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NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK

Air Date/Released Friday, October 10, 1941
Station/Studio Universal Pictures

Bill Fields presents his new screenplay to his Esoteric Studios producer. His outrageous tales of surrealism take life onscreen, including Fields falling out of an airplane and landing on a remote mountaintop, to romance a wealthy hermit widow (Margaret Dumont). Returning to the real world, Fields helps a pregnant woman get to the hospital, causing havoc in the streets of Los Angeles.

When Fields arrives at Esoteric Studios, he passes a billboard ad for THE BANK DICK. That movie's costar Shemp Howard's name is visible onscreen for over a minute, as the scene progresses.


Cast: W.C. Fields (Bill Fields), Gloria Jean (The niece), Leon Errol (The rival), Billy Lenhart, Kenneth Brown (Butch and Buddy, the hecklers), Margaret Dumont (Mrs. Hemogloben), Susan Miller (Ouilotta Hemogloben), Franklin Pangborn (The Producer), Mona Barrie (The Producer's wife), Charles Lang (The young engineer), Anne Nagel (Madame Gorgeous), Nell O'Day (The salesgirl), Irving Bacon (The soda jerk), Jody Gilbert (The waitress), Minerva Urecal (The cleaning woman), Emmett Vogan (The engineer), Carlotta Monti (Receptionist), Fred Aldrich, Gil Perkins (Builders on sound stage), Richard Alexander (Burly m), Claud Allister (Bitten Englishman), Frank Austin (Diner with high blood pressure), Leon Belasco (Pianist), Eddie Bruce (Cameraman), Irene Coleman (Stewardess), Kay Deslys (Mrs. Wilson), William Gould (Doorman), Harriette Haddon (Redhead), Jack 'Tiny' Lipson (Huge Turk), Charles McMurphy (Police officer), Frances Morris (Nurse), Jean Porter (Passerby), Victor Potel (Russian Magistrate Clines), June Preston (Little blonde girl dancing), Marcia Ralston (Stewardess), Jack Roper (Joe, Jamo drinker), David Sharpe (Irate automobile driver), Kathryn Sheldon (Spinster passenger), Brick Sullivan (Firetruck driver), Emma Tansey (Old lady with newspaper), Emil Van Horn (Gargo the Gorilla), Michael Visaroff (Village coachman), Billy Wayne (Stage 6 foreman), Dave Willock (Assistant Director Johnson), Bill Wolfe (Aspiring actor), Duke York (Tough guy), David Sharpe (Stunts), Beatrice Roberts

Crew: Edward Cline (Director), Jack J. Gross (Producer), Otis Criblecoblis [W. C. Fields] (Original Story), John T. Neville, Prescott Chaplin (Screenplay), Charles Van Enger (Director of Photography), Arthur Hilton (Film Editor)
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