The Bank Dick

Take off your hat in the presence of a gentleman.

The Bank Dick (Criterion #78). 1940 Universal Pictures.
Starring: W.C. Fields, Cora Witherspoon, Una Merkel, Franklin Pangborn, Shemp Howard
Director: Edward F. Cline
Buy The Bank Dick as part of the W.C. Fields Comedy Collection at Amazon.
Criterion Collection: Out of print (watch Amazon or eBay listings).

Fields gives a hilarious performance as the henpecked husband Egbert Sousé, who spends most of his time in his bedroom smoking, or down at a tavern run by a gentleman named Joe Guelpe (Shemp Howard). Forced to go out and find work, Sousé first talks his way into directing a movie after the original director shows up on the set too drunk to work, and manages to turn the production into a disaster. Later on, Sousé foils a bank robbery and is given a job as a security guard. He proves he is completely inept as a guard, but somehow, every situation he gets into turns out for the best for everyone, notably talking his future son-in-law into investing in what appears to be a worthless mine. Just as things look their bleakest, the mine turns out to be a bonanza.

I must admit that it is disconcerting to see Shemp Howard starring in anything that didn't see him getting slapped or poked by his younger brother Moe after saying something stupid. It's important to remember that Shemp had a long, but low key film career in between his stints as a member of the Three Stooges.

W.C. Fields is, as always, the lovable misanthrope, and The Bank Dick is probably one of his best films. Highest recommendation for all.