“W.C. Fields by Himself” Book Giveaway!
Entry Task for Twitter Contest
It’s time for our next giveaway! And I am happy to say that, this time, CMH will be giving away TEN COPIES of “W.C. Fields by Himself: His Intended Autobiography with Hitherto Unpublished Letters, Notes, Scripts, and Articles” via TWITTER, courtesy of Taylor Trade Publishing now through September 3rd. (plus TWO more copies via Facebook and this Blog, details to follow on Wednesday).
As many of you know, W.C. Fields is a particular favorite of mine, going back to when I was a little kid and saw “It’s a Gift” for the very first time (“No, I don’t know Carl LaFong – capital L, small a, capital F, small o, small n, small g. And if I did know Carl LaFong, I wouldn’t admit it!“). That said, image my delight as I sifted through the many pages of personal notes, outlines, letters, scripts, and more! This is a treasure trove of cool stuff for any W. C. Fields’ fan.
In order to qualify to win one of these prizes via this contest giveaway, you must complete the below entry task by Saturday, September 3rd at 9PM EST. However, the sooner you enter, the better chance you have of winning, because we will pick two winners on five different days within the contest period, via random drawings, as listed below… So if you don’t win the first week that you enter, you will still be eligible to win during the following weeks until the contest is over.
- August 6: Two Winners
- August 13: Two Winners
- August 20: Two Winners
- August 27: Two Winners
- September 3: Two Winners
We will announce each week’s winner(s) on Twitter @ClassicMovieHub, the day after each winner is picked at 9PM EST — for example, we will announce our first week’s winners on Sunday August 7 at 9PM EST on Twitter (and if you didn’t enter via Twitter, we will alert you via this blog article in the comment section below).
If you’re also on Facebook, please feel free to visit us at Classic Movie Hub on Facebook for additional giveaways (or check back on this Blog in a few days) — because we’ll be giving away TWO MORE copies via Facebook/Blog as well!
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ENTRY TASK (2-parts) to be completed by September 3rd at 9PM EST — BUT remember, the sooner you enter, the more chances you have to win…
1) Answer the below question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog post
THE QUESTION:
What is one of your favorite W.C. Fields movies and why? And, if you haven’t seen any of his films, then please tell us why you’d like to win this book.
2) Then TWEET (not DM) the following message in its entirety*:
Just entered to win the “W.C. Fields by Himself” #BookGiveaway courtesy of @TaylorTrade and @ClassicMovieHub
NOTE: if for any reason you encounter a problem commenting here on this blog, please feel free to tweet or DM us, or send an email to clas…@gmail.com and we will be happy to create the entry for you.
*If you do not have a Twitter account, you can still enter the contest by simply answering the above question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog — BUT PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ADD THIS VERBIAGE TO YOUR ANSWER: I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
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About the Book: Fields never got around to writing his autobiography, but at his death in 1946, he left behind a vast assortment of notes, outlines, scrapbooks, letters, scripts, scenarios, and photographs. Now his grandson, Ronald J. Fields, has edited and woven this wealth of previously unpublished material into a unique new portrait of the Great One–in his own words. This book establishes the true facts about W.C. Fields’s early years: how, around 1895, he really got started juggling; how met his future wife Hattie; and how he felt about his incessant tours, triumphs, and film career.
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Click here for the full contest rules.
Please note that only Continental United States and Canadian entries are eligible.
And — BlogHub members ARE eligible to win if they meet the requirements above.
And if you can’t wait to win the book, you can purchase it on amazon via this link (or click on image):
Good Luck!
–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub
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It’s A Gift is my favorite Fields film. I’ve watched it numerous times and the humor still holds up. When Fields plays the henpecked husband he is at the top of his game.
Hi Jack, for some reason I haven’t seen your tweet yet. Can you please let me know if you already tweeted and/or please tweet now — or please comment here on the blog if you don’t have a twitter. Thanks!
My favorite is the same as yours! It’s a Gift is one of the pinnacles of comedy in golden age Hollywood. It is overflowing with undeniable bits – Mr. Muckle, the aforementioned Carl LaFong, the porch sleeping (or not sleeping) sequence – that I still laugh as hard at now as I did the first time. Tears of laughter. This is the film that I also use in my crusade as a Fields evangelist any time I run across someone who has never seen his work. I have shown it at the monthly screening series I host, I have done an episode about it for my podcast, I put it in front of people as often as I can. I can’t think of a better calling card to spread the gospel of The Great Man.
My favourite W.C. Fields film is My Little Chickadee. The slapstick is superb in this film, and the fact that Mae West aaaaand W.C. Fields are in this film together makes it even better. They play off each other so well and the whole film is incredibly hilarious. I never get tired of it.
I’ve seen clips from a few of Fields’ films but I don’t think I’ve ever seen one all the way through. He was a unique talent, like so many comedians of his time, a very distinct individual. I have read W. C. Fields & Me by Carla Monti and it was really insightful. No doubt this book will be equally enlightening . Thanks for the chance to win a copy
Yes, upon reflection I realize while I’ve seen clips aplenty, I can’t recall that I’ve actually viewed any one of his films in full (!). Maybe “The Dentist”? but maybe not. Bios are almost always curious things to read, so that’s the pique of interest.
“It’s a Gift” is my absolute favorite because it’s simply the greatest motion picture comedy of all time. Second favorite would be “The Bank Dick” and believe me it’s a close second, and it’s still hard to fathom how W.C. Fields pulled off such a masterpiece in the sunset years of his career & life. Who else can lay claim that they created one of their best works at the end of their career? Chaplin, Keaton, Laurel & Hardy, Lloyd? I love each and every one but none came anywhere close.
My favorite W.C. Fields movie is “Never Give A Sucker An Even Break”, as it is hysterical, looney and features one of my favorite dowagers Margaret Dumont as Mrs. Hemagloben!
It’s a Gift is pure comedy I laugh through the whole movie Fields as a henpecked husband dealing with kids is the perfect combination.
I was a kid when I remember hearing a lot about W.C. Fields, then I grew up and got busy and didn’t do much movie watching per se. But he has always fascinated me with his snarky quips and observations, and the scandals that seemed to always be swirling around him. I read the COMPLETE STORIES by Dorothy Parker and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m guessing Fields is the male version of her, only in a more brash, non-literary way. Seems she even mentioned him, but I’d have to refresh to be sure. Also, what Alfred Hitchcock was to mystery thrillers, Fields is to comedy in my understanding so far. Wonder what he would have done with The Stooges?
Biographies are my thing. Does not always have to be celebrities. I just like to see how people lived, made decisions, their opinions, what influenced them, the whole shebang. In their own words is ideal, then I compare to other’s analysis. It’s not so much WHAT people do, but WHY that interests me. So here’s to the folly of life!!
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
Nice comment! Thanks so much for entering — and Good Luck! 🙂
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THE BANK DICK is my favorite Fields’ film, because it encompasses everything that is great about the Great Man — grandiloquent dialogue, drunken humor, surrealism, cringe comedy, and misenthropy. Here’s my full review: http://www.boozemovies.com/2007/01/bank-dick-1940.html
It’s A Gift wins top billing for the grocery store scene alone. The interaction with his family was priceless as well. If I picked a second it might be Six of a Kind. Even with a relatively small filmography it’s hard to pick, simply because his short-subjects were great as well. I still laugh out loud watching The Dentist.
Million Dollar Legs is one of my favorite W.C. Fields movies. Fields just steals the show every time he’s on screen.
I loved his comedies, but I have to say my favourite is his role as Micawber in, David Copperfield. It was huge leap from his regular comedies, but showed the true range he has as an entertainer.
I think my favorite W. C. Fields film is “Never Give A Sucker An Even Break”. It is still laugh out loud funny, can still make me spray soda from my nose if I’m not careful.
I’m partial to It’s a Gift and the Big Broadcast of 1938.
Hi Melanie, please remember to tweet the qualifying message, or post here to say that you don’t have a twitter account. Thanks 🙂
Posting on behalf of Woody W… Fav. WC Fields film-The Bank Dick
The Bank Dick makes me laugh everytime, and Im kinda like W.C., I dont like kids…..
Hi Matthew, I haven’t seen your tweet yet. Could you please tweet the message, or comment back here that you do not have a twitter account… Thanks!
It is so hard to pick a favorite. I grew up watching them all, as my Dad is probably the #1 W.C. Fields fan. I would so love to give him this book as a gift. So many greats have been mentioned… The Bank Dick, Never Give a Sucker, his awesome turn in David Copperfield just makes the movie! I have always been partial to My Litte Chickadee, due to my complete obsession with Mae West. However, I must choose Alice in Wonderland from 1933. His Humpty Dumpty, played with his usual wiseacre wit, is so hilarious that my five- year- old niece repeatedly asks me to cue that part up on the DVR.
She had never seen him out of the Humpty Dumty costume and heavy make-up, but recognized him by his voice when The Dentist started up on TCM. She screamed for me to come from the kitchen into the TV room, where she excitedly asked, “Auntie, that is W.C. Fields? He talks just same as in Alice in Wonderland!” She was very proud to be correct, and is a next generation fan!
It’s A Gift funniest movie I’ve ever seen. I can watch it anytime and burst into laughter it’s absolutely genius.
Never seen any of his movies but reading all the comments make want go check out some of his movies and know more abt the man himself.
Im a big fan of My Little Chickadee
My 2nd favorite is ‘The Old Fashioned Way.’ Fields is surrounded by every annoying character actor he can find, and it is a wonderfully odd film. My favorite, though, is ‘Poppy,’ which Fields starred in on Broadway in 1923, and then in the silent version, ‘Sally of the Sawdust’ in 1925, directed by D.W. Griffith. in 1936, he starred again in the sound version, under the original title, ‘Poppy.’ And it includes that wonderful Fields line: ‘And if we should ever separate, my little plum, I want to give you just one bit of fatherly advice: Never give a sucker an even break!’
It’s A Gift. “Oh, vegetable man! Oh vegetable gentleman?”
The Bank Dick. “Don’t be a luddy duddy! Don’t be a mooncalf! Don’t be a jabbernowl! You’re not those, are you?”
He was at his best as the henpecked husband with the gift of bombast.
just LOVE that film 🙂
It’s a Gift…can’t even type the title without a smile on my face. Still funny after all these years.
Hi, Haven’t seen your tweet yet. Could you please either tweet the entry message, or let me know by commenting here, that you don’t have a twitter account. Thanks!
My favorite W.C.Fields movie, that I have seen so far, is 1932 short The Dentist. It was the first of his films I saw due to Marjorie Kane, who I’m quite a fan of, playing the role of his daughter. I was surprised I had never seen anything by this legendary comic before that and had to immediately go hunt down more of his work. It’d be wonderful to get to read more about him.