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You Can't Cheat an Honest Man

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233:(Bergen's ventriloquist's dummy/alter-ego, whom Whipsnade hates). Whipsnade's co-ed daughter pays a visit and falls in love with Bergen, but after she sees the financial mess that her father is in, she decides to marry Roger, a tiresome young millionaire. Whipsnade initially approves of the marriage, and just to be sure that the penniless Bergen doesn't win out (and make McCarthy an in-law), he sets the pair adrift in a hot-air balloon. However, Whipsnade creates a scene at the engagement party, and father and daughter escape together in a chariot, with Bergen and McCarthy in pursuit. 29: 342:
The film's whimsical title comes from a line spoken by Fields about ten minutes into the film. Whipsnade says that his grandfather Litvak's last words, spoken "just before they sprung the trap", were: "You can't cheat an honest man; never give a sucker an even break, or smarten up a chump." The line
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was brought in to work with Fields, who had worked previously with Cline and liked him. (Cline in fact went on to direct Fields' next three films.)
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Circus proprietor Larsen E. Whipsnade is struggling to keep a step ahead of foreclosure, and clearly not paying his performers, including
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The film features Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, capitalizing on the popularity of their ongoing radio "feud" with Fields.
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was the second-unit director, helming the chase scenes and other action-oriented material.
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to create a shady lawyer character, a Fields caricature named "Larsen E. Pettifogger".
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Fields' character in this film would inspire the authors of the comic strip
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expands on his character's comment to his daughter in the musical
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Fields' character in this film also inspired the authors of the
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A scene from the film is featured in the opening to
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Cline 501:You Can't Cheat an Honest Man 490:You Can't Cheat an Honest Man 479:You Can't Cheat an Honest Man 468:You Can't Cheat an Honest Man 460: 273:as Rochester (billed as Cheerful) 371:, the film has three directors. 708:Don Quickshot of the Rio Grande 1497:American black-and-white films 1428:Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number! 251:as Himself and the characters 1: 1537:English-language comedy films 1517:Films scored by Frank Skinner 938:You Can't Cheat an Honest Man 422: 198:You Can't Cheat an Honest Man 22:You Can't Cheat an Honest Man 1532:1930s English-language films 558:The Committee on Credentials 507:AFI Catalog of Feature Films 7: 153:February 18, 1939 10: 1553: 1298:The Guns of Fort Petticoat 405:comic strip, in the album 1398:Papa's Delicate Condition 1178:A Millionaire for Christy 798:She Learned About Sailors 551: 436:Deschner, Donald (1966). 186: 178: 168: 144: 134: 124: 114: 104: 86: 76: 66: 52: 38: 33:Theatrical release poster 26: 21: 1522:Universal Pictures films 898:Nancy Steele Is Missing! 440:The Films of W.C. Fields 355:a subsequent Fields film 353:" (This is the title of 300:Princess Baba as Herself 1458:Hook, Line & Sinker 1268:The Second Greatest Sex 888:The Crime of Dr. Forbes 808:365 Nights in Hollywood 688:Why Trust Your Husband? 367:According to historian 236: 220: 1348:It Started with a Kiss 658:The Lady from Longacre 618:The Adventures of Ruth 245:as Larsen E. Whipsnade 1492:American comedy films 1108:The Perils of Pauline 968:When the Daltons Rode 748:Pack Up Your Troubles 338:Production background 1527:1930s American films 1388:How the West Was Won 1018:Star Spangled Rhythm 648:After Your Own Heart 598:The Man from Montana 267:as Phineas Whipsnade 161: (United States) 1418:Advance to the Rear 1168:Never a Dull Moment 1048:And the Angels Sing 918:The Goldwyn Follies 878:A Message to Garcia 858:Show Them No Mercy! 758:Their First Mistake 718:Where is This West? 628:Ruth of the Rockies 321:Blacaman as Himself 279:as Roger Bel-Goodie 201:is a 1939 American 1278:Pillars of the Sky 1248:Duel in the Jungle 1098:Monsieur Beaucaire 1008:The Forest Rangers 958:The Ghost Breakers 948:Destry Rides Again 928:Battle of Broadway 868:Can This Be Dixie? 608:The Midnight Flyer 543:Films directed by 484:TCM Movie Database 387:In popular culture 369:William K. Everson 285:as Mrs. Bel-Goodie 261:as Vicky Whipsnade 255:and Mortimer Snerd 139:Universal Pictures 62:George Marion, Jr. 1487:1939 comedy films 1469: 1468: 1378:The Happy Thieves 1328:Imitation General 1068:Incendiary Blonde 998:Valley of the Sun 818:Life Begins at 40 698:Smiles Are Trumps 327:as Deputy Sheriff 291:as Mr. Bel-Goodie 194: 193: 109:Milton R. 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C. Fields 227:Edgar Bergen 224: 215:W. C. Fields 205:directed by 197: 196: 195: 170:Running time 146:Release date 95:Edgar Bergen 91:W. C. Fields 81:Lester Cowan 60:Richard Mack 1238:Red Garters 1158:Fancy Pants 1028:Riding High 978:Pot o' Gold 377:Eddie Cline 316:Arthur Hohl 283:Mary Forbes 203:comedy film 119:Otto Ludwig 77:Produced by 39:Directed by 1482:1939 films 1476:Categories 1358:The Gazebo 1198:Off Limits 1188:The Savage 828:$ 10 Raise 668:Hands Off! 423:References 403:Lucky Luke 312:as Corbett 297:as Chester 277:James Bush 157:1939-02-18 1138:Tap Roots 788:Wild Gold 333:as Ronnie 306:as Butler 115:Edited by 495:AllMovie 187:Language 174:79 mins. 125:Music by 87:Starring 67:Story by 1218:Houdini 504:at the 482:at the 418:(2002). 359:larceny 318:as Burr 190:English 179:Country 155: ( 1461:(1969) 1451:(1968) 1441:(1967) 1431:(1966) 1421:(1964) 1411:(1964) 1401:(1963) 1391:(1962) 1381:(1961) 1371:(1961) 1361:(1959) 1351:(1959) 1341:(1959) 1331:(1958) 1321:(1958) 1311:(1957) 1301:(1957) 1291:(1956) 1281:(1956) 1271:(1955) 1261:(1954) 1258:Destry 1251:(1954) 1241:(1954) 1231:(1953) 1221:(1953) 1211:(1953) 1201:(1953) 1191:(1952) 1181:(1951) 1171:(1950) 1161:(1950) 1151:(1949) 1141:(1948) 1131:(1948) 1128:Hazard 1121:(1947) 1111:(1947) 1101:(1946) 1091:(1946) 1081:(1945) 1071:(1945) 1061:(1945) 1051:(1944) 1041:(1943) 1031:(1943) 1021:(1942) 1011:(1942) 1001:(1942) 991:(1941) 981:(1941) 971:(1940) 961:(1940) 951:(1939) 941:(1939) 931:(1938) 921:(1938) 911:(1937) 901:(1937) 891:(1936) 881:(1936) 871:(1936) 861:(1935) 851:(1935) 841:(1935) 831:(1935) 821:(1935) 811:(1934) 801:(1934) 791:(1934) 781:(1934) 771:(1932) 761:(1932) 751:(1932) 741:(1924) 731:(1923) 721:(1923) 711:(1923) 701:(1922) 691:(1921) 681:(1921) 671:(1921) 661:(1921) 651:(1921) 641:(1920) 631:(1920) 621:(1919) 611:(1918) 601:(1917) 591:(1916) 581:(1916) 571:(1916) 561:(1916) 988:Texas 415:Dummy 346:Poppy 473:IMDb 237:Cast 229:and 221:Plot 209:and 493:at 471:at 446:134 1478:: 536:e 529:t 522:v 448:. 409:. 159:)

Index


George Marshall
Edward F. Cline
Everett Freeman
Charles Bogle
Lester Cowan
W. C. Fields
Edgar Bergen
Charlie McCarthy
Milton R. Krasner
Otto Ludwig
Frank Skinner
Universal Pictures
comedy film
George Marshall
Edward F. Cline
W. C. Fields
Edgar Bergen
Charlie McCarthy
W. C. Fields
Edgar Bergen
Charlie McCarthy
Constance Moore
John Arledge
Eddie Anderson
James Bush
Mary Forbes
Thurston Hall
Grady Sutton
Charles Coleman

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