My Little Chickadee (1940)

best movie i've ever seen.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Joseph Calleia , as Jeff Badger, is the Greasewood saloon owner and town boss. He's also the masked bandit: a dead ringer for Zorro, complete with black cape, but with his mask covering his entire face instead of only the top portion. He's infamous for holding up the stage and looting the strong box. and for abducting and romancing a conspicuous new resident: Flower Bell(Mae West). It's assumed that Mae should be able to identify the bandit, but she can't. She's put on trial as a detriment to the morals of the community, and asked to leave. She boards the train for the next town: Greasewood. Along the way, a portly man, reclining on a travois, stops the train to board. He soon strikes up a conversation with Mae , who notices he has a wad of greenbacks in his traveling bag(She later discovers they're all fake),thus becomes interested in him. Soon, they are talking marriage, and a man who claims to be a minister is found among the passengers.(Actually, he's a professional gambler). Soon, a band of Indians attack. The few men aboard are worthless at shooting them. However, after being narrowly missed with a few arrows, Mae scrounges a couple of six shooters and shoots nearly every Indian off his horse. Since the new sheriff-to-be of Greasewood was killed by the Indians, Jeff suggests that Fields become the new sheriff. Nobody else wants the job, since the mean lifespan of the last 5 sheriffs was one month after taking office. Besides, Fields claims he shot all those Indians, so he must be a good shot.The masked bandit romances Mae out under the moon, then rides away. Fields, frustrated in being put off by Mae, dresses up like the masked bandit and climbs up the outside of the hotel to her room. He kisses Mae, but she knows something is wrong, and discovers his fakery. But, some town people see him descend from her window, thus assume he must be the bandit. They want to string him up soon, without a trial. Dick Foran, as the newspaper editor and town bastion of law enforcement and decency, tries to stop the vigilantes, but to no avail. Just then, Mae, who just broke out of jail and borrowed 2 six shooters, shoots the hanging rope in two, and tells the people he's not the real bandit. Says she still doesn't know the identity of the real bandit, but has a strong suspicion. She admits her "marriage" to Fields is a sham. This news further stimulates Jeff and Foran to seek a marriage with Mae. Seemingly, Mae has a choice between good(Foran) and evil(Jeff). although the masked bandit threw a bag containing his recent loot into a crowd before galloping away. Mae says she might never decide between the two.Here are some quotes: Man: "Is this a game of chance?" Fields: "Not the way I play it."Mae: "Arithmetic: I was pretty good with figures myself."Jeff: "I wonder what kind of woman you are?" Mae: "Sorry, I can't give out samples".Fields to Indian: "The bottle is mightier than the quiver."Mae: "I avoid temptations, since I can't resist them."Judge" "Young lady, are you trying to show contempt for this court?" Mae: "No, I'm trying my best to hide it."Mae is her usual self, mostly smirks, sashays and rolling her eyes upward, although she often looks unusually bored. She only has one forgettable song. Dick Foran mostly played singing cowboys, sort of a B version of Gene Autry...Other supporting actors that deserve mention: Margaret Hamilton, fresh from her two roles in "The Wizard of Oz", plays the town busybody. Donald Meek plays the gambler pretending to be a minister. Fuzzy Knight tries to inject a little humor here and there, but wasn't given much to work with. Yes, the film could have been much funnier. Also, some scenes go nowhere, appearing to be fillers.

No need to recap the plot.I guess Universal figured that since West and Fields were so funny apart, they'd be even funnier together. Unfortunately, things didn't quite work out that way. Each gets off some funny lines, but rarely do they share the same frame. It's almost like two movies in one. But then neither comedian needs a second party to bounce jokes off of. Each was like a self- contained act on his or her own—West with her leering innuendos, Fields with his grouchy misanthropy. So trying to mix them is like trying to mix Jupiter with Mars. Good thing the great Margaret Hamilton is along to bridge the gap.If West comes off a shade less prominently than Fields, it's probably because she's less of an actor. Basically, she's got one comedic posture, and as good as it is, her air of the sexually irresistible doesn't adapt well. Fields' style, on the other hand, goes through a number of emotions, exasperation never far behind. Then too, his fascination with words from the thesaurus is usually on dialog display. Here I really love "euphonious appellation" instead of the more down-to-earth "nice sounding name".Anyway, each was a comedic genius in his or her own right. And I particularly salute West for her daring brand of comedy at a time when censors did their best to eliminate the fleshy side of life. Nonetheless, each is better viewed in solo starring roles, e.g. Fields in It's a Gift (1934), and West in I'm No Angel (1933).

Mae West stars alongside W.C. Fields in this comedy classic from the 1930s about the Wild West. She plays Florabell who is disgraced by one town and goes to another town. Aboard the train, she meets up with W.C. Fields's shady character and they get married. Florabell's gentlemen admirers and suitors include the masked bandit who rides on a horse and robs people among others. Anyway, W.C. Fields called Mae West, his favorite co-star, probably because she was his peer. She knew how to write and make some laughs. The scene in the town school is quite memorable. Mae West had her own unique walk, style, and language all of her own worth watching. Want to know who inspired Madonna and Lady Gaga, I think Mae West would have been the first and unforgettable lady of shocking attitude. The film also stars Margaret Hamilton as the dreadful woman who hates Florabell. Hamilton also played the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz. She was a brilliant character actress of her time and is worth watching here. In the days of the Great Depression and a coming war, I could see why people flocked to the theaters every weekend.

It's the American Old West of the 1880's.Miss Flower Belle Lee is an attractive and seductive singer from Chicago.She's on her way to visit relatives out west.On the stagecoach there are also three men and the gossip of the town, Mrs. Gideon.Then a masked bandit holds up the stage for its shipment of gold.He rides off with the gold- and the saucy blonde.Later she arrives in Little Bend, unharmed.The masked bandit comes to see her again, and there's some kissing involved.Mrs. Gideon witnesses his presence and departure.This gives enough reason to get her out of the town.She gets on the train and heads for Greasewood City.On the train she meets a con man called Cuthbert J. Twillie who travels with his Indian companion.She decides to marry her for "respectability.And it helps to see the big amount of money in his bag, which later turns out to be fake.And also the marriage turns out to be fake, since the minister is actually a gambler.On the train they get in the middle of an Indian attack.She keeps her cool and shoots them Indians.He doesn't show any fear either- he shoots them Indians with a child's slingshot.In the town Flower Belle and Twillie have very little to do with each other, but she has much more to do with other men.And with the masked bandit.My Little Chickadee (1940) is directed by Edward F. Cline.It was the most successful film of that year after Gone With the Wind, despite the mediocre reviews it got from the critics.I enjoyed watching the film, just like the audience of that era.W.C. Fields and Mae West make a great couple.Fields mastered at his boozing comedian act.And he had the right nose for it.West was the silent sex symbol who mastered at the talkies, too.Those two were responsible also for the screenplay.Joseph Calleia plays Jeff Badger, who turns out to be the masked bandit.The newspaper editor Wayne Carter is played by Dick Foran.Ruth Donnelly plays Aunt Lou.Margaret Hamilton gives the portrayal of Mrs. Gideon.Donald Meek plays the minister/gambler Amos Budge.Fuzzy Knight is Cousin Zeb.George Moran is Milton, Twillie's Indian confederate.Jackie Searl is Schoolboy.This is a terrific western comedy.It's a lot of fun when Fields and West first meet in the train, and he starts immediately wooing her.And when Fields takes a bath in her room, and she goes out to meet the masked bandit.When he comes out of the bath he finds a goat on her bed.And it's enjoyable to watch Fields work as a bartender and West as a schoolteacher.They sure knew how to make people laugh in the old times.