#wc fields

[citizenscreen]

W.C. Fields for #BeerLoversDay

[oldshowbiz]

Coo Coo for W.C. Fields Puffs

[captainhunnicutt]

I've often thought that BJ displayed a sense of humor that was both subtle and sophisticated. Sure, sometimes he's outright ridiculous but there's this cutting edge to his humor that I think is unique in a lot of ways. (NOTE: This is not to say no other character is funny, displays a sophisticated sense of humor etc. They are. They do.)

Now, I won't claim to 1.) be the funniest person (I sometimes have a few funny moments) or 2.) knows the "ins and outs" of W.C. Fields but BJ's approach to humor (or at least how the writers wrote BJ and seemed to approach his sense of humor), while unique in its own right, also seems to bear a striking resemblance to W.C. Fields.

W.C. Fields’ comedy seems to be this interesting hybrid of physical gags, witty one-liners, and a distinctive nasal voice that gave the delivery or punchline some extra.. something or another. Edge? Maybe edge is the right word. 

I think BJ's sense of humor kind of runs "deep and silent," which to me suggests a level of complexity in the gags and wisecracks that went beyond wanting or needing an immediate laugh. This aligns with Fields’ own comedic philosophy (at least what I can tell in the embarrassing research I've been doing off and on), where the humor was not just in the punchline but in the build-up, the delivery, and the character’s reaction to the world around him. (NOTE: Fields tended to play con-artists or like "the every man") Fields’ comedy doesn't seem to be about quick laughs but more so about creating a persona that audiences could relate to and find humor in, despite—or perhaps because of—the character’s flaws.

BJ’s admiration for Fields also speaks to a deeper connection between the two. Both shared an ability to find humor in adversity - perhaps as a way to just cope. Fields’ characters navigated the the Great Depression with humor, and BJ used his wit and funnies to cope with... everything. War. Blood. Injustice. Not being with his family. Everything. His humor was a defense mechanism, a way to maintain sanity in an insane world, much like Fields’ comedy, provided escapism during tough economic times.

I really think what I'm getting at is the way that BJ’s sense of humor was written and constructed (whether by the writers or Mike himself) could very well be an actual living tribute to Fields' comedy.

It was a flavor of humor that was intelligent, layered, and deeply human. BJ’s jokes were not just about making people laugh; they were about making people think, feel, and sometimes even find joy in the midst of chaos, like W.C. Fields did in his own right. This is the hallmark of great comedy, and one of the reasons I think MASH, and BJ specifically, remain appealing to audiences of all ages. Whether dealing with the absurdity of military bureaucracy or a Swamp Rat's quirks, BJ’s humor was this weird beacon of light in the dark. Cheesy as it may sound, a real testament to the power of laughter as a way to find common ground, to heal and come together in some way.

And in that, BJ Hunnicutt was truly mirroring the genius of W.C. Fields.

[mudwerks]

(via Nos infréquentables | POUR 15 MINUTES D'AMOUR)

WC Fields, Dorothy Lamour, Martha Raye et Shirley Ross - The Big Broadcast of 1938 

[jhsharman]

old fashioned

Shift on a decade and a half and figure how far forward we go on "old fashioned things". They bring in some campaign buttons for 1940 and 1952, and an old television. Funny that we still have Mickey Mouse. Kind of.

Is there a subtle shift with "rules" getting downgraded to "ideas"?

[vintage-tech]

A poster for a 1940 movie with a funny by today's standards title ("dick" = detective or guard) featuring W.C. Fields, a whole bunch of people that are not remembered, and the fourth Stooge.

[frenchcurious]

Affiche suédoise du film de Norman Z. McLeod, ''It's a Gift'' (''Une riche affaire'', Paramount, 1934). - Source Heritage Auctions.

[megan-the-artoonist]

Egbert P. Waddlefoot makes another appearance to celebrate WC Fields’ birthday.

[thursdaymurderbub]

The Pirates' Den night club, Hollywood 1940s

[waiting-eyez]

You can't cheat an honest man.

(W.C. Fields)

[dailylooneys]

Cracked Ice

(1938, Frank Tashlin)

[citizenscreen]

W.C. Fields and Baby LeRoy in a scene from William Beaudine’s THE OLD FASHIONED WAY (1934)

[oldshowbiz]

The Teenage John Candy

[fashioninpaper]

WC Fields ftom Tom Tierney’s book “Thirty from the Thirties”

[buckrogersinthe20thcentury]

[vintage-every-day]

Lou Costello's mom visits WC Fields on the set of 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝑫𝒊𝒄𝒌 (1940).