The Old Fashioned Way (1934)
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88% of users liked it
(101 ratings)
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
- Directed By
- William Beaudine
- Written By
- Jack Cunningham, W.C. Fields
- Genres
- Romance, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jul 13, 1934 Limited
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
W.C. Fields is in fine comic form.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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W.C. Fields
as Great McGonigle
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Joe Morrison
as Wally Livingston
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Judith Allen
as Betty McGonigle
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Jan Duggan
as Cleopatra Pepperday
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Nora Cecil
as Mrs. Wendelschaffer
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Baby Le Roy
as Albert Pepperday
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Jack Mulhall
as Dick Bronson
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Tammany Young
as Marmaduke Gump company manager
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Adrienne Ames
as Girl in Audience
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Billy Bletcher
as Tomato Throwing Man
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Richard Carle
as Sheriff from Barnesville
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Davison Clark
as Passenger Who Loses Ticket
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Samuel Ethridge
as Bartley Neuville
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Sam Flint
as Man with Mallet
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Otis Harlan
as Mr. Wendelschaffer
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Maxine Hicks
as Waitress
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Lew Kelly
as Sheriff Walter Jones
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Edward J. Le Saint
as Conductor
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Ruth Marion
as Agatha Sprague
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Sam McDaniel
as Porter
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Bob McKenzie
as Checkers Player
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Joe Mills
as Charles Lowell
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Emma Ray
as Mother Mack
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Oscar Smith
as Porter
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Jeffrey Williams
as Mr. Arden Rencelaw in Play
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Clarence H. Wilson
as Sheriff Prettywillie
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Duke York
as Stagehand
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Oscar Apfel
as Mr. Livingston Wally's Father
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Thomas Miller
as Villager in Play
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Georgie Billings
as Kid in Railroad Car
- Baby LeRoy
