THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER (Paramount, 1933), a Mack Sennett Star Comedy directed by Clyde Bruckman, features W.C. Fields in his third comedy short (second for Sennett) that ranks something of an oddity, especially for Fields, whose screenplay taken from "The Stolen Bonds." Instead of titling this short as "The Stolen Bonds," it acquires a sort of title giving indication of one set in a barroom with Fields acting as bartender involved in crooked game of cards, then giving suckers an even break by offering them fatal glasses of beer. No such plot in this 20 minute short. As titles are concerned, they never really mattered to Fields, only the story and the comic supplements behind it. Reportedly labeled as Fields' worst comedy, it, in fact appears that way at first glance. In reality, it's an attempt that deliberately turns a bad screenplay into as a satire on both old-time stage or silent screen melodramas.
Starting off with soundtrack of ragtime piano playing over sounds of a barking dog for its opening title credits, the fade-in, reminiscent of a primitive D.W. Griffith melodrama of the 1910s, opens with the blizzard where the focus is on a mountain cabin. Set way up north in the mounties, the plot revolves around Mr. Snavely (W.C. Fields), a north-woods trapper, whose son, Chester (George Chandler), a former bank messenger, just completed his three year prison sentence for stealing bonds. Before his return, Snavely sings the sad song, "The Fatal Glass of Beer" that moves the visiting Mountie, Officer Posthlewhistle (Rychard Cramer) to tears. After milking the elk and getting ice cubes from the water pump, Snavely rides his dog sled home where he and his wife (Rosemary Theby) welcome back their son, Chester. While glad to have him home again, the Snavely's begin to have doubts about Chester's bond theft.
So much for the plot, such as it is. So much for the comedy, such as it is. Unlike comedy shorts featuring great teams as Laurel and Hardy or The Three Stooges, THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER contains no hilarious chase scenes for its grand finale. It doesn't rely on physical comedy nor verbal exchanges to get laughs. Yet, next to THE DENTIST (1932), THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER is regarded as Fields' most memorable and revived comedy short. If remembered at all, it should be for Fields' classic line, "And it ain't a fit night out for man nor beast," rather than his singing (very badly) the title tune that could move anyone to tears. Every time Fields looks out the door or window to recite the aforementioned line, snow repeatedly hits him directly in his face, a run-on gag used as many as seven times. Fields' would recite that line again in his feature-length comedy, THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY (Paramount, 1934), during its play sequence of "The Drunkard," that also pokes fun of the old-time melodramas. Production values for THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER are limited, and it shows, intentionally, especially during its "outdoor" scenes obviously lifted from other films. Who can forget the sequence where Fields stands in front of a reindeer herd calling for Ellie. No doubt that's he in front of a rear projection screen.
While Fields is usually the central focus of his movies, the character types supporting him usually add to the humor. Rosemary Theby as "Maw" Snavely, plays it straight as the pioneering woman-type addressing her husband as "Paw." George Chandler, a familiar face in countless movies and later TV shows of the 1950s, is ideally cast as the country-boy son. Aside from Rychard Cramer in the story's opening, there's also a couple of Indians at the mid-way point who disappear after making their verbal exchanges, "How," "How," "And how," with Mr. Snavely.
Considering how Public Broadcast Station's 1971 summer series of "The Silent Years," hosted by Orson Welles, dedicated itself solely to 13-weeks of silent film presentations, THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER turned out to be an added attraction following the feature presentation of D.W. Griffith's SALLY OF THE SAWDUST (1925) starring Carol Dempster, and of course, W.C. Fields in his first leading role in a major motion picture. Over the years, THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER has acquired a cult status amongst Fields' fans. Fallen into public domain, this, along with other Fields shorts, THE GOLF SPECIALIST (1930) and THE DENTIST (1932) became readily available to home video dating back to the 1980s, usually to poor to adequate quality, often eliminating the closing Paramount logo with the M&M TV Corporation label. This and other Fields comedy shorts have turned up on DVD, assuring continued availability for future generations to come.
In spite of its reputation, good, bad or indifferent, THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER is a classic example of Fields' comic style made known basically for his most famous quote in movie history, "And it ain't a fit night out ... for man nor beast." (**1/2)
Starting off with soundtrack of ragtime piano playing over sounds of a barking dog for its opening title credits, the fade-in, reminiscent of a primitive D.W. Griffith melodrama of the 1910s, opens with the blizzard where the focus is on a mountain cabin. Set way up north in the mounties, the plot revolves around Mr. Snavely (W.C. Fields), a north-woods trapper, whose son, Chester (George Chandler), a former bank messenger, just completed his three year prison sentence for stealing bonds. Before his return, Snavely sings the sad song, "The Fatal Glass of Beer" that moves the visiting Mountie, Officer Posthlewhistle (Rychard Cramer) to tears. After milking the elk and getting ice cubes from the water pump, Snavely rides his dog sled home where he and his wife (Rosemary Theby) welcome back their son, Chester. While glad to have him home again, the Snavely's begin to have doubts about Chester's bond theft.
So much for the plot, such as it is. So much for the comedy, such as it is. Unlike comedy shorts featuring great teams as Laurel and Hardy or The Three Stooges, THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER contains no hilarious chase scenes for its grand finale. It doesn't rely on physical comedy nor verbal exchanges to get laughs. Yet, next to THE DENTIST (1932), THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER is regarded as Fields' most memorable and revived comedy short. If remembered at all, it should be for Fields' classic line, "And it ain't a fit night out for man nor beast," rather than his singing (very badly) the title tune that could move anyone to tears. Every time Fields looks out the door or window to recite the aforementioned line, snow repeatedly hits him directly in his face, a run-on gag used as many as seven times. Fields' would recite that line again in his feature-length comedy, THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY (Paramount, 1934), during its play sequence of "The Drunkard," that also pokes fun of the old-time melodramas. Production values for THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER are limited, and it shows, intentionally, especially during its "outdoor" scenes obviously lifted from other films. Who can forget the sequence where Fields stands in front of a reindeer herd calling for Ellie. No doubt that's he in front of a rear projection screen.
While Fields is usually the central focus of his movies, the character types supporting him usually add to the humor. Rosemary Theby as "Maw" Snavely, plays it straight as the pioneering woman-type addressing her husband as "Paw." George Chandler, a familiar face in countless movies and later TV shows of the 1950s, is ideally cast as the country-boy son. Aside from Rychard Cramer in the story's opening, there's also a couple of Indians at the mid-way point who disappear after making their verbal exchanges, "How," "How," "And how," with Mr. Snavely.
Considering how Public Broadcast Station's 1971 summer series of "The Silent Years," hosted by Orson Welles, dedicated itself solely to 13-weeks of silent film presentations, THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER turned out to be an added attraction following the feature presentation of D.W. Griffith's SALLY OF THE SAWDUST (1925) starring Carol Dempster, and of course, W.C. Fields in his first leading role in a major motion picture. Over the years, THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER has acquired a cult status amongst Fields' fans. Fallen into public domain, this, along with other Fields shorts, THE GOLF SPECIALIST (1930) and THE DENTIST (1932) became readily available to home video dating back to the 1980s, usually to poor to adequate quality, often eliminating the closing Paramount logo with the M&M TV Corporation label. This and other Fields comedy shorts have turned up on DVD, assuring continued availability for future generations to come.
In spite of its reputation, good, bad or indifferent, THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER is a classic example of Fields' comic style made known basically for his most famous quote in movie history, "And it ain't a fit night out ... for man nor beast." (**1/2)