The Bank Dick is perhaps W.C. Fields' best movie. Despite a scant 72-minute running time, it breezes through enough plot for ten lesser films, managing to build and double back on itself to a satisfying conclusion. The humor is both physical and intellectual. Fields was among the innovators of early sound films in using contemporary cultural references; yet the movie is not so tied to its era that its references have become obscure. As Fields' style of quick-witted humor grew, the popularity of such low-brow comedians as El Brendel fell. There's a nice supporting performance from Shemp Howard, but the film belongs to Fields.