You Can't Cheat an Honest Man

1939

Action / Comedy / Family / Music

4
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 73% · 250 ratings
IMDb Rating 6.9/10 10 2024 2K

pre-code elephant circus sideshow

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Plot summary

Fields plays "Larsen E. Whipsnade", the owner of a shady carnival that is constantly on the run from the law. Whipsnade is struggling to keep a step ahead of foreclosure, and clearly not paying his performers, including Bergen and McCarthy, who try to coax money out of him, or in McCarthy's case, steal some outright.

Director

George Marshall Photo
George Marshall

Top cast

Ethelreda Leopold Photo
Ethelreda Leopold as Blonde at Party
William A. Boardway Photo
William A. Boardway as Wedding Guest
Don Terry Photo
Don Terry as Ping-Pong Player
Minerva Urecal Photo
Minerva Urecal as Screaming Spinster at Circus
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU
725.77 MB
990*720
English 2.0
Approved
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 18 min
Seeds ...
1.32 GB
1484*1080
English 2.0
Approved
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 18 min
Seeds 1

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by Adam N 8 / 10

As my first film exposure to the talented

As my first film exposure to the talented W. C. Fields, "You Can't Cheat an Honest Man" left me surprised at its quality. The banter between Fields and ventriloquist puppet Charlie McCarthy is a treat to see on screen, and the way everyone treats Charlie and his backwoods cousin Mortimer Snerd as real people is pleasingly Muppety in nature. This film is also among the few exceptions to Roger Ebert's "balloon rule" in that it is still a well-made film despite the inclusion of a hot air balloon, which fits into the plot (of which this movie unfortunately does not have much of, hence the removal of one star) surprisingly well. Highlights include the scene in which Charlie, Mortimer, and Edgar Bergen are stuck in said balloon, as well as Fields' exhilarating ping-pong match. Overall, a pleasant comedy and a rare gem nowadays.
Reviewed by Thomas M 10 / 10

The best comedy movie ever made

The best comedy movie ever made!
Reviewed by dave s 5 / 10

You Can't Cheat an Honest Man has some

You Can't Cheat an Honest Man has some great bits from W.C. Fields, including the fantastic ping pong scene, but too often veers away from what Fields did best – humorous wordplay. The story is simplistic (Fields plays Larson E. Whipsnade, the owner of a circus who's trying to keep the business afloat while evading the law) and that's fine. Things tend to slide, however, with the introduction of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his sidekick Charlie McCarthy, who provide nothing in the way of comedy, take screen time away from Fields, and serve as proof that ventriloquism has come a long way since 1939. The best way to watch this would be to fast-forward through the Bergen/McCarthy bits and enjoy a short film starring the great W.C. Fields.
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