The Bank Dick (1940)

Director:

Edward F. Cline

Writer:

W.C. Fields (writer)

Release Date:

29 November 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Was His Face Red . . . And His Nose, Too ! when the bandits took the money . . . and the SAFE !

Plot:

Henpecked Egbert Sousè has comic adventures as a substitute film director and unlikely bank guard.

Plot Keywords:

Dysfunctional Family | Husband Wife Relationship | Bossy Wife | Movie Making | Nagging Wife

Awards:

1 win

Cast

W.C. Fields	...	Egbert Sousé
Cora Witherspoon	...	Agatha Sousé
Una Merkel	...	Myrtle Sousé
Evelyn Del Rio	...	Elsie Mae Adele Brunch Sousé
Jessie Ralph	...	Mrs. Hermisillo Brunch
Franklin Pangborn	...	J. Pinkerton Snoopington
Shemp Howard	...	Joe Guelpe, Bartender
Dick Purcell	...	Mackley Q. Greene, Movie Location Scout (as Richard Purcell)
Grady Sutton	...	Og Oggilby
Russell Hicks	...	J. Frothingham Waterbury
Pierre Watkin	...	Mr. Skinner, Bank President
Al Hill	...	Filthy McNasty
George Moran	...	Cozy Cochran
Bill Wolfe	...	Otis
Jack Norton	...	A. Pismo Clam, Movie Director
Pat West	...	Assistant Director
Reed Hadley	...	Francois, Movie Star
Heather Wilde	...	Miss Plupp
Harlan Briggs	...	Doctor Stall
William Alston	...	Mr. Cheek (as Bill Alston)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eddie Acuff	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Lowden Adams	...	Francois' valet (uncredited)
Fay Adler	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Vangie Beilby	...	Old lady with dog (uncredited)
Rebecca Bohannen	...	Girl (uncredited)
Melinda Boss	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Nora Cecil	...	Lompoc Ladies Auxiliary (uncredited)
Jack Clifford	...	Cop (uncredited)
Russell Coles	...	Bank Employee (uncredited)
Jan Duggan	...	Mother in Bank (uncredited)
Eddie Dunn	...	James the Chauffeur (uncredited)
Mary Field	...	Woman (uncredited)
Dorothy Haas	...	Script girl (uncredited)
Fay Holderness	...	Lady passerby (uncredited)
Bobby Larson	...	Clifford Muckle, boy in bank (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Billy Mitchell	...	Depositor (uncredited)
Patsy Moran	...	Lady with fruit hat (uncredited)
Joseph North	...	Judkins, the Butler (uncredited)
David Oliver	...	Straw-hatted teller (uncredited)
Pat O'Malley	...	Cop (uncredited)
Margaret Seddon	...	Old lady in car (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan	...	Pursuit Driver (uncredited)
Kay Sutton	...	Young woman on bench (uncredited)
Emma Tansey	...	Old woman on bench (uncredited)
Frankie Van	...	Director's helper (uncredited)
Dorothy Vernon	...	Old lady (uncredited)
Emmett Vogan	...	Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Shirtless ditchdigger (uncredited)
Bonnie Washington	...	Miss Plupp's maid (uncredited)

Directed by
Edward F. Cline

Writing credits
W.C. Fields		(writer) (as Mahatma Kane Jeeves)

Produced by
Jack J. Gross	....	associate producer (uncredited)
Cliff Work	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Frank Skinner		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Milton R. Krasner

Film Editing by
Arthur Hilton

Art Direction by
Jack Otterson
Richard H. Riedel

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman		(as R.A. Gausman)

Costume Design by
Vera West

Production Management
Matty Fox	....	production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ralph Ceder	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Edward Montagne	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Richard H. Riedel	....	associate art director

Sound Department
Bernard B. Brown	....	sound supervisor
William Hedgcock	....	sound technician

Stunts
Carey Loftin	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
David Sharpe	....	stunt double: W. C. Fields (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Music Department
Charles Previn	....	musical director
Heinz Roemheld	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Frank Skinner	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Ralph Ceder	....	collaborating director
Melinda Boss	....	executive secretary: Mr. Fields (uncredited)
Richard Carroll	....	assistant to writer (uncredited)
Charles Grayson	....	assistant to writer (uncredited)
Tony Rice	....	stand-in: Mr. Fields (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1940) (USA) (theatrical)
• Realart Pictures (1949) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Also Known As:

The Bank Detective (UK)
The Great Man (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Lompoc, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

At the end of the movie Egbert Souse is whistling "Listen to the Mockingbird" just as Joe the Bartender comes onto the screen. Joe is played by Shemp Howard of Three Stooges fame and "Listen to the Mockingbird" was the Three Stooges Theme music.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the car chase, after Egbert Souse' has removed the windshield, it is back on the car twice, first, after passing the woman on the road, and second, when the chase is finished and the car comes to rest.

Quotes:

Myrtle Sousé: I'll bet that's Og!
Mrs. Hermisillo Brunch: Mmm, he's got her bettin' now. She never gambled 'fore she met him.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Creepshow (1982)

Soundtrack:

Home Sweet Home

Classic Comedy That Gets Even Better As It Goes Along

W.C. Fields uses his expert timing and his large collection of gags to make "The Bank Dick" a classic comedy that gets even better as it goes along. The amusing, tangled plot gives Fields plenty of material to work with, and the other characters also pitch in to keep you smiling.

After a few amusing introductory scenes that introduce Egbert Sousé, the kind of character Fields loved to play, things really start rolling once Egbert somehow manages to land a job as a bank detective. The wackier the plot gets, the more it shows just how effective Fields's dry style can be. His stoic character and the confusion going on around him often make a hilarious combination. It's very entertaining, goes by quickly, and is filled with comic detail that makes it just as funny when you watch it over again.