Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Mr. Dilweg, a weary but patient pharmacist, struggles to balance his demanding life, enduring a nagging wife, self-absorbed daughters, and an endless stream of difficult customers. To cope with his frustrations, he finds solace in frequent martinis while secretly selling bootleg liquor under the counter to keep his business afloat—despite the watchful eye of the local sheriff.
His day begins at the firehouse playing cards before returning home for a chaotic family dinner. His younger daughter, Ooleota, throws tantrums, while his older daughter, Priscilla, is absorbed in a never-ending phone call with her boyfriend, Cuthbert Smith. As if his home life weren’t stressful enough, his pharmacy becomes a revolving door of absurd interruptions: a man needing a single postage stamp, a customer ordering cough drops for delivery, an elderly woman searching for a restroom, a federal agent looking for illegal liquor, a fainting customer, and, in the ultimate escalation, a gunman taking refuge in the store during a shootout with police.
The chaos culminates when a seemingly oblivious customer using the pay phone knocks the gunman unconscious with the receiver—only for Dilweg to realize that the unexpected hero is none other than his daughter's boyfriend, Cuthbert Smith. The film blends farcical comedy with social satire, portraying the overwhelmed pharmacist as a man beset by both family and professional obligations, navigating an absurdly tumultuous day with weary endurance.
Cast:
W.C. Fields as Mr. Dilweg
Marjorie Kane as Priscilla Dilweg
Elise Cavanna as Mrs. Grace Dilweg
Grady Sutton as Cuthbert Smith
Lorena Carr as Ooleota Dilweg
By Arthur Ripley
B&W youtu.be/vhGzsFM4t50
Mr. Dilweg, a weary but patient pharmacist, struggles to balance his demanding life, enduring a nagging wife, self-absorbed daughters, and an endless stream of difficult customers. To cope with his frustrations, he finds solace in frequent martinis while secretly selling bootleg liquor under the counter to keep his business afloat—despite the watchful eye of the local sheriff.
His day begins at the firehouse playing cards before returning home for a chaotic family dinner. His younger daughter, Ooleota, throws tantrums, while his older daughter, Priscilla, is absorbed in a never-ending phone call with her boyfriend, Cuthbert Smith. As if his home life weren’t stressful enough, his pharmacy becomes a revolving door of absurd interruptions: a man needing a single postage stamp, a customer ordering cough drops for delivery, an elderly woman searching for a restroom, a federal agent looking for illegal liquor, a fainting customer, and, in the ultimate escalation, a gunman taking refuge in the store during a shootout with police.
The chaos culminates when a seemingly oblivious customer using the pay phone knocks the gunman unconscious with the receiver—only for Dilweg to realize that the unexpected hero is none other than his daughter's boyfriend, Cuthbert Smith. The film blends farcical comedy with social satire, portraying the overwhelmed pharmacist as a man beset by both family and professional obligations, navigating an absurdly tumultuous day with weary endurance.
Cast:
W.C. Fields as Mr. Dilweg
Marjorie Kane as Priscilla Dilweg
Elise Cavanna as Mrs. Grace Dilweg
Grady Sutton as Cuthbert Smith
Lorena Carr as Ooleota Dilweg
By Arthur Ripley
B&W youtu.be/vhGzsFM4t50
