The Art of W.C. Fields – A very good book on the films of W.C. Fields — if you’re looking for a biography of W.C. Fields, you need to look elsewhere. This is a film historian writing on the films of W.C. Fields, including some of the ‘missing’ films that haven’t survived to the present day, and very interesting reading it is
The Art of W.C. Fields by William K. Everson
I thoroughly enjoyed The Art of W.C. Fields by William K. Everson, for many reasons. First, it’s very readable, dealing with the films of classic film clown and comedian W.C. Fields, giving valuable background information of the creation of each film, information on co-stars, etc. Secondly, it’s not a biography of W.C. Fields, and doesn’t pretend to be; it gives information on W.C. Fields personal life only when it directly reflects on a given film, and avoids rumor or gossip at those times.
If you’re a fan of W.C. Fields’ work, you definitely want to pick up a copy of this at your local library (sadly, it’s currently out of print, although you can still order used copies through Amazon.com). If you’re looking for a biography of W.C. Fields, however, you need to check out an actual biography.