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The Bank Dick
''The Bank Dick'', released as ''The Bank Detective'' in the United Kingdom, is a 1940 American comedy film starring W. C. Fields. Set in Lompoc, California, Fields plays Egbert Sousé, a drunk who accidentally thwarts a bank robbery and ends up a bank security guard as a result. The film was written by Fields, using the alias Mahatma Kane Jeeves (derived from the Broadway drawing-room comedy cliché "My hat, my cane, Jeeves!"), and directed by Edward F. Cline. The film also stars Una Merkel, Richard Purcell, Shemp Howard, Franklin Pangborn, Grady Sutton, Jessie Ralph and Cora Witherspoon. In 1992, ''The Bank Dick'' was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Plot In a somewhat frowsy home in Lompoc, hard-drinking, henpecked family man, Egbert Sousé has strained relations with his slattern wife and waspish mother-in-law over his drinking, smoki ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Edward F
Edward is an English male name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortunate; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Saxon England, but the rule of the Norman and Plantagenet dynasties had effectively ended its use amongst the upper classes. The popularity of the name was revived when Henry III named his firstborn son, the future Edward I, as part of his efforts to promote a cult around Edward the Confessor, for whom Henry had a deep admiration. Variant forms The name has been adopted in the Iberian peninsula since the 15th century, due to Edward, King of Portugal, whose mother was English. The Spanish/Portuguese forms of the name are Eduardo and Duarte. Other variant forms include French Édouard, Italian Edoardo and Odoardo, German, Dutch, Czech and Romanian Eduard and Scandinavian Edvard. Short forms include Ed, Eddy, Eddie, Ted, Teddy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Variety (magazine)
''Variety'' is an American trade magazine owned by Penske Media Corporation. It was founded by Sime Silverman in New York City in 1905 as a weekly newspaper reporting on theater and vaudeville. In 1933, ''Daily Variety'' was launched, based in Los Angeles, to cover the film industry, motion-picture industry. ''Variety'' website features entertainment news, reviews, box office results, plus a credits database, production charts and film calendar. History Founding ''Variety'' has been published since December 16, 1905, when it was launched by Sime Silverman as a weekly periodical covering theater and vaudeville, with its headquarters in New York City. Silverman had been fired by ''The Morning Telegraph'' in 1905 for panning an act which had taken out an advert for $50. He subsequently decided to start his own publication that, he said, would "not be influenced by advertising." With a loan of $1,500 from his father-in-law, he launched ''Variety'' as publisher and editor. In additi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
My Little Chickadee
''My Little Chickadee'' is a 1940 American comedy-western film starring Mae West and W. C. Fields, featuring Joseph Calleia, Ruth Donnelly, Margaret Hamilton, Donald Meek, Willard Robertson, Dick Foran, William B. Davidson, and Addison Richards, and released by Universal Pictures. It was directed by Edward F. Cline and the music was written by Ben Oakland (song "Willie of the Valley") and Frank Skinner. West reportedly wrote the original screenplay, with Fields contributing one extended scene set in a bar. Universal decided to give the stars equal screenplay credit, perhaps to avoid the appearance of favoritism, but the move incensed West, who declined to team with Fields afterwards. The stars spoofed themselves and the Western genre, with West providing a series of her trademark double entendres. Plot In the American Old West of the 1880s, Miss Flower Belle Lee (Mae West), a singer from Chicago, is on her way to visit relatives. While she is traveling on a stagec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
You Can't Cheat An Honest Man
''You Can't Cheat an Honest Man'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by George Marshall and Edward F. Cline and starring W. C. Fields. Fields also wrote the story on which the film is based under the name Charles Bogle. Plot Circus proprietor Larsen E. Whipsnade is struggling to keep a step ahead of foreclosure, and clearly not paying his performers, including Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy (Bergen's ventriloquist's dummy/alter-ego, whom Whipsnade hates). Whipsnade's co-ed daughter pays a visit and falls in love with Bergen, but after she sees the financial mess that her father is in, she decides to marry Roger, a tiresome young millionaire. Whipsnade initially approves of the marriage, and just to be sure that the penniless Bergen doesn't win out (and make McCarthy an in-law), he sets the pair adrift in a hot-air balloon. However, Whipsnade creates a scene at the engagement party, and father and daughter escape together in a chariot, with Bergen and McCarthy in purs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harlan Briggs
Harlan Briggs (August 17, 1879 – January 26, 1952) was an American actor and Vaudeville performer who was active from the 1930s until his death in 1952. During the course of his career he appeared on Broadway, in over 100 films, as well as appearing on television once towards the end of his career. Early life Briggs was born on August 17, 1879, in Blissfield, Michigan. Although he was a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, he chose to go into acting rather than pursue a career in law. Career His acting career began in Vaudeville at around the beginning of the 20th century. He would make his Broadway debut in 1926, in the drama ''Up the Line''. He worked steadily on Broadway through 1935. On August 6, 1929, he began a successful run in the featured role of G. A. Appleby in ''It's a Wise Child'' at the Belasco Theatre. In 1934 he had another featured role in the successful play, '' Dodsworth'', as Tubby Pearson. The show opened at the Shubert Theatre on F ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heather Wilde
Heather Wilde is an English actress who was active in stage and screen productions in both England and the United States between the late 1930s and 1950s."English actress' Height Is 4 Feet 11", ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', December 8, 1940, p. 62 0/SO ProQuest Historical Newspapers. In films she was often cast in small uncredited roles. Wilde is perhaps best known today for her performances as a supporting character in two popular, critically acclaimed American comedies: as the primping little actress Miss Plupp in ''The Bank Dick'' (1940) starring W. C. Fields and as the anxious housemaid Annie in '' Life with Father'' (1947) starring William Powell and Irene Dunne. Stage and film In its December 8, 1940 issue, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' carries a news item that provides some background information on Wilde: Selected filmography *''The Divorce of Lady X'' (1938): Maid (uncredited) *''The Bank Dick'' (1940): Miss Plupp *''Confirm or Deny'' (1941): Telephone operator (uncredite ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Reed Hadley
Reed Hadley (born Reed Herring, June 25, 1911 – December 11, 1974) was an American film, television and radio actor. Early life Hadley was born in Petrolia, Texas. Career Before moving to Hollywood, he acted in ''Hamlet'' on stage in New York City, a last-minute substitute for the scheduled actor who failed to appear to portray Fortinbras. Radio In the 1950s, Hadley played Chad Remington on '' Frontier Town''. He also was one of the actors who portrayed cowboy hero '' Red Ryder'' on the '' Red Ryder'' series during the 1940s. On September 16, 1950, Hadley was on '' Tales of the Texas Rangers'' episode "Candy Man". Television Hadley starred in two television series, '' Racket Squad'' (1950–1953) as Captain Braddock, and '' The Public Defender'' (1954–1955) as Bart Matthews, a fictional attorney for the indigent. He also was a guest star on such programs as the religion anthology series, '' Crossroads,'' and on Rory Calhoun's CBS western series, '' The Texan'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pat West (actor)
Arthur Pat West (April 19, 1888 – April 10, 1944), born in Paducah, Kentucky, was an American character actor. He had parts in over 100 films from 1928 to 1945. Selected filmography * ''The Barker'' (1928) - Bartender (uncredited) * '' Red Morning'' (1934) - Glibb * ''Eight Bells'' (1935) - Eddy (uncredited) * '' The Nitwits'' (1935) - Black Widow Henchman (uncredited) * '' Page Miss Glory'' (1935) - Taxi Driver (uncredited) * '' The Affair of Susan'' (1935) - Bath House Attendant (uncredited) * ''The Girl Friend'' (1935) - French Soldier in Play (uncredited) * ''His Night Out'' (1935) - Salesman (uncredited) * '' Another Face'' (1935) - Gangster-Type Actor (uncredited) * '' Stars Over Broadway'' (1935) - Man at Champ's Table (uncredited) * '' Broadway Hostess'' (1935) - Jailer (uncredited) * '' Professional Soldier'' (1935) - Waiter (uncredited) * '' The Lone Wolf Returns'' (1935) - Mugg (uncredited) * '' Ceiling Zero'' (1936) - Baldy * ''Rose Marie'' (1936) - Traveling Sale ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jack Norton
Jack Norton (born Mortimer John Naughton; September 2, 1882 – October 15, 1958) was an American stage and film character actor who appeared in more than 180 films between 1934 and 1948, often playing drunks, although in real life he was a teetotaler. Career Norton was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 2, 1882. In his early career he had a vaudeville comedy act with his wife Lillian Healy,Erickson, HaBiography (Allmovie)/ref> and toured as half of a comedy team with boxer "Gentleman Jim" Corbett. Norton made his Broadway debut in 1925 in that year's edition of '' Earl Carroll's Vanities'', and also appeared in ''Florida Girl'', which was produced and staged by Carroll. Norton's first film work was for a musical short, ''School for Romance'', in 1934, in which a young Betty Grable appeared, but his scenes were deleted. His work survived to reach the screen in his next assignment, ''The Super Snooper'', a comedy short, and in his third film, his first full-length m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pierre Watkin
Pierre Frank Watkin (December 29, 1887 – February 3, 1960) was an American character actor best known for playing distinguished authority figures throughout the Golden Age of Hollywood. He is best remembered for his roles of Mr. Skinner the bank president in '' The Bank Dick'' (1940); Lou Gehrig's father-in-law Mr. Twitchell in '' Pride of the Yankees'' (1942); and the first actor to portray Perry White in the ''Superman'' serials ''Superman'' (1948) and '' Atom Man vs. Superman'' (1950). Early life Watkin was born on December 29, 1887, in Afton Township, Iowa, the third of four sons born to Charles Henry Watkin and Elizabeth Jeannette (née Scoles) Watkin. When Watkin was a young child, his family moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where his parents ran a boarding house for actors. This environment influenced Watkin to go into acting. When he was a teenager, the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he began acting in theater. Career Watkin began his career touring the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Russell Hicks (actor)
Edward Russell Hicks (June 4, 1895 – June 1, 1957) was an American film character actor. Hicks was born in 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland. During World War I, he served in the United States Army, U.S. Army in France. He later became a Lieutenant colonel (United States), lieutenant colonel in the California State Guard. Hicks was a character actor appearing in bit parts and small supporting roles in nearly 300 films between 1933 and 1956. He often appeared as a smooth-talking confidence man, or swindler as in the W. C. Fields, W.C. Fields film ''The Bank Dick'' (1940). Hicks played a variety of judges, corrupt officials, crooked businessmen and attorneys, working in a variety of mediums almost until his death. Hicks appeared once in the Television syndication, syndicated Western (genre), western television series ''The Cisco Kid (TV series), The Cisco Kid''. Broadway plays in which Hicks acted included ''The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial'' (1954), ''On Borrowed Time'' (1953), ''Time ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Evelyn Del Rio
Evelyn Del Rio (born Evelyn Bernadette Janer; September 22, 1931 – November 26, 1998) was an American stage and screen actress, best known for her role as Elsie Mae Sousé in ''The Bank Dick''. She began her professional career at the age of 4 as a dancer billed as the "Latin Shirley Temple.” Until the age of 13 she was a headline dancer at the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater, whereupon she toured with Carmen Miranda. During World War II she entertained troops for the USO. After the war she appeared uncredited as a young girl in ''Thrill of a Romance'', her final film role. In the early 1950s she retired from entertainment in order to focus on her family. She died in Burbank, California Burbank is a city in the southeastern end of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located northwest of downtown Los Angeles, Burbank had a Census-estimated population of 102,755 as of 2023. The city was ..., on November 26, 1998, from complic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
