The Dentist

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

An unconventional dentist deals with a variety of eccentric and difficult patients in slapstick fashion.An unconventional dentist deals with a variety of eccentric and difficult patients in slapstick fashion.An unconventional dentist deals with a variety of eccentric and difficult patients in slapstick fashion.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

1.8K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Top cast18

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W.C. Fields

Dentist

Marjorie Kane

Mary - Dentist's Daughter
(as 'Babe' Kane)

Arnold Gray

Arthur - The Iceman

Dorothy Granger

Miss Peppitone - Patient

Elise Cavanna

Miss Mason - Patient

Zedna Farley

Dental Assistant

Henry Hanna

Joseph Belmont

Mr. Benford - Man Hit by a Golf Ball
(uncredited)

Billy Bletcher

Mr. Foliage - Bearded Patient
(uncredited)

Joe Bordeaux

Benford's Caddy
(uncredited)

Harry Bowen

Joe
(uncredited)

Bobby Dunn

Dentist's Caddy
(uncredited)

George Gray

Benford's Golf Partner
(uncredited)

Barney Hellum

Patient in Waiting Room
(uncredited)

Thelma Hill

Minor Role
(uncredited)

Bud Jamison

Charley Frobisher
(uncredited)

Pete Rasch

Benford's Tough Son
(uncredited)

Emma Tansey

Old Lady
(uncredited)

Director
- Leslie Pearce
Writer
- W.C. Fields
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews19

Featured review

A Must See for Fields' Fans

The Dentist (1932)

*** (out of 4)

W.C. Fields gets to shine in this pre-code Paramount short where he plays the title role. The film starts off as the dentist learns that his daughter is wanting to date an ice delivery man, which of course he wants no part of. After a disastrous round of golf the dentist returns to his office where several strange characters wait. THE DENTIST is perhaps one of Fields' best known shorts for a number of reasons. Of course, one of the more notorious reasons is all the sexual innuendo that happens once the final portion of the film happens. I'm not going to spoil these scenes but they are quite funny and especially the dialogue where Fields pretty much just insults them right to their faces. The stuff dealing with the golf was also quite funny and especially the sequence where the actor just completely loses it and begins throwing everything into the water. There are several scenes in the film where people have their teeth damaged in a wide variety of ways so those scared of the men in white will certainly want to stay away from this thing even though it is a comedy. There's no question Fields is at the top of his game because everything from his line delivery to the way he walks is just perfect.

Photos11

+ 4

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Based on the Broadway stage skit "An Episode at the Dentist" written by W.C. Fields for the "Earl Carroll Vanities" in 1928.

Goofs
The shadow of the boom falls on the ground behind the Dentist at the golf course.

Quotes
Benford's Tough Son: So, you're the guy that hit my father on the head.
Dentist: Yes, you want to make anything out of it.
Benford's Tough Son: [socks him in the jaw]
Arthur - The Iceman: [rising to the Dentist's defense] I'd like to see you do that again.
Dentist: Is it necessary for him to do it again?

Alternate versions
Censored reissue prints have at least three changes:
1. The sexually suggestive tooth-pulling scene is removed
2. "They can take this golf course and st..." is blanked out
3. "Ah, the hell with her!" is covered by an additional patient moan.
Also, intrusive music and sound effects were added at some point.
The Criterion laserdisc and DVD contain a version that restores the tooth-pulling scene and the original credits, but have the censored dialog and additional music and sound effects.