A henpecked but stoic pharmacist (W.C. Fields) tries to maintains his precarious balance while dealing with demanding customers and his dysfunctional family.
Reviewer:
The Spanman
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August 24, 2022
Subject:
WC The Master of Humor.
Success is not funny. Failure and dysfunctional family situations are the mother’s milk of laughter. W.C. was a comical genius. His pratfalls and constant inability to withstand familial dissent were the basis of his advanced comical critiques. Observe and listen. His quips and sardonic opinions blatantly stated what the constipated Puritans could never bring themselves to confront. That awful elephant in the living room!
Reviewer:
Big Boomer
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November 2, 2017
Subject:
Understated humor
Some of the gags here remind us of The Blues Brothers -- especially the shoot out.
Each vignette is well timed and plays out nicely.
Reviewer:
barticle
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June 9, 2012
Subject:
Absurdist
Much of Field's humor was based on taking an everyday situation and stretching it to extremes. One example is the gent purchasing a 3 cent stamp from the middle of the sheet and then asking for change for a hundred dollars. Classic Fields. I have to give this less than a highest rating due to poor audio. The video is good though less than perfect.
Reviewer:
slugs and urchins
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March 6, 2012
Subject:
depends upon the definition of "funny"
reviewers who say this isn't funny probably miss the nuances of Fields' comedy. The print and sound don't allow these qualities to come through. Irony is the main point of this while many of his routines had lots of slapstick.
This may have been filmed in Lompoc, Ca. like the Bank Dick. This is a particularly miserable little town three hours drive North of Los Angeles and when this was filmed this town was at the height of it's community and ease. Now it's a dusty plain with some old buildings and "Club Fed" - the prison where low-level offenders and gov't people who get caught go. After WC Fields the town has become a rat-hole.
Reviewer:
porterville
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March 4, 2012
Subject:
W C Fields Good in "The Pharmacist"
An 18 minute short with W C Fields in good form. While a good short for those who like W C Fields, it is not up to the standard set in "The Dentist."
Reviewer:
rclo
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June 20, 2011
Subject:
A Taste of W. C. Fields
Fields' brand of humor isn't (wasn't) for everyone, but I've always gotten a chuckle from it. He was an early George Carlin with his amused disdain for pretentious words (and names, Cuthbert).
This is a very brief sample - more of a vaudeville act than a movie. Who doesn't chuckle when Fields retrieves the cockatoo from the other room after the apparent demise of the canary?
Two and a half stars.
Reviewer:
Brian Pinette
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April 16, 2011
Subject:
W.C. Fields - Genius
If you listen to the words - it is genuinely funny and even timely and relevant - today. But you have to listen. It is not a sitcom on TV that lasts 22 minutes. It is more for an audience that listens and enjoys good characterizations. An intelligent audience.
Reviewer:
Glen Hills
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January 16, 2011
Subject:
Sez you.
See above review and grieve for an innocence lost.
Reviewer:
Dr Feel Rotten
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November 30, 2010
Subject:
The comedy is obvious
The only problem is most of it is just not that funny.