How to instill confidence in your patients. Image: WalterFilm
We should all have a career like W.C. Fields in The Dentist (1932).
Of course, dentistry has its share of challenges, but we like the Set-Up that Fields’ character has created for himself in this film.
Fields plays a dentist forced to deal with many Unpleasant Scenarios: a daughter in love with the ice delivery man; a smart-aleck assistant; an eclectic array of dental patients; and a miserable golf game.
It’s a lot to squeeze into a 21-minute runtime, but the irascible Fields ambles through this chaos in low gear, both frustrated by, and resigned to, the madness that engulfs his day.
Fields argues with Marjorie Kane about her boyfriend. Image: The Film Fan 39
Fields-as-Dentist is not what we’d call an unimpeachable Medical Professional. There are no sanitary standards – he wipes dental tools on his smock between patients – and his treatments consist of either (A) removing teeth, or (B) drilling in his patients’ mouths willy nilly.
But there’s genius in this Set Up.
Fields is unconcerned with patient retention. Teeth come and go, and who cares if patients bolt and never return! There are plenty o’ teeth in the dental sea, as it were, and Fields isn’t going Deep Sea Diving.
He has just enough knowledge to be helpful. His patients – at least, the ones who don’t leap out of the chair – seem to find his treatment adequate.
Fields doesn’t start his work day until 10:30, to accommodate a game of golf. Remember, Patient Retention (see #1) is not top priority.
His marginal efforts earn him a comfortable income. We know this because Fields has a habit of throwing his golf clubs away when he has a bad game, only to buy a whole new set when he returns to the golf course.
This character ain’t as dumb as he looks.
Fields re-enacts a crucial golf shot. Image: The Film Fan 39
The Dentist was the first of four collaborations between Fields and legendary comedy filmmaker Mack Sennett. According to TCM, Fields was paid a whopping $5,000/week (approx. $111,200 today).
It was an outrageous salary, but Sennett knew how to turn a Profit.
“Claiming the American Dental Association was greatly offended by the depiction of their profession,” says TCM, “Sennett managed to heighten the Hollywood buzz even more by announcing the outrage was delaying the film’s release.”¹
Film historian and critic Leonard Maltin says the best thing the producer did was to get out of the comedian’s way. Fields’ routines in his sound pictures were re-boots of his silent movies, which were based on his vaudeville acts.
“This was not merely a comedian’s ego at work,” writes Maltin. “Fields knew from long experience where the laughs were in a certain skit and how much each line or gesture should be ‘milked’ for maximum results.”2
The Dentist is a crazy film, thin in plot, but rich in gags. Does it have business or career advice? Nope. But it does have a lot of laughs about the perils of Dentistry – for both the dentist and the patient.
This is a contribution to ON THE JOB Blogathon hosted by The Midnite Drive-In and Hamlette’s Soliloquy.
The Dentist: starring W.C. Fields, Marjorie Kane, Arnold Gray. Directed by Leslie Pearce. Written by W.C. Fields. Paramount Pictures, 1932, B&W, 21 mins.
Sources
¹TCM. (Retrieved January 25, 2024.) The Dentist (1932) by Eleanor Quin. 2Maltin, Leonard (1978) The Great Movie Comedians: From Charlie Chaplin to Woody Allen. New York, NY: Harmony Books, p. 144.
Love your comment about the costumes. I also had a fear of the dentist as a child, and it wasn’t until I became an adult that I realized he was a kind and generous man. Not sure why I was so fearful.
I was curious about the dental assistant with the great smile, so I looked her up. She was Zedna Farley, from Toronto, who was selected in 1929 as “Miss Canada” by the Southern California Canadian Society.
Very interesting! I didn’t know this: “Fields’ routines in his sound pictures were re-boots of his silent movies, which were based on his vaudeville acts.”
I never knew that this was a film — I’m not sure what I thought it was, though! I’ve only ever seen the scene where Fields is working on a patient, but I didn’t know there was a whole story. I will definitely have to see this!
I didn’t know this film was just 21 minutes long – certainly a lot of issues to be packed in such a small amount of time! I was amused to hear that dentists didn’t like the portrayal of their profession, it was an amusing tidbit.
Greetings!
Le
I’m one of the few people in the world who don’t mind going to the dentist, it seems! Lol! A comedy about a dentist who doesn’t care deeply about teeth seems rather amusing, really.
Silver Screenings 
My mom had a fear of the dentist. Maybe she saw this as a child. And the costumes remind me of many an old man.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your comment about the costumes. I also had a fear of the dentist as a child, and it wasn’t until I became an adult that I realized he was a kind and generous man. Not sure why I was so fearful.
LikeLike
As soon as I saw the golf mention, I thought Sean Connery would have signed up for this had it been made in his era, random eh?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Maybe he would have! They filmed part of this on a Burbank golf course, which would have made a fine backdrop for the equally fine Mr. Connery.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If Connery was my dentist, I’d so go more often…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bahaha! Especially if he wore a chunky jumper?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that is a distinct possibility…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was curious about the dental assistant with the great smile, so I looked her up. She was Zedna Farley, from Toronto, who was selected in 1929 as “Miss Canada” by the Southern California Canadian Society.
This sounds like a very entertaining 21 minutes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
From Toronto yet! I was so focused on the antics of Mr. Fields I didn’t think of researching her. Thanks for this! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very interesting! I didn’t know this: “Fields’ routines in his sound pictures were re-boots of his silent movies, which were based on his vaudeville acts.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, Fields was a master of recycling, but so were a lot of vaudevillians who transitioned to the cinema. No sense in wasting good material, I guess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And people wonder why I avoid dentists… I would even more if they were like this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Yes, this film doesn’t portray dentists in the best light.
LikeLike
I never knew that this was a film — I’m not sure what I thought it was, though! I’ve only ever seen the scene where Fields is working on a patient, but I didn’t know there was a whole story. I will definitely have to see this!
— Karen
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a lot of fun, with many, many sight gags. I don’t know how they were able to keeo a straight face while filming.
LikeLike
He sounds just like the dentist my mother had as a child in England—no wonder she has dentures!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That must have been a terrible experience for her as a kid!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like a scary trip to the dentist, maybe not so bad if you like talking to the dentist about golf. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahs! That’s it exactly.
Were you ever scared of/nervous about the dentist as a child?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeh I didn’t like the dentist. I had a lot of teeth out as a child by gas. Yikes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very interesting! It looks like it would be quite an entertaining film.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a wacky film, with lots of sight gags. It really is entertaining.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That second picture made me crack up haha! Sounds like one I need to try and watch!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you’re able to see it. It’s only 21 minutes – a very short film.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds really fun, I’ll have to see if I can find a copy! Wonderful review!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! “The Dentist” is a madcap romp and lots of fun. At 21 minutes, it doesn’t overstay its welcome.
LikeLike
Thank you so much for sharing this review, Ruth. I never heard of this movie before, it sounds like a fun short movie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a lot of fun. It doesn’t waste a minute – very economical fimmaking. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know this film was just 21 minutes long – certainly a lot of issues to be packed in such a small amount of time! I was amused to hear that dentists didn’t like the portrayal of their profession, it was an amusing tidbit.
Greetings!
Le
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, this film packs a lot in 21 minutes. There’s no “filler” here!
Thanks for dropping by, Le.
LikeLike
I’m one of the few people in the world who don’t mind going to the dentist, it seems! Lol! A comedy about a dentist who doesn’t care deeply about teeth seems rather amusing, really.
Thanks for contributing this to the blogathon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are a rare breed, and your dentist probably loves you for it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hee! Possibly. I’ve at least managed to teach my kids not to hate going to the dentist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love you to join the Mismatched Couples blogathon… https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/2024/02/05/mismatched-couples-blogathon/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder if audiences were grateful that this film was short–it’s still a trip to the dentist, even if it is W.C. Fields. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha! True!
LikeLiked by 1 person