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The Old-Fashioned Way

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The Great McGonigle (W.C. Fields) skips town, juggles and gets by with his troupe doing "The Drunkard."

Critics Reviews

View All (4) Critics Reviews
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Watching Fields spar with Baby LeRoy is a treat. Rated: 3/4 Nov 13, 2021 Full Review Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine There really isn't anything to The Old-Fashioned Way except W. C. Fields. But W. C. Fields could play almost anything from Humpty Dumpty to Hamlet and make it notable. Oct 2, 2019 Full Review Vadim Rizov Movie-Vault.com Rated: 8/10 Sep 11, 2003 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews W.C. Fields is in fine comic form. Rated: B- Sep 10, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (9) audience reviews
Audience Member This is a comedy that overall holds up well today, and the movie is quintessential for W.C. Fields' shticks (including his juggling and Vaudeville routines toward the end that are visually stunning to watch). The musical number by 'Cleopatra Pepperdale' coupled with Fields' reactions on the couch his hilariously good (although it would've been better to have that musical number as a bigger part of the movie throughout). Parts of the story and plot either are confusing or lacking, and the movie is not entertaining in every single part... but at an hour and ten minutes, it is worth watching all the way through. Good movie. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Minor Fields but final juggling routine is fun. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member It's sort of forgettable until it really picks up by the end. And if you think W.C. Fields was only known as a comedic buffoon, you'll be changed after watching this. The theatrical troupe moving from town to town with no money is just an excuse to get to the ending, where the troupe shows off all its props, and Fields shines with his amazing juggling and more. Pretty insane stuff that comedians wouldn't dare do these days. Wussies, they are! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member An absolute classic W C Fields film, the man is a comic genius! You have to laugh when he kicks the baby!! hahaha! And a chance to get to see Fields the juggler, which is how he started out in vaudeville and rose to fame in the Ziegfield Follies. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member This is quintessential Fields, the con man and raconteur, dodging sheriffs, wooing rich widows, and bedeviled by little brats. Short, with just enough sentiment to make it work. And to top it off, we get to see some of the juggling that made him famous in vaudeville. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Wonderfull WC Fields vehicle. Watch his reactions during the scene with Babe Le Roy and the one where he suffers whilst listening to Cleopatra Pepperday singing Gathering Shells From the Seashore. Fantastic Stuff. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Old-Fashioned Way

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis The Great McGonigle (W.C. Fields) skips town, juggles and gets by with his troupe doing "The Drunkard."
Director
William Beaudine
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Mar 20, 2007
Runtime
1h 6m