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It's a Gift is a american film of genre Comedy directed by Norman Z. McLeod released in USA on 30 november 1934 with W. C. Fields
It's a Gift (1934)
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Add to a movie listReleased in USA 30 november 1934
Length 1h8
Directed by Norman Z. McLeod
OriginUSA
Genres Comedy
Rating70%
It's a Gift is a 1934 comedy film starring W. C. Fields, considered by film historians to be one of Fields' best and funniest films. It was Fields's sixteenth sound film, and his fifth in 1934 alone. It was directed by Norman McLeod, who had directed Fields in his cameo as Humpty Dumpty in Alice in Wonderland, 1933.
It concerns the trials and tribulations of a grocer as he battles a shrewish wife, an incompetent assistant, and assorted annoying children, customers, and salesmen.
The film contains certain routines, reprised having been honed, that Fields had developed 1915-1925. Fields often tried to recapture on film original sketches that had been the basis of his stage success. Thus 'The Picnic', 'A Joy Ride' and most famously, 'The Back Porch', all become segments of Its a Gift.
Lesser known than some of Fields' later works such as The Bank Dick, the film is perhaps the best example of the recurring theme of the Everyman battling against his domestic entrapment. Historians and critics have often cited its numerous memorable comic moments. It is one of several Paramount Pictures in which Fields contended with child actor Baby LeRoy.
Synopsis
After he inherits some money, Harold Bissonette ("pronounced biss-on-ay") decides to give up the grocery business, move to California and run an orange grove. Despite his family's objections and the news that the land he bought is worthless, Bissonette packs up and drives out to California with his nagging wife Amelia (Kathleen Howard), self-involved daughter Mildred (Jean Rouverol) and bothersome son Norman (Tommy Bupp). The information about the orange grove is confirmed: his barren plot contains only a tumbledown shack and a tumbleweed. Disgusted, his wife and family are walking out on him.Actors
W. C. Fields
(Harold Bissonette)
Kathleen Howard
(Amelia Bissonette)
Jean Rouverol
(Mildred Bissonette)
Tammany Young
(Everett Ricks)
Baby LeRoy
(Baby Dunk)
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Suggestions of similar film to It's a Gift
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