. It is a delightful romp into a whimsical world where absurdity reigns, and classic characters bring laughter and joy in equal measure.