Never Give a Sucker an Even Break

1941

Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941)

TOMATOMETER

100%

——

Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

81%

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Never Give a Sucker an Even Break Photos

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Movie Info

In this film, W. C. Fields heads to Esoteric studios to pitch a story idea to producer Franklin Pangborn. The producer wants to make a conventional romantic musical starring Fields' niece, teen-aged soprano Gloria Jean, but "The Great Man" has other ideas.

Cast

W.C. Fields
as The Great Man
Gloria Jean
as His Niece
Leon Errol
as The Rival
Billy Lenhart
as Heckler
Anne Nagel
as Mlle. Gorgeous
Franklin Pangborn
as The Producer
Mona Barrie
as The Producer's Wife
Margaret Dumont
as Mrs. Hemogloben
Susan Miller
as Ouliotta Delight Hemogloben
Charles Lang
as Peter Carson, Engineer
Nell O'Day
as Salesgirl
Irving Bacon
as Tom, soda jerk
Jo Gilbert
as Tiny, the waitress
Claud Allister
as Bitter Englishman
Leon Belasco
as Pianist
Emil VanHorn
as Gargo Gorilla
Billy Wayne
as Foreman Stage 6
Minerva Urecal
as Mrs. Pastrami, Cleaning Lady
Jody Gilbert
as Tiny, Waitress
William Gould
as Doorman
Emmett Vogan
as Steve Roberts, Engineer
Jack Lipson
as Huge Turk
Dave Willock
as Johnson, Assistant Director
Duke York
as Tough Assailant
Eddie Bruce
as Cameraman
Kay Deslys
as Mrs. Wilson
Kathryn Sheldon
as Spinster Passenger
Michael Visaroff
as Coachman, Russian Village
Irene Colman
as Stewardess
Carlotta Monti
as Receptionist
Prince the Dog
Frank Austin
as Diner
Frances Morris
as Nurse
Jack Roper
as Joe
Emma Tansey
as Old Lady
Kathrun Sheldon
as Spinster Passenger
Charles McMurphy
as Officer
James Brick Sullivan
as Fire Truck Driver
Charles Lane
as Man
Harriette Haddon
as Redhead
Marcia Ralston
as Stewardess
Bill Wolfe
as Himself
Jean Porter
as Passerby
Victor Potel
as Mr. Clines, Russian Magistrate
David Sharpe
as Ubiquitous Stunt Double
Ken Brown
as Heckler
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Critic Reviews for Never Give a Sucker an Even Break

All Critics (11) | Top Critics (1)

Fields has spent most of his adult life battling babies, dogs, censors, producers, directors, the world in general. From the shape of his latest picture, it is apparent that he has Universal licked.

Feb 27, 2018 | Full Review…
TIME Magazine
Top Critic

Refreshingly bizarre.

Apr 18, 2005 | Rating: B | Full Review…
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Nearly brilliant, nearly surreal, mostly funny

Oct 22, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Classic Fields! No story really, just a series of vignettes, but it has you rolling on the floor.

Aug 30, 2002 | Rating: 5/5
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Just plain funny.

Aug 13, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Your Movies (cleveland.com)

one of the many reasons Fields is still acclaimed as a comic genius

Jul 29, 2002 | Rating: 5/5
Kalamazoo Gazette
View All Critic Reviews (11)

Audience Reviews for Never Give a Sucker an Even Break

What an insane movie. Just feels like some leftover set pieces stitched together into something resembling a film -- but I enjoyed it anyway. And young Gloria Jean gives quite a performance in that scene where she's singing those ridiculously acrobatic songbird notes, while simultaneously having to act as if she's dead bored!

Eric Broome
Eric Broome

Super Reviewer

One liners aplenty with the consistently drunk looking Fields. A great "Lovable Loser" film.

Christopher Brown
Christopher Brown

Super Reviewer

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