The Art of W.C. Fields

The Art of W.C. Fields examines the career and comedic techniques of one of early Hollywood's most influential performers. Published in 1967, this film historian William K. Everson's analysis covers Fields' journey from vaudeville acts to silent films and through his sound era work. The book provides technical breakdowns of Fields' physical comedy methods, timing, and character development across multiple decades. Everson incorporates rare photographs, production details, and firsthand accounts to document Fields' evolution as a performer and filmmaker. The work traces Fields' recurring themes and motifs while analyzing his creative process through specific films and performances. Everson draws from his extensive knowledge of early cinema to place Fields' contributions within the broader context of film comedy's development. This study reveals Fields as both a calculated craftsman and natural innovator who helped establish new possibilities for screen comedy. The book makes clear how Fields' persona and techniques influenced generations of performers who followed.

Readers appreciate this book's deep analysis of W.C. Fields' film techniques, comic timing, and progression from vaudeville to silent films to talkies. Multiple reviewers note Everson's unique insights into Fields' physical comedy and scene construction. The book's collection of film stills and behind-the-scenes photos receives praise, though some readers mention the print quality could be better. A few reviewers point out factual errors about dates and film credits. Readers particularly value the detailed breakdowns of Fields' classic routines and gags, with one Amazon reviewer highlighting the "fascinating dissection of Fields' pool table scene from If I Had a Million." The main criticism is that the book focuses more on technical analysis than biography or personal details about Fields. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (6 ratings) LibraryThing: 4.0/5 (4 ratings) Several reviewers note this is one of few serious studies of Fields' filmmaking techniques.

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🎬 W.C. Fields performed in vaudeville as a juggler before becoming a film star, and author William K. Everson details how these early skills influenced Fields' later physical comedy techniques. 📚 The book features over 200 rare photographs, many of which had never been published before its release in 1967. 🎭 William K. Everson was not just an author but a renowned film historian who personally preserved hundreds of vintage films and maintained one of the largest private film collections in the world. 🎪 The book reveals that Fields' famous persona of a misanthropic drunk was largely crafted for entertainment; in reality, he was a dedicated professional who rarely drank during filming. 🎥 Everson's work documents how Fields wrote many of his own scripts under bizarre pseudonyms, including "Mahatma Kane Jeeves" and "Otis Criblecoblis."