W.C. Fields and Me is the film version of the Fields biography written by the comedian's former mistress
Carlotta Monti. W. C. Fields was a great comedian in vaudeville and early talking films, who was noted for his ability to say the most hilariously cutting and mean things in a cheery, bright tone of voice. He had amazing skills in the manipulation of objects, from pieces of paper to crooked cue sticks.
Rod Steiger plays Fields, while
Valerie Perrine portrays Ms. Monti.
Jack Cassidy is also on hand as Fields' close friend and drinking crony
John Barrymore. The film is not above sacrificing facts for a good story, notably in its recreation of Fields' celebrated "dentist" routine which. W. C. Fields and Me depicts the great juggler/comedian as a straightforwardly mean-spirited man, whereas he is generally believed to have been more complex than that. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide