It's a Gift (1934)

Director:

Norman Z. McLeod

Writers:

Jack Cunningham (writer)
J.P. McEvoy (play)
(more)

Release Date:

30 November 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

LOOK THIS GIFT IN THE FACE IF YOU WANT A BIG HORSE-LAUGH (original herald - all caps)

Plot:

A henpecked New Jersey grocer makes plans to move to California to grow oranges, despite the resistance of his overbearing wife.

Plot Keywords:

Orange | California | Porch | Inheritance | Insurance Salesman

Cast

W.C. Fields	...	Harold Bissonette
Kathleen Howard	...	Amelia Bissonette
Jean Rouverol	...	Mildred Bissonette
Julian Madison	...	John Durston
Tommy Bupp	...	Norman Bissonette (as Tom Bupp)
Baby LeRoy	...	Baby Dunk
Tammany Young	...	Everett Ricks
Morgan Wallace	...	James Fitchmueller
Charles Sellon	...	Mr. Muckle
Josephine Whittell	...	Mrs. Dunk
T. Roy Barnes	...	Insurance Salesman
Diana Lewis	...	Miss Dunk
Spencer Charters	...	Gate Guard
Guy Usher	...	Harry Payne Bosterly
Dell Henderson	...	Mr. Abernathy (as Del Henderson)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernie Adams	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
The Avalon Boys	...	Campfire Performers (uncredited)
Eddie Baker	...	Yard Attendant (uncredited)
Don Brookins	...	Member of 'The Avalon Boys' (uncredited)
Helene Chadwick	...	Mrs. Abernathy (uncredited)
Billy Engle	...	Campground Patron (uncredited)
Budd Fine	...	Driver (uncredited)
Art Green	...	Member of 'The Avalon Boys' (uncredited)
Edith Kingdon	...	Old Woman in Limousine (uncredited)
Jerry Mandy	...	Vegetable Man (voice) (uncredited)
Jack Mulhall	...	Butler (uncredited)
Patsy O'Byrne	...	Mrs. Frobisher (uncredited)
William H. Tooker	...	Old Man in Limousine (uncredited)
Walter Trask	...	Member of 'The Avalon Boys' (uncredited)
Chill Wills	...	Campfire Singer (uncredited)
Jane Withers	...	Little Girl Playing Hopscotch (uncredited)

Directed by
Norman Z. McLeod		(as Norman McLeod)

Writing credits
Jack Cunningham		(writer)
J.P. McEvoy		(play "The Comic Supplement")
W.C. Fields		(original story) (as Charles Bogle)
Claude Binyon		contributor to treatment (uncredited)
Lou Breslow		contributor to special sequences (uncredited)
Howard J. Green		contributor to treatment (uncredited)
Harry Ruskin		contributor to special sequences (uncredited)
John Sinclair		contributor to special sequences (uncredited)
Paul Girard Smith		contributor to treatment (uncredited)
Eddie Welch		contributor to special sequences (uncredited)
Garnett Weston		contributor to treatment (uncredited)

Produced by
William LeBaron	....	produced by
Emanuel Cohen	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
John Leipold		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Henry Sharp		(photographed by)

Art Direction by
Hans Dreier		(uncredited)
John B. Goodman		(uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Edward Montagne	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Harry Caplan	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Earl S. Hayman	....	sound (uncredited)

Stunts
John Sinclair	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
John Sinclair	....	stunt double: W.C. Fields (uncredited)

Other crew
Adolph Zukor	....	presents
Teet Carle	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Rachel Smith	....	studio teacher (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (as Paramount Productions, Inc,)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1934) (USA) (theatrical) (as Paramount Productions, Inc,)
• MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (USA) (TV)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:Approved (certificate number not listed)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Ranch - 2813 Cornell Road, Agoura, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The final scene, on Bissonette's "orange ranch", was filmed at the house and property W.C. Fields was living in at the time of the filming. For his entire life, Fields rented living quarters, adamantly refusing to buy a house or land.

Goofs:

Continuity: The earphone that the old blind man has disappears from his hand when he falls into the boxes.

Quotes:

Amelia: Harold!
Harold: Don't argue with them, dear, they're beneath our dignity.

Movie Connections:

Featured in W.C. Fields: Straight Up (1986) (TV)

Soundtrack:

On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away

Never Gets Old. Such a Hilarious Movie

I just watched my laserdisc of this again last night and laughed just as hard as I did 20 times ago when I first watched it. What a great, truly classic comedy. And I have to mention how much of this is due to Kathleen Howard's hysterical performance as his wife. She is an absolute scream! "Harold, are you drunk or crazy?" "Harold, would you please be quiet!" "Seems to me you're getting pretty familiar with Mrs. Dunk upstairs" "Funny thing, the maternity hospital calling asking for you"