Old-Fashioned Way (1934)

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W.C. Fields plays the Great McGonigle, the manipulative manager of a large 19th century theatrical troupe. Notorious for skipping board bills and forgetting the pay his actors, McGonigle descends on a small town, where he relies on the hospitality of a wealthy widow (Jan Duggan). He secures lodging… More W.C. Fields plays the Great McGonigle, the manipulative manager of a large 19th century theatrical troupe. Notorious for skipping board bills and forgetting the pay his actors, McGonigle descends on a small town, where he relies on the hospitality of a wealthy widow (Jan Duggan). He secures lodging for his cast and financing for his production by promising the widow a major part in his upcoming production of The Drunkard. The play goes on as schedule, but the widow's part is cut down to one line which she's never permitted to deliver. McGonigle escapes with his hide again, but not before securing the future happiness of his daughter (Judith Allen) so that she won't have to spend the rest of her life one step ahead of the sheriff. The storyline of The Old-Fashioned Way is conveniently shunted aside as W.C. Fields does battle with Baby LeRoy, cons everyone in sight with equanimity, and offers the audience an uninterrupted display of his remarkable juggling skills. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 6 min.
Directed By: William Beaudine
Genres: Comedy, Romance

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
W.C. Fields is in fine comic form.

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Cast

            W.C. Fields as Great McGonigle

            Joe Morrison as Wally Livingston

            Judith Allen as Betty McGonigle

            Jan Duggan as Cleopatra Pepperday

            Nora Cecil as Mrs. Wendelschaffer

            Baby Le Roy as Albert Pepperday

            Jack Mulhall as Dick Bronson

            Tammany Young as Marmaduke Gump company manager

            Adrienne Ames as Girl in Audience

            Billy Bletcher as Tomato Throwing Man

            Richard Carle as Sheriff from Barnesville

            Davison Clark as Passenger Who Loses Ticket

            Samuel Ethridge as Bartley Neuville

            Sam Flint as Man with Mallet

            Otis Harlan as Mr. Wendelschaffer

            Maxine Hicks as Waitress

            Lew Kelly as Sheriff Walter Jones

            Edward J. Le Saint as Conductor

            Ruth Marion as Agatha Sprague

            Sam McDaniel as Porter

            Bob McKenzie as Checkers Player

            Joe Mills as Charles Lowell

            Emma Ray as Mother Mack

            Oscar Smith as Porter

            Jeffrey Williams as Mr. Arden Rencelaw in Play

            Clarence H. Wilson as Sheriff Prettywillie

            Duke York as Stagehand

            Oscar Apfel as Mr. Livingston Wally's Father

            Thomas Miller as Villager in Play

            Georgie Billings as Kid in Railroad Car
See full cast

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