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W. C. Fields has a sound philosophy of the art of making them laugh. As a clowning juggler, he is in a class by himself— and he knows all the tricks of the trade
The UP-TO-DATE
Old 1
timer!
HIS ideas become memories, and no new ones grow : this is my plaint against that ubiquitous bore who cannot see himself as anything but the fount from which all wisdom flows — for, to him, wisdom is no more than a knowledge of what happened in his intimate circle during the period that started twenty-five years ago, and progressed backwards. I am speaking of that perpetual drag on progress, the (ill-) famed "old-timer."
Fields is what you might call an impromptu comedian. He "ad libs" as he goes along. Below is one of the scenes from "The Old Army Game"— with the mirth-maker having fun with his trick flivver
Says W. C. Fields:
"I'm egotistical enough to give the producers a battle when they want to make a character do a thing I dont think he would do naturally.
"A comedian should be given a well-worked out skeleton framework — and then told to add the bricks and ornament as he goes along.
"The basic human types never become old and stale — no more than landscapes do.
"I intend making the character I'm playing more im portant than the registering of my own personality.
"You cant do anything new. Air-planes, cops, boats elephants, cows, even cripples — all have been used."
This burst of petu lance is not the resuli of having met one 0' these ancients ; it's be cause I've met one whc isn't ! — and theref on know them to be unnecessary. For no one: would have the slightest thought of denying W. C. Fields the right to this title in the rank' of those who amuse — yet he doesn't claim it ! Or, rather, he claims i: only as a well of experience on which to draw for help in the present and future. His; life is of the present and future, with the past as a helpful background ; rather than of the past, with the present as an unwelcome intruder. "I wish I knew" rather than "Them were the days"] is his attitude to life.
Mind you, I have
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