Helen's Blog /

A Personal glance at W.C.Fields

Although Dr. Harriet Fields never got a chance to call the stage, silent film and talkies comic legend 'Grandpa' (he died shortly before she was born), as the only granddaughter of the star, she feels strongly about familiarising the world with the true persona of the artist.

Present at this 2008 edition of the Pordenone Giornate de Cinema Muto, which is showing a complete retro of Field's silent films, Dr. Fields,with a doctorate in Community Health and Nursing, Graduate of Columbia University and residing in Washington D.C., sees her mission in presenting her grandfather's work worldwide as two-fold :

1) To secure and perpetuate the safeguarding of his films, material and memorabilia in an appropriate venue and guarantee exposure for generations to come around the globe;

2) To communicate his message to children and younger generations - embodying his values of truth, honesty, integrity, generosity, individuality and foremost - dignity - and as a defender of common humanity - which are timeless.

W.C. Fields' Grandchildren:

Alan and Harriet (at right).

Always the underdog in his films, his character nonetheless, questions authority, cuts through dishonesty and purports to keep families together in the end. In his own life, Fields was loyal to these ideals, loyal fo his family and to his friends - financially supporting even his sisters, sending weekly checks to his wife and even hiring cinema staff who were out of a job.

As a child, Harriet learned a lot about her forebear watching his films on television with her father, W.C Fields Jr., a dead-ringer to his father, and her 4 brothers, especially Ronald, a professional writer, later to become a seasoned expert on their grandfather. Shefound him very, very funny and after Fields and his widow Hattie died in 1968, W.C. Fields' only child, her father, inherited all his artifacts and memorabilia, including props, letters, posters and paraphernalia and brought them to the family home and garage in California.

It was then, that Harriet realized that she had inherited a portion of "modern entertainment" ! In 1973, Ronald Fields, her brother, a graduate in English began researching material for his best-seller (Prentice-Hall) "W.C. Fields by Himself".

In 1984, he published the essential filmography "W.C. Fields - A Life on Film", which is now out of print.

And in 1986, Ron won the Emmy Award for the Best Documentary "W.C Fields Straight Up."

In 2006, Harriet and her bothers, only grandchildren of W.C Fields, placed theirgrandfather's priceless heritage with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Margaret Herrick Library in California. The collection is available to travel to festivals, museums, universities, film schools and cine-clubs. The Academy's main Library held the first exhibit with a small portion of the collection in 2007, from January through May, in presence of presence of Dr. Harriet Fields and her brothers.

There is a W.C Fields Fan Club based in Philadelphia.

About The Real W.C Fields:

"He was simply himself and that was priceless". - Madge Kennedy : "Poppy" on Stage.

W.C. Fields worked in theater around the world, including Italy and throughout Europe , Australia and South Africa.

His were comedies with a message. He was unpretentious and courteous and his characters survived with dignity. He was a rogue whose sweetness came through - and generous.

"The only thing important to him artistically was dignity and the integrity of the individual."

Made a total of 50 movies including both silents and talkies.

One of his most characteristic quotes is :

"If I can make them laugh and through that laughter make this old world seem just a little brighter, then I am satisfied."

It is reported that on his deathbed at the hospital (he died at the early age of 66), his family was amazed to see him reading the Bible when they came to visit.

I'm looking for a loophole", he explained.

"Our only redemption", said Fields, "is knowing oneself and being that".