Never Give A Sucker An Even Break (1941) DVD

In his last starring role, W.C. Fields plays himself, having a typical day at his studio, Esoteric Pictures. Director Eddie Cline masterfully imparts a certain level of surreal spontaneity to Field's digressions and misadventures. Fields eats breakfast, spars with a sarcastic waitress (Jody Gilbert), and then pitches his fractured script to studio head Franklin Pangborn. The script reading becomes a film within a film, commencing with the hero of the tale (Fields again playing himself) leaping out of an airplane in hot pursuit of a flask of whiskey. He lands on the bed of an innocent young girl and tries to seduce her before her mom (Margaret Dumont) comes crashing in. Fields then escapes over a cliff in a basket. Things get even more bizarre before Pangborn throws him out, and back into a "reality" that culminates in a lengthy, frenetic car chase. There's also some musical interludes courtesy Gloria Jean, a singing star Universal was grooming for success at the time. Though Fields undoubtedly bristled at the studio's insistence he share the bill, the two actually display a touching rapport in their scenes together; just another small miracle in this truly unique and hilarious film.