The Bank Dick

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The Bank Dick

Released Nov 29, 1940

1h 14m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

96%

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25 Reviews

74%

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2,500+ Ratings

Egbert Sousé (W.C. Fields) becomes an unexpected hero when a bank robber falls over a bench he's occupying. Now considered brave, Egbert is given a job as a bank guard. Soon, he is approached by charlatan J. Frothingham Waterbury (Russell Hicks) about buying shares in a mining company. Egbert persuades teller Og Oggilby (Grady Sutton) to lend him bank money, to be returned when the scheme pays off. Unfortunately, bank inspector Snoopington (Franklin Pangborn) then makes a surprise appearance.

Otis Ferguson

The New Republic

The audience is asleep because this was never made as a picture. It is stiff and static and holds no interest outside of W. C Fields -- you don’t care what happens to anybody else, you don’t care what the outcome; you forget immediately if there was any.

May 7, 2024

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

This 1940 film seems to spring straight from his cranky, beleaguered, convoluted personality, with no concessions made to film form, audience enjoyment, or common sense, and still it's very funny in a desultory, strangely private kind of way.

Apr 1, 2008

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

For anyone who simply likes to laugh at the reckless manities of an inspired buffoon, we recommend The Bank Dick. It's great fun.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 25, 2006

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Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

There's a hilarious sense of nonchalance about the whole thing, and if Fields and Cline are just throwing everything they've got at this thing and seeing what works as the film is unfolding.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 29, 2021

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Arguably stands as Fields' finest achievement.

Rated: 4/4

Nov 13, 2021

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It's a prominently jumbled picture, switching from one gimmick to the next in a haphazard manner.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 3, 2020

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Denny S

A masterpiece. By this time (1940) his whole act was fully realized and perfected. No need for Mae West or Charlie McCarthy to get in the way, as they did in his first two Universal films. This time, Universal allowed Fields to have this film all to himself so the film has more of his personal stamp on it. Fields knew what was funny. The film is a testament to his skills as an actor and writer. If you see just one Fields film, this is it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/25/24

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Donald J

A fantastic film which to showcase Fields' brilliance, the classic "The Bank Dick" remains essential to audiences and critics alike. It is indeed a feature film, but the seamlessness of the screenplay by Fields himself makes it feel no longer than one of his shorts, and still retaining of the original genius by the man with the hat.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/08/23

Full Review

dave s

If you've never ventured into the world of W.C. Fields, The Bank Dick is probably your best bet as a starting point. Fields plays Egbert Souse, a hard drinking hater of children who inadvertently becomes a local hero when he accidently foils a bank robbery. While the plot is wafer-thin, it gives Fields an opportunity to flex his considerable comedic muscles, spewing out non-sequiturs from start to finish. Some of the humor misses the mark, but there are enough one-liners ("I'm very fond of children. Girl children, around eighteen and twenty!!") and more than enough sight gags (Fields disarming a child with a toy gun) to keep things interesting.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

The best of W.C. Fields, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Audience Member

A comedy film that contains surrealism with a hint of irony is what audience needs to enjoy a hilarious film like The Bank Dick. W. C. Fields does a fantastic job at that as the star of The Bank Dick. What is also hysterical about The Bank Dick is the writing in the film that contains all the well-known W. C. Fields gags and wits. If one is into comedy with surreal humor then The Bank Dick is just what you're looking for because this film is absolutely comical.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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georgan g

I love W. C. Fields and this is one of his best!! CanNOT miss this one.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Edward F. Cline

Director

W.C. Fields

Egbert Sousé

Cora Witherspoon

Agatha Sousé

Una Merkel

Myrtle Sousé

Evelyn Del Rio

Elsie Mae Adele Brunch Sousé

Jessie Ralph

Mrs. Hermisillo Brunch

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Synopsis

Egbert Sousé (W.C. Fields) becomes an unexpected hero when a bank robber falls over a bench he's occupying. Now considered brave, Egbert is given a job as a bank guard. Soon, he is approached by charlatan J. Frothingham Waterbury (Russell Hicks) about buying shares in a mining company. Egbert persuades teller Og Oggilby (Grady Sutton) to lend him bank money, to be returned when the scheme pays off. Unfortunately, bank inspector Snoopington (Franklin Pangborn) then makes a surprise appearance.

Director: Edward F. Cline
Producer: Edward Muhl, Nate Blumberg
Screenwriter: W.C. Fields
Distributor: Universal Pictures, Criterion Collection, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 29, 1940, Original
Release Date (DVD): Nov 9, 2004
Runtime: 1h 14m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.37:1)