Noah Vinter
W.C. Fields, born in Philadelphia in 1880, was an actor and comedian known for his on-screen persona as a drunk. Fields had a reputation for drinking heavily, and he often drank on set. He is said to have injected oranges with vodka and ate them throughout the day during filming. Fields also enjoyed a cocktail of gin, which he referred to as pineapple juice. He was also known to start his day with two martinis on his terrace.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcohol injected into oranges | Vodka |
| Who did it | W.C. Fields |
| Why did he do it | To get tipsy during filming |
| Other alcohol he consumed | Beer, gin, Irish whiskey, bourbon, Scotch, rye, red wine, sherry, martinis |
| Other ways he consumed alcohol | Breakfast martinis, cocktail shaker filled with gin, referred to as "pineapple juice" |
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What You'll Learn
W.C. Fields' alcohol preferences
W.C. Fields was a famous actor and juggler known for his drinking habits. He was born in Philadelphia in 1880 and lived above a bar with four siblings and an alcoholic father. Fields himself began drinking at a young age and became an alcoholic. He often drank on set during filming, and his drinking became a part of his screen character.
Fields is known for injecting oranges with vodka and eating them throughout the day. He also brought a cocktail shaker filled with gin, which he referred to as "pineapple juice," to work. He once tricked a child star, Baby LeRoy, into drinking vodka by spiking his orange juice, causing the child to pass out.
Fields' drinking habits were not limited to the workplace. He reportedly began each day by slowly sipping two martinis on his terrace. He also kept a locked room filled with hundreds of bottles of liquor. Despite his heavy drinking, Fields was described as an “amiable drunk" and his alcohol consumption did not seem to impair his acting abilities. In fact, legendary director Mack Sennett claimed that Fields' timing was better when he was drinking.
Fields' screen character often expressed a fondness for alcohol, and he himself promoted this image in press interviews. He is remembered for his witty quotes about drinking, such as "I spent half my money on gambling, alcohol and wild women. The other half I wasted."
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His alcoholic oranges
W.C. Fields was a Hollywood actor known for his comedic roles and his love for alcohol. Fields was born in Philadelphia in 1880 and lived above a bar with four siblings and an alcoholic father. He left home at 14 to become a juggler, eventually earning the title of "world's greatest burlesque juggler". After achieving success in vaudeville, Fields shifted to acting in plays and silent films, with moderate success.
Fields' drinking habit became a prominent component of his public persona. He was known to drink on set, often bringing a cocktail shaker filled with gin, which he called his "pineapple juice". His fondness for alcohol did not seem to impair his acting abilities and may have even improved them. Legendary director Mack Sennett noted that "his timing was better when he was drinking".
Fields' screen characters often expressed a fondness for alcohol, and he himself played drunk exceptionally well. During filming, he would often have bags of vodka-injected oranges on hand, snacking on them throughout the day. On one occasion, his co-star Baby LeRoy kept stealing his scenes, so Fields spiked Baby LeRoy's orange juice with vodka, rendering him unconscious.
Fields' drinking habits became less amusing towards the end of his life, as his nose grew larger and redder. Despite his love for alcohol, he despised drunks and did not welcome them in his house. Fields was also notoriously stingy and did not like guests drinking his liquor. He once quipped, "I spent half my money on gambling, alcohol and wild women. The other half I wasted."
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His on-set drinking
WC Fields was known for his drinking, and it was a prominent component of his screen character. He drank both at home and on set, and his fondness for drink didn't impair his acting, and may have even improved it. Legendary director Mack Sennett said, "His timing was better when he was drinking".
Fields' drinking was also woven into his acting. In one instance, producers pleaded with Fields not to drink while shooting as they were behind schedule. Fields raised an eyebrow and asked, "Would you be kind enough to taste this, sir?". The scene was snipped out of the picture after the person took a sip and realised it was pure gin.
Fields' drinking was also used to his advantage in his acting. He played the drunk so well because he was often inebriated during filming.
Fields' drinking habit began after he became a Follies star and abandoned his early career as a juggler. He kept liquor in his dressing room as an inducement for fellow performers to socialise with him. His role in Paramount Pictures' International House (1933) as an aviator with an unquenchable taste for beer also established his reputation as a prodigious drinker. Studio publicists and Fields himself promoted this image in press interviews.
Fields' drinking habits extended beyond the set as well. He began each day by slowly sipping two martinis on the terrace if the weather was agreeable. He also maintained a locked room with hundreds of liquor bottles.
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His drinking in his early career
WC Fields was born in Philadelphia in 1880 and lived above a bar with four siblings and an alcoholic father. He fled his difficult home life at 14, aiming to become a world-famous juggler. He succeeded, winning acclaim as the "world's greatest burlesque juggler". Fields never drank during his early career as a juggler because he did not want to impair his functions while performing. However, the loneliness of constant travel prompted him to keep liquor in his dressing room as an inducement for fellow performers to socialise with him on the road.
Fields shifted to acting in plays and silent films, with moderate success. He finally moved to Hollywood at the age of 51 and landed a role in a series of talking films, some of which he wrote. His fondness for drink didn't impair his acting and may have even improved it. "His timing was better when he was drinking," said legendary director Mack Sennett. Fields' drinking habits became a part of his screen persona. He was soon famous for his double-takes and wry comments about drink, often delivered out of the side of his mouth.
Fields' drinking habits were well known on set. He would often bring a cocktail shaker filled with gin to work, which he referred to as his "pineapple juice". When a studio employee once refilled it with actual juice, Fields took a sip and bellowed, "Somebody's been putting pineapple juice in my pineapple juice!". On another occasion, producers appeared on set to plead with Fields, saying, "Please don't drink while we're shooting — we're way behind schedule". Fields merely raised an eyebrow and asked, "Gentlemen, this is only lemonade. For a little acid condition afflicting me". The scene was later cut from the film.
Fields' drinking became less funny towards the end of his life, as his nose became larger and redder. However, it is said that he always wore his alcoholism well, like the askew top hat for which he became famous.
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His alcohol-induced improved acting
WC Fields was a famous actor, known for his roles in silent films and talking films, as well as his previous career as a juggler. He was also known for his drinking, with his alcohol of choice being gin, whiskey, and beer, among others. Fields was often drunk during filming, and his alcohol consumption may have even improved his acting.
Fields' drinking habit was well-known, and he was often drunk during filming. Despite this, his acting remained impressive, and his drunkenness did not seem to impair his performance. In fact, according to legendary director Mack Sennett, Fields' timing was even better when he was drinking. Sennett noted that Fields was terrified of speaking his lines too fast, which he sometimes did when sober. Therefore, Fields' alcohol-induced state may have helped him relax and deliver his lines at a more measured pace.
Fields' drinking was not limited to the film set; he also drank at home and brought alcohol to work. He was known to start his day by slowly sipping two martinis on his terrace in the morning. Fields' fondness for drink was also reflected in his screen characters, who often expressed a taste for alcohol. This image was promoted by studio publicists and embraced by Fields himself in press interviews.
In addition to his acting and drinking, Fields was also a skilled juggler. He initially pursued a career in juggling, achieving acclaim as the "world's greatest burlesque juggler." However, he later transitioned to acting, first in silent films with moderate success, and then in talking films, where he found greater fame.
Despite his talent and success, Fields' drinking habit became less amusing toward the end of his life, as his nose grew larger and redder. Nonetheless, his legacy as a skilled actor and comic figure remains, with his unique persona and wit continuing to entertain audiences even today.
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Frequently asked questions
W.C. Fields injected vodka into oranges.
Fields was an alcoholic who drank during filming and often brought a cocktail shaker filled with gin to work. Injecting oranges with vodka was a discreet way for him to drink on set.
There is no evidence that W.C. Fields injected other fruits with alcohol. However, he was known to drink a variety of alcoholic beverages, including beer, gin, Irish whiskey, bourbon, Scotch, rye, red wine, and sherry.
It is possible that W.C. Fields injected oranges with alcohol outside of filming, but there is no specific evidence to support this claim. However, Fields was known to drink both on and off the set, and he often had bags of oranges on hand during filming.
