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W.C. Fields and Me

Play trailer Poster for W.C. Fields and Me PG 1976 1h 51m Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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67% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
In 1920s New York City, W.C. Fields (Rod Steiger) is a successful headlining entertainer, but when his girlfriend (Bernadette Peters) leaves him and his broker loses his money, Fields begins anew in California. While working at a wax museum, Fields eventually lands a film role that ascends him to stardom. Back in the limelight and palling around with John Barrymore (Jack Cassidy) and the like, Fields meets an aspiring actress (Valerie Perrine) at a party, with whom he forms a rocky relationship.
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W.C. Fields and Me

Critics Reviews

View All (6) Critics Reviews
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) The story is very possibly apocryphal, but I had fun... [Full review in Spanish] Aug 3, 2023 Full Review Steve Warren The Barb (Atlanta) I'm not crazy about Steiger, but he does a hell of a job in this one. Giving us a rounded portrait of an unhappy clown, a man who drank constantly to prove his manhood. May 9, 2023 Full Review David Dugas United Press International Rod Steiger delivers a fine performance as Fields, capturing his acerbic humor and crankiness while fleshing out the private man as a victim of his own eccentricities and weaknesses. Aug 4, 2021 Full Review Donald McLean Bay Area Reporter Those problems aside [W.C. Fields and Me] offers a hilarious script by Bob Merrill filled with Field's biting, caustic humor, including all those memorable incidents he is noted for. May 13, 2020 Full Review Ruth Batchelor Los Angeles Free Press The biggest trouble with W.C. Fields and Me has to be the "Me" being Monti. Nov 14, 2019 Full Review Bernard Drew Gannett News Service W.C. Fields is a tough nut to crack and nobody in this movie tries too hard to crack him. Oct 23, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (3) audience reviews
Audience Member Good film stuff. Especially entertaining for film buffs. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member I think it definitely was a labor of love for Steiger. I loved the book. I didn't like Steiger's accent which was cartoony.impersonation of Fields Fields never delivered his lines in such a loud extended drawl. He was softer and often delivered his lines in Popeye-like mumbles.. It feels particularly awkward here when he is doing Fields in real world moments like a circus showman. To Steiger's credit I suppose this is what most people think W.C. Fields sounded like. I wish it made more use of the many colorful stories from the book.Fields told to bamboozle and entertain. It very much plays up his relationship with Barrymore and his drinking buddies which is pretty good and an act of betrayal towards Miss Monti. What he did is probably not what you are thinking. Its a sincere and entertaining enough to get you through if you have an interest in Fields. You will know a little more of the man. But its a little Hollywoodized and doesn't paint as colorful a picture as the book which is a breezy read. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Despite an odd use of intermittent narration from Perrine that sometimes feels like an info dump, Hiller's semi biopic about the iconic comedian and his mistress is still a fine comic-drama, thanks to Steiger's commanding screen presence and immersion in the title role, some great and funny dialogue, especially Fields' remarks about other actors and officials, an an interesting look into the chaotic and sometimes two-faced nature of the early film business. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews
W.C. Fields and Me

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1920s New York City, W.C. Fields (Rod Steiger) is a successful headlining entertainer, but when his girlfriend (Bernadette Peters) leaves him and his broker loses his money, Fields begins anew in California. While working at a wax museum, Fields eventually lands a film role that ascends him to stardom. Back in the limelight and palling around with John Barrymore (Jack Cassidy) and the like, Fields meets an aspiring actress (Valerie Perrine) at a party, with whom he forms a rocky relationship.
Director
Arthur Hiller
Producer
Jay Weston
Screenwriter
Bob Merrill
Production Co
Universal Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 24, 2012
Runtime
1h 51m
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