Review of Man on the Flying Trapeze

Can you imagine what "Married With Children" would have been like if Al Bundy was never allowed to trade insults with his family and instead was the constant butt of their humiliating manners? That should give you an idea of how the majority of "The Man On The Flying Trapeze" plays out. Although this role did prove W.C. Fields versatility to me, as it's completely different to the few other parts I've seen him in (here he is mild-mannered instead of blustery, and victimized instead of on top of the situation), it's also quite restrictive, and doesn't allow him many wisecracks - although the few that he does get score some solid chuckles (my favorite: "It's hard to lose your mother-in-law, isn't it?" - "Yes, it's very hard. It's almost impossible"!). His family is truly overbearing - with the exception of his sweet daughter, who is like a ray of sunshine in his gloomy life (Mary Brian is a jewel of a girl). When he FINALLY gets some payback at the end, it's too little, too late, though admittedly the final shot of the film is extremely satisfying. **1/2 out of 4.