W.C. Fields and Me

1976 • 111 amaminithi

Mayelana nale movie

This heartbreaking, revealing film is based on the book detailing Carlotta Monti's stormy relationship with the irascible comedic genius W.C. Fields. Academy Award winner Rod Steiger plays the quick-witted lead, depicting this comedy giant's ultimate decline and retreat into alcoholism.

Izilinganiso nezibuyekezo

Among many missteps Universal made during the same period, and under the same management, as this film was made, "W.C. & Me", though it lists Carlotta Monti as an "advisor" in the credits and purports to be based on her memoir of her time with Fields, a vast majority of this film is pure fiction, the writer using exactly ONE episode, the final scene, out of Monti's memoir. That said, Steiger's portrayal of the great comedian is, as it was in his earlier film "No Way To Treat A Lady", spot-on and is worth a watch if only for that and for Henry Mancini's wonderful period score. Otherwise, please put NO stock in the so-called "facts" about Monti's life with Fields as presented in this "biopic". Jack Cassidy is also fun, though not terribly convincing, as romantic leading man and good friend of Fields Douglas Fairbanks. Otherwise, it's pretty much hogwash.

I've read the book and finally saw the movie. I enjoyed them both. There were some things missing from the movie, but who doesn't take license to make those changes for filmic purposes.