The Bank Dick Overview:

The Bank Dick (1940) was a Comedy - Black-and-white Film directed by Edward F. Cline and produced by Jack J. Gross and Cliff Work.

SYNOPSIS

Fields, crediting himself as "Mahatma Kane Jeeves," wrote this comedy classic in which he portrays Souse (pronounced Soo-zay), a lush who inadvertently trips a bank robber and ends up becoming a bank detective. He takes full advantage of his new job and embezzles bank funds to finance a fly-by-night mining operation. Notable for being Fields's last major role and for what many consider to be the funniest chase sequence in cinematic history.

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The Bank Dick was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1992.

BlogHub Articles:

The Bank Dick (1940)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jan 9, 2024 From 4 Star Films

When W.C. Fields goes and names his protagonist Egbert Sous? it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to get the joke, although he does spend much of the movie explaining the correct pronunciation. The other half he spends drinking at his favorite bar: The Black Pussy Cat Cafe. His hometown is none oth... Read full article


The Great Movies: The Bank Dick

By Amanda Garrett on Sep 4, 2015 From Old Hollywood Films

Today I'm celebrating W.C. Fields' 100th anniversary with a look at his 1940 film, The Bank Dick. This classic comedy will air at 8 p.m. tonight on TCM. All of the great comedians of old Hollywood's golden age had their own distinct personas. The Marx Brothers were bringers of anarchy to polite so... Read full article


The Bank Dick (1940)

By Beatrice on May 1, 2013 From Flickers in Time

The Bank Dick Directed by Edward F. Cline 1940/USA Universal Pictures Repeat viewing #140 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Elsie Mae Adele Brunch Sous?: Shall I bounce a rock off his head? Agatha Sous?: Respect your father, darling. What kind of a rock? Well, it’s time for another ... Read full article


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Quotes from

Myrtle Sousé: I'll starve myself to death, it's the easiest way out. It's not so difficult to do. I tried it yesterday afternoon.


Elsie Mae Adele Brunch Sousé: Shall I bounce a rock off his head?
Agatha Sousé: Respect your father, darling. What kind of a rock?


Egbert Sousé: Ever done any boondoggling?


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Facts about

At one point, W.C. Fields's character falsely brags, "In the old Sennett days, I used to direct Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and the rest of 'em." This movie's director Edward F. Cline' did co-direct several of Buster Keaton's early short subjects.
"Mahatma Kane Jeeves" (the pseudonym used by W.C. Fields as screenwriter) is a play on words from stage plays of the era. "My hat, my cane, Jeeves!"
The newspaper being read by Egbert Sousé is the Lompoc Picayune Intelligencer.
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National Film Registry

The Bank Dick

Released 1940
Inducted 1992
(Sound)




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Also directed by Edward F. Cline




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Also produced by Jack J. Gross




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Also released in 1940




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