{"id":3094,"date":"2007-05-02T10:56:25","date_gmt":"2007-05-02T17:56:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3094"},"modified":"2021-01-01T18:08:29","modified_gmt":"2021-01-02T01:08:29","slug":"bank-dick-the-1940","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3094","title":{"rendered":"Bank Dick, The (1940)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;You&#8217;d like to have a nose like that full of nickels, wouldn&#8217;t you?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Poster-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-30822\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Poster-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Poster-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Poster.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen henpecked Egbert Souse (W.C. Fields) inadvertently captures a bank robber, he&#8217;s offered a job as a &#8220;bank dick&#8221; by the bank&#8217;s grateful president (Pierre Watkin). Meanwhile, he naively convinces his future son-in-law (Grady Sutton) to borrow money from the bank in order to buy phony mining stock from a con-artist (Russell Hicks). When bank examiner J. Pinkerton Snoopington (Franklin Pangborn) arrives in town, Souse must do what he can to postpone the audit.\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>Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Con-Artists<\/li>\n<li>Folk Heroes<\/li>\n<li>Henpecked Husbands<\/li>\n<li>W.C. Fields Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nOften cited as W.C. Field&#8217;s finest film, <em>The Bank Dick<\/em> offers a heady distillation of the comedian at his iconic best. He waltzes through his own meandering script (credited to &#8220;Mahatma Kane Jeeves&#8221;) with an eye constantly turned towards the local drinking hole, the Black Pussy Cat Cafe &#8212; and, though he wants nothing more than to escape from his obnoxious family of henpecking females (wife, mother-in-law, and daughters all despise him):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Henpecking.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Henpecking-1024x761.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Henpecking-1024x761.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Henpecking-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Henpecking-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Henpecking-768x571.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Henpecking-363x270.png 363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Henpecking.png 1385w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>he nonetheless finds himself haplessly caught up in one adventure after the other. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields3-1024x756.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"473\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields3-1024x756.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields3-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields3-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields3-768x567.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields3-366x270.png 366w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields3.png 1381w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, though Fields is as enjoyable as ever, much of the humor in <em>The Bank Dick<\/em> is either dated (there&#8217;s far too much physical slapstick), blatantly offensive (note the awful scene with the wild-eyed black customer at the bank), or simply a retread of themes from his earlier films. With that said, <em>The Bank Dick<\/em> possesses wonderful performances by its cast of supporting actors (particularly Franklin Pangborn and Grady Sutton), and remains essential viewing for all film fanatics.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>W.C. Fields in yet another iconic role; Peary (an inveterate Fields fan) nominates him for an <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=2606\">Alternate Oscar<\/a> as best actor of the year<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields2-1024x763.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"477\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields2-1024x763.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields2-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields2-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields2-768x573.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields2-362x270.png 362w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Fields2.png 1383w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Franklin Pangborn as bank examiner Snoopington<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Pangborn2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Pangborn2-1024x764.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"478\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Pangborn2-1024x764.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Pangborn2-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Pangborn2-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Pangborn2-768x573.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Pangborn2-362x270.png 362w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Pangborn2.png 1369w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Grady Sutton as Souse&#8217;s would-be son-in-law<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Sutton2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Sutton2-1024x774.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"484\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Sutton2-1024x774.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Sutton2-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Sutton2-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Sutton2-768x580.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Sutton2-357x270.png 357w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Sutton2.png 1375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Mr. Skinner giving Souse a &#8220;hearty handclasp&#8221; (this shot gets me every time!)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Hand-Clasp.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Hand-Clasp-1024x763.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"477\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Hand-Clasp-1024x763.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Hand-Clasp-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Hand-Clasp-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Hand-Clasp-768x573.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Hand-Clasp-362x270.png 362w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/05\/Bank-Dick-Hand-Clasp.png 1375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes. Though it&#8217;s not my favorite W.C. Fields film, it&#8217;s widely regarded as among his best, and should be seen by all film fanatics. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0032234\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1940\/12\/13\/archives\/the-screen-wc-fields-the-great-hits-his-stride-again-in-the-bank.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/great-movie-the-bank-dick-1940\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/68082\/the-bank-dick#articles-reviews\">TCM Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d like to have a nose like that full of nickels, wouldn&#8217;t you?&#8221; Synopsis: When henpecked Egbert Souse (W.C. Fields) inadvertently captures a bank robber, he&#8217;s offered a job as a &#8220;bank dick&#8221; by the bank&#8217;s grateful president (Pierre Watkin). Meanwhile, he naively convinces his future son-in-law (Grady Sutton) to borrow money from the bank in order to buy phony mining stock from a con-artist (Russell Hicks). When bank examiner J. Pinkerton Snoopington (Franklin Pangborn) arrives in town, Souse must&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3094\"> 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-3094","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\/3094","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=3094"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3094\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61163,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3094\/revisions\/61163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}