MY LITTLE CHICKADEE

US, 1939, 83 minutes, Black and white.
Mae West, W. C. Fields, Joseph Calleia, Dick Foran, Margaret Hamilton.
Directed by Edward Cline.

My Little Chickadee was intended as a vehicle for the humour of Mae West and W. C. Fields. While each of them displays their particular flair, they do seem to be in two different films and rarely work well with each other. Each seems to be dominating the screen with their own particular style.

Mae West is Flowerbelle Lee, a typical character and performance with the flamboyant appearance, gowns, turn of phrase (the judge accusing her of showing contempt while she declares that she was doing her best to hide it!). Fields is Cuthbert J. Twillie, a nincompoop who is deceived into thinking that Flowerbelle loves him. They go through a form of marriage - but it doesn't work out, especially because Flowerbelle is in love with the bandit played by Joseph Calleia. While he appears in a mask, she recognises him by his kiss when face to face with the gambler who runs the town: the bandit.

There are robberies, there are gambling hall scenes, there are various comic routines. The supporting cast includes Margaret Hamilton, Ruth Donnelly and Donald Meek as a gambler.

The film is of interest only as a chance to see Mae West with her particular style, W. C. Fields with his, and the opportunity that didn't come off for a successful blending of the two styles.