You Can't Cheat an Honest Man

You Can't Cheat an Honest Man. 1939 Universal Pictures.
Starring: W.C. Fields, Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy, Constance Moore, John Arledge, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson
Directors: George Marshall, Edward F. Cline (uncredited)
Available at Amazon as part of the W.C. Fields Comedy Collection.

I'm not entirely certain about how a dummy got third billing in this movie...

Fields is Larsen E. Whipsnade, a carnival owner on the run from the law to keep a step ahead of foreclosure, and he's also not paying his performers, including Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. While Bergen tries to talk Whipsnade into paying him, McCarthy tries to steal some. Okay, I guess the dummy isn't such a dummy after all.

Larsen's sone Phineas (Arledge) is aware of his dad's financial problems, and has figured out a solution: he wants his sister Victoria (Moore) to marry a wealthy playboy named Roger Bel-Goodie (James Bush). Learning about her father's problems, Victoria decides to marry Roger just to bring in some money to the family, but she can't get over her feelings for Edgar Bergen. I'm assuming these feelings didn't extend to McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd (who is uncredited in the film and at IMDB, but receives full billing in the DVD package, in case you desperately needed to know).

To ensure the marriage goes off without a problem, Whipsnade sets Bergen and McCarthy adrift in a hot-air balloon. But this pair of dummies can't be kept out of the equation for long.

Recommended movie, since you can't go wrong with W.C. Fields, and his old radio rival(s), Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. Jack Benny's sidekick and valet Eddie "Rochester" Anderson also has a small role, and does well with it.