{"id":1510,"date":"2006-09-29T12:48:38","date_gmt":"2006-09-29T19:48:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1510"},"modified":"2020-11-25T00:33:22","modified_gmt":"2020-11-25T07:33:22","slug":"you-cant-cheat-an-honest-man-1939","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1510","title":{"rendered":"You Can&#8217;t Cheat an Honest Man (1939)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;You can&#8217;t cheat an honest man. Never give a sucker an even break or smarten up a chump.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/You-Cant-Cheat-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/You-Cant-Cheat-Poster-199x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-54631\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/You-Cant-Cheat-Poster-199x300.png 199w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/You-Cant-Cheat-Poster-680x1024.png 680w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/You-Cant-Cheat-Poster-85x128.png 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/You-Cant-Cheat-Poster-179x270.png 179w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/You-Cant-Cheat-Poster.png 725w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nLarson E. Whipsnade (W.C. Fields) attempts to save his seedy circus from financial ruin while feuding with his ventriloquist employee (Edgar Bergen) and Bergen&#8217;s dummy (Charlie McCarthy).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Carnivals and Circuses<\/li>\n<li>Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Con-Artists<\/li>\n<li>George Marshall Films<\/li>\n<li>Puppets and Ventriloquism<\/li>\n<li>W.C. Fields Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAs Peary writes, &#8220;W.C. Fields is at his loudest, meanest (he throws Charlie McCarthy to the alligators):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Alligators.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Alligators-1024x631.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"394\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-54632\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Alligators-1024x631.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Alligators-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Alligators-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Alligators-768x473.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Alligators-1536x946.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Alligators-438x270.png 438w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Alligators.png 1661w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and most larcenous as a one-step-ahead-of-the-sheriff circus owner named Larson E. Whipsnade.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-1024x639.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"399\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-54633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-1024x639.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-300x187.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-128x80.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-768x479.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-1536x959.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-432x270.png 432w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields.png 1645w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Peary notes it&#8217;s a delight watching Fields &#8220;gypping customers and employees out of money, doing a terrible ventriloquism act:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Ventriloquism.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Ventriloquism-1024x648.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"405\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-54636\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Ventriloquism-1024x648.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Ventriloquism-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Ventriloquism-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Ventriloquism-768x486.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Ventriloquism-1536x972.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Ventriloquism-427x270.png 427w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Ventriloquism.png 1613w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; selling front-row seats &#8216;right next to the elephants,&#8217; talking about snakes in genteel company, playing a wild ping pong match:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Ping-Pong.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Ping-Pong-1024x638.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"399\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-54637\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Ping-Pong-1024x638.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Ping-Pong-300x187.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Ping-Pong-128x80.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Ping-Pong-768x479.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Ping-Pong-1536x957.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Ping-Pong-433x270.png 433w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Ping-Pong.png 1635w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p> wrestling a little girl&#8221;, and interacting &#8220;with his idiot assistant, Grady Sutton.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Sutton.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Sutton-1024x644.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"403\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-54639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Sutton-1024x644.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Sutton-300x189.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Sutton-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Sutton-768x483.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Sutton-1536x966.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Sutton-429x270.png 429w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Sutton.png 1607w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As Peary points out, however, &#8220;too much time is given [to] Edgar Bergen, not only for comedy bits with Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd&#8230; but also for some romance with Constance Moore, Whipsnade&#8217;s surprisingly sensible daughter.&#8221;   <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Bergen.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Bergen-1024x654.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"409\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-54635\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Bergen-1024x654.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Bergen-300x192.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Bergen-128x82.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Bergen-768x491.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Bergen-1536x982.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Bergen-422x270.png 422w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Bergen.png 1607w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>One most definitely &#8220;becomes impatient during Fields&#8217;s absence.&#8221; While it&#8217;s fun to see the famous ventriloquism act on screen for a few minutes, they quickly wear out their welcome. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Numerous humorous W.C. Fields sketches<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Pony.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Pony-1024x660.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"413\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-54641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Pony-1024x660.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Pony-300x193.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Pony-128x82.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Pony-768x495.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Pony-1536x990.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Pony-419x270.png 419w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/09\/YCCAHM-Fields-Pony.png 1597w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s recommended simply for Fields.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0032152\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t cheat an honest man. Never give a sucker an even break or smarten up a chump.&#8221; Synopsis: Larson E. Whipsnade (W.C. Fields) attempts to save his seedy circus from financial ruin while feuding with his ventriloquist employee (Edgar Bergen) and Bergen&#8217;s dummy (Charlie McCarthy). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Carnivals and Circuses Comedy Con-Artists George Marshall Films Puppets and Ventriloquism W.C. Fields Films Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: As Peary writes, &#8220;W.C. Fields is at his loudest, meanest (he&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1510\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1510"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1510\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54644,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1510\/revisions\/54644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}