The Fatal Glass of Beer *** (1933, W C Fields, Rosemary Theby, George Chandler) – Classic Movie Review 9784

Director Clyde Bruckman’s 1933 comedy short The Fatal Glass of Beer is an only modestly amusing W C Fields two-reeler, in which he plays Pa Snavely, a Yukon prospector/ trapper married to Ma Snavely (Rosemary Theby). Fields spins a yarn about his prodigal son succumbing to the evils of drink but finally returning home to Ma and Pa. It is a fairly mild parody of Yukon adventure films, but with funny comic highlights.

The Fatal Glass of Beer is the second of four shorts he made for producer Mack Sennett in 1932-33, following The Dentist (1932).

The Fatal Glass of Beer (1933) is one of three W C Fields short films that came into the public domain after the copyright lapsed in the Sixties, along with The Golf Specialist (1930) and The Dentist (1932).

It is followed by The Pharmacist and The Barber Shop.

Also in the cast are Rosemary Theby as Ma Snavely, George Chandler as their son Chester Snavely, Richard Cramer [Rychard Cramer] as Officer Posthlewhistle, Ernie Alexander, Jack Cooper, Gordon Douglas, Marvin Loback, George Moran and Artie Ortego.

This film is included in W C Fields – Six Short Films, part of the Criterion Collection.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9784

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