Director : Edward Kline

Stars :
W.C. Fields .... Egbert Sousé
Cora Witherspoon .... Agatha Sousé
Una Merkel .... Myrtle Sousé
Evelyn Del Rio .... Elsie Mae Adele Brunch Sousé

Preparation :
Read the movie reviews by Roger Ebert and filmsite.org

Historical/Social Significance :
"There is not a single Fields film that "must" be seen in order to qualify as a literate movie lover, and yet if you are not eventually familiar with Fields you are not a movie lover at all." Roger Ebert

"During Fields' career industry standards required good to be rewarded and evil doing punished, but in The Bank Dick Fields plays an alcoholic, misanthrope who lies, cheats and steals and is rewarded with wealth and fame." Roger Ebert

"It satirizes and skewers filmmaking, family life and marriage, banking practices and small town behavior." Tom Dirks

Synopsis :
Egbert Souse has a series of adventures, in between fights with his wife and family and the time spent at his favorite neighborhood bar.

Guided Questions for Viewing :
Assessment questions will be based on the following :



During Fields' career industry standards required good to be rewarded and evil doing punished, but in The Bank Dick Fields plays an alcoholic, misanthrope who lies, cheats and steals and is rewarded with wealth and fame." Roger Ebert

1. Why do you think the censors allowed this movie to go through?

2. Why do you think a character such as the one described above was able to gain sympathy from the audience.

3. What was you favorite scene in the movie? Explain why you liked it.

4. Do you think movie makers have an obligation to not glamorize or make heroic characters with negative social behaviors? Comment with reference to the movie.

5. "Fields - like the Marx Brothers and mae West - was the foe of everything sentimental and nice. Ib an era of glamorized sentimentality and niceness, their essential vulgarity and comic crudeness were especially refreshing." Gerald Mast A Short History of the Movies

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Sources:
Ebert, Roger. "The Bank Dick." Dec. 10, 2000. http://www.rogerebert.com

Dirks, Tom. "the Bank Dick (1940). filmsite.org/bank.html