William Claude Dukenfield, aka W. C. Fields, was a popular stage comedian and juggler when he made his film debut in September 1915's "Pool Sharks." He made one other short film, "His Lordship's Dilemma," with the same film studio, Gaumont Company, at its Flushing, N. Y. studio in the same year, which is considered lost. Because of stage commitments, Fields next movie appearance wouldn't be for nine years later, when he was in 1924's "Janice Meredith."
W. C. Fields began in the late 1800's in vaudeville whose schtick was as a juggler/comedian. As his popularity grew, Field occassionally played to Broadway audiences in the early 1910's, even sharing the stage with the famous English stage actress Sarah Bernhardt. He was hired in 1915 to the Ziegfeld Follies revue, juggling, joking and displaying his slick billiard tricks on a pool table.
His skills on the green felt became the basis of Fields' first film, "Pool Sharks." Vying for the same woman, Fields and his rival eventually agree to settle their differences in a billiards competition. Using stop-motion animation, the film displays Fields' incredible talent knocking balls in all at once into the table pockets as well as showing an ability at lofting all the balls into a back wall's ballrack.
W. C. Fields' movie career would peak in the 1930's with the advent of sound. His famous quips about children, Philadelphia, liquor and women would make this vaudeville star legendary for generations to come.
W. C. Fields began in the late 1800's in vaudeville whose schtick was as a juggler/comedian. As his popularity grew, Field occassionally played to Broadway audiences in the early 1910's, even sharing the stage with the famous English stage actress Sarah Bernhardt. He was hired in 1915 to the Ziegfeld Follies revue, juggling, joking and displaying his slick billiard tricks on a pool table.
His skills on the green felt became the basis of Fields' first film, "Pool Sharks." Vying for the same woman, Fields and his rival eventually agree to settle their differences in a billiards competition. Using stop-motion animation, the film displays Fields' incredible talent knocking balls in all at once into the table pockets as well as showing an ability at lofting all the balls into a back wall's ballrack.
W. C. Fields' movie career would peak in the 1930's with the advent of sound. His famous quips about children, Philadelphia, liquor and women would make this vaudeville star legendary for generations to come.