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I had a passing acquaintance with Fields' grandson when I worked in DC. He was an FBI agent. On one occasion, he told a great true story about his grandfather. It seems that W.C. had gone on strike, walked off the set of whatever movie he was making. He's sitting at home, playing poker with some of his friends, when a representative of the company knocks on the door.

Fields' maid answers. The visitor says: "I'm here with an offer for Mr. Fields from Mr. Zanuck" (or whoever the head of the company was). Fields had left instructions that he was not to be disturbed. But the maid knocks on the door to the poker room and informs Fields of the visitor bearing an offer from the company. Fields' response: "Give the man an evasive answer. Tell him to go f______ himself!"

I remember thinking at the time: "I can hear him saying that!"

Aaaaah Yeeesss- can imagine that happening just as you detailed-- Old W.C. and the late Dorothy Parker both were "outspoken" and often used the "F-Bomb"-- and somehow, seemed to get away with it, even with the Hollywood censorship of the 1930's--

I believe the "visitor" was indeed, Darryl Zanuck- not sure what movie he was producing back then-- My Fav. is "My Little Chickadee" with Mae West--

Humorist and author Corey Ford used to hang with them quite regularly when in NYC and LA. In fact, W.C. and Corey lived together for many months at one time.

And at one time, Corey Ford was rumored to have been engaged to Miss Parker, but he remained a lifetime bachelor- she later married Alan Campbell- in Tilly Arnold's book about "The Idaho Hemingway" they are pictured, along with Gary and Rocky Cooper and Martha Gelhorn-- Of all the books and stories I have read over the past 50 years: Nash Buckingham's "Play House", and Corey Ford's: "Letter To A Grandson" and "The Road to Tinkhamtown" move me deeply--

Somewhere I read that all photos of Cooper hunting weren't exactly accurate. He needed glasses when shooting, but you never see him wearing them in photos.

Cooper attended my wife's alma mater (Grinnell College) in the 1920's. He did well enough in his course work, but didn't complete a degree.

Gary Cooper's contract with Paramount forbade him from wearing glasses in public- I am sure "Coops" often waived that when hunting with Hemingway and others out in Idaho- He was a fine shot with a rifle, his favorite game with his M70 SG in .257R was the bobcats that inhabitated Idaho-- His wife, Veronica Balfe, was a co-star with Fay Raye in "King Kong"-- and was a CA State Skeet Woman's Champion in the 1930's...RWTF