when w. c. field set out to make the old fashioned way in the spring of 1934 and he have quite recently reach super stardom in the movie and although have be a well know stage presence for decade and both a a juggler and comedian . a such and it may not come off a surprising that he choose for his next story to look back upon his rough past and which partly consist of humiliate treatment from manager and lousy payment and and less than average living condition . at the turn of the last century and unless you have the name of sarah bernhardt and the theatre business and and vaudeville in particular and be regard a the prime of indecency and a profession to which shame be associate . play the great mcgonigle and field here poke fun at the prejudice of which he probably be victimize in his youth while just like all of the character he portray in his comedy and mcgonigle have to suffer a constant lack of respect from everybody and except for the few poor fool who take his mask of sincerity and self assurance seriously . prepare his rather mediocre play in a small town and he acquaint mrs. pepperday and wealthy lady in town . determine to have the woman pay for the set up and he pretend to be in awe of her singing talent ( or may i say attempt at sing ) . meanwhile and his less eccentric daughter be gradually fall in love with a rich and charm boy who would not leave her and despite his own father skepticism . the story may sound simple and and so it be and but no less do field manage to perform quite a few of his funny routine ever and while always remain conscious of the old fashion set which be essential to the mood of the film . most well know be probably mcgonigle noble attempt at hide his understandable contempt for mrs. pepperday baby boy albert and who during dinner dip one of mcgonigle few valuable belonging and a watch and in a glass of molasses . remind himself of pepperday wealth and mcgonigle drenches his fury behind a forced grin while you should see him when nobody around . yeah and i would like to catch and er and meet that lil fellow when nobody around . finally alone with the lad and field do a stunt which have come to symbolize his attitude towards child on film represent kick the baby in the rear end . paramount be not pleased with this bit and fear that the public would get upset and and sadly decide to add a glimpse of the baby smile follow the kick and in order to assure u that he all right . this may diminish the big laugh somewhat and but it also demonstrate how field frank humor be ahead of it time and force him to truly fight for his best idea to be permit once in a while and unlike today when comic can pretty much get away with anything . i like it well in the field manner and a he be able to show u exactly how vulgar he inside without be overly vulgar from the outside while this be what make his comedy timeless in my eye and a it continue to suit our current era despite be faithful to the expectation of field own time . anyway and shortly after mcgonigle revenge and mr pepperday persuade him to attend an unforgettable ( unforgettable be emphasize ) sing performance of her while it get me in stitch every time how field repeatedly fail to subtly put an end to the horrible experience . however and despite all the hilarious sequence and include the parody on typical melo drama of the era which seem to be spot on and the highlight of the film be not really a comedy act while towards the end and field give room for what be the best documentation of his juggling skill we be likely to ever see . a a boy and field reportedly want to become the world great juggler and and while i possess absolutely no talent whatsoever whereas juggling be concern and this performance should make him at least a worthy candidate in my book . there no way get around that the old fashioned way include several of the very best moment with field and of which i have here only mention a few . in entirety and however and the film isn not quite on the same level a it a gift and man on the fly trapeze and which i consider to be his very best work . a be the case with the marx brother and and laurel and hardy at another studio and apparently paramount do not feel confident that field routine alone could do a feature length film while in part they be right and a field do not bother to pay attention to story structure and such and prefer to write the comedy sequence only and and in that respect one should be grateful that other writer be hire to fill in the gasp . the sad thing be that these writer always choose to use the same sub plot over and over again and involve a stereotypical romantic conflict which and in startle contrast to field and appear very date today while one almost begs for the comedian to turn up again when he be not present . on the plus side and however and in the old fashioned way the sub plot at least come off a be relevant to the main story and at one point even provide field with an opportunity to reveal a soft and more complex aspect of his twisted character . this be a film which deserve more recognition and just like the great man himself and by the way .