You Can't Cheat an Honest Man

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Josh G A whimsical comedy of error, it meanders from setup to setup and showcase talented performers but lacks a plot. It's funny but pointless. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/22/23 Full Review Audience Member This film is more of a vehicle for Edgar Bergen than Fields, and that's a problem because, despite their radio popularity, Bergen and his dummies are not funny in this film, at all. But W.C. Fields is in a class by himself, and although in the first part of the movie, the circus part, the laughs are intermittent, when Fields arrives at the tuxedoed wedding reception for his daughter, the hilarity never stops. A classic comedy scene if there ever was one. Not to be missed. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review dave s You Can't Cheat an Honest Man has some great bits from W.C. Fields, including the fantastic ping pong scene, but too often veers away from what Fields did best – humorous wordplay. The story is simplistic (Fields plays Larson E. Whipsnade, the owner of a circus who's trying to keep the business afloat while evading the law) and that's fine. Things tend to slide, however, with the introduction of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his sidekick Charlie McCarthy, who provide nothing in the way of comedy, take screen time away from Fields, and serve as proof that ventriloquism has come a long way since 1939. The best way to watch this would be to fast-forward through the Bergen/McCarthy bits and enjoy a short film starring the great W.C. Fields. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The best comedy movie ever made! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Not many 80 year old comedies hold up as well as this one and few comedies ever are as rich with dialog. No comedian loved words more than Fields. Witness his use of the words perspicacity and cynosure in his jokes. Fields rambling incoherent songs or stories at the edge of the scene while other dialog is going on is comedy gold. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review john l Not his best, but among his better films. Teaming with Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy in a feature film was an excellent move. It takes some of the comedic burden off of Fields and provides a little more variety. The banter between Fields and McCarthy's irascible character is priceless. It gives a glimpse at why their running feud trading quips and insults on the Chase and Sanborn Hour radio program during the 1930's and 1940's was so popular. The two were a magnificent match for trading one-liners, and Bergen's comedic timing, like Fields', was superb. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

You Can't Cheat an Honest Man

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