W.C. Fields in Fatal Glass of Beer DVD: Slapstick Comedy

The Fatal Glass of Beer is a riotous short film staring the iconic comedic genius W.C. Fields. This is truly Fields’ first cinematic creation that goes beyond the bounds of ordinary slapstick comedy and transcends Fields’ special brand of humor. Prior to this film, Fields’ was an up and coming stage performer who was clearly a talent but hadn’t broken out yet. The Fatal Glass of Beer is a spoof of the corny melodramas that were saturating theaters in the early thirties. Fields reacted against it with this film, and the results are hilarious. Due to its new level of Fields style comedy, the film was not embraced initially. However, since then fans of Fields have labeled it a masterpiece.