Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1934)

0% of users liked it
(5 ratings)

Frequently and misleadingly advertised as a W.C. Fields vehicle, Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch confines the Great Man's appearance to the final two reels. The rest of the picture is a ploddingly paced adaptation of the hoary old Anne Hagan Rice novel about how wonderful it is to be poor. In a rare… More Frequently and misleadingly advertised as a W.C. Fields vehicle, Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch confines the Great Man's appearance to the final two reels. The rest of the picture is a ploddingly paced adaptation of the hoary old Anne Hagan Rice novel about how wonderful it is to be poor. In a rare movie appearance, the great stage star Pauline Lord plays Mrs. Wiggs, the impecunious but ever-optimistic matriarch of a large, fatherless brood. Though creditors constantly hound Mrs. Wiggs, she remains firmly confident that all family problems will be resolved when her long-missing husband (Donald Meek) returns from his unexplained odyssey. It's quite a chore for our heroine to put on a happy face, especially after the death of the sickliest Wiggs child (George Breakstone), but she does -- and miracle of miracles, her faith in the elusive Mr. Wiggs turns out to be well-founded (though not intentionally so). W.C. Fields is cast as touring actor Mr. Stubbins the "mail-order husband" of Mrs Wiggs' spinsterish friend Miss Hazy (ZaSu Pitts). Once Fields shows up on screen, demanding a gourmet meal from poor Miss Hazy (who's never cooked anything in her life!) all the film's shortcomings and maudlin passages can be forgiven. W.C.'s best line: "The theatre was so packed, the audience couldn't applaud this way?" (claps sideways) "?They had to applaud this way." (claps up and down). Previously filmed in 1914 and 1919, Mrs.Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch was remade with Fay Bainter in 1942. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 20 min.
Directed By: Norman Taurog
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1919 Wide

No Critic Reviews Found…

No Featured Audience Ratings Found…

Cast

            Pauline Lord as Mrs. Elvira Wiggs

            W.C. Fields as Mr. C. Ellsworth Stubbins

            Zasu Pitts as Miss Tabitha Hazy

            Evelyn Venable as Lucy Olcott

            Kent Taylor as Bob Redding

            Charles B. Middleton as Mr. Bagby

            Donald Meek as Mr. Hiram Wiggs

            Jimmy Butler as Billy Wiggs

            George Breakston as Jimmy Wiggs

            Edith Fellows as Australia Wiggs

            Carmencita Johnson as Asia Wiggs

            Virginia Weidler as Europena Wiggs

            Tyler Brooke as Ticket Taker

            Lillian Elliott as Mrs. Bagby

            Sam Flint as Railroad Agent Jenkins

            Mildred Gover as Priscilla Maid

            Dell Henderson as House Manager

            Bentley Hewlett as Box Office Man

            Arthur Houseman as Dick Harris Drunk

            George C. Pearce as Minister

            George H. Reed as Julius Servant

            James Robinson as Mose

            Ann Sheridan as Girl

            Eddie Tamblyn as Eddie Usher

            Walter Walker as Dr. Barton

            Earl Pingree as Brakeman

            Sam Lee as Comedian

            Al Shaw
            
See full cast

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!

Discover movies your friends are watching
Keep track of what you want to see
Add your reviews to your Timeline

Get Started