Fredric March on What's My Line?

[theflorgeormix]

His performance in the Best years of Our Lives was spot on, it was real, the Christoper Columbus movie only suffered from no story, no swashbuckling and it is rarely shown.

[coronet51]

Where would you find this much humor wrapped up in 8:50, and THIS much class, on television today? Absolutely nowhere. At least today's technology can bring us these gems from the past. Thank you for posting this!

[MystaFyre]

I had actually never heard of this man until I watched this, but it's one of my favorite WML mystery guest clips.

[jslasher1]

March is just brilliant.

[JustAintthatWay]

for my money the single greatest ever in film

and what a great stump he put over on the panel

loved steve allen's 'for all i know so far you might be me'

[iHooDoo]

He is so underrated as an actor.

[srbdirector]

Brilliant actor.

Interesting to note that the What's My Line staff spelled Mr. March's first name incorrectly (they added an "e" in the middle making it Frederic rather than Fredric) on his name plate on the desk.

[you0107]

I come back often and Freddie always cheers me up!

[librarybob1958]

One of America's finest, most versatile actors seems to really be having fun with this. One of those rare actors who seemed at home in ALL entertainment media: Stage, films, TV, and recordings. His wife was the very talented Florence Eldridge, with whom he appeared in all of the aforementioned media. One of the first double-Oscar winners, he and Florence had a son and a daughter, the latter of whom married an Italian nobleman.

[ShawDAMAN]

I've never seen the panel so thoroughly schooled. ;P

[MiraclexBlazer]

THIS MAN WAS ABSOLUTE QUALITY. I HAVE CHOSEN MY FAVORITE ACTOR WELL.

[lorrainewands]

"I should think, unless you were quite stupid"! Classic!

[ShawDAMAN]

@lorrainewands I nearly cried when he said that

[paganbaby89]

As usual, Fredric March, with an incomparable supporting cast, is magnificent. His best film is the haunting 1934 "Death Takes A Holiday" in which he, as Death, learns of life and love.

[rcbpiccolo]

Wow. Fredric March is awesome!

[torchkit]

Truman's daughter was absolutely useless in all of her WML appearances.

[msmunkietime]

"So far, you might be me!" Love that.

[mxylpx]

Suprised by his impishness...what a great guy and to outsmart Arlene!

[imkluu]

The first totally stumped panel I've seen. March was magnificent.

[WBensburg]

@imkluu You may be interested in Johnny Olson's appearance on WML where he stumps the panel -- another of my top 5 WMLs.

[konway87]

I think Fredric March can play comedic roles brilliantly. Ernst Lubitsch's Design for Lviving is a good example.

[Brighteyes1ful]

What a really funny man they don't make them like him anymore?.

[hourlynewscaster]

My God, what a great episode. He was a real gentleman. Wow.

[laudanutube]

Oh, the ladies SWOONED over Fredric March...and they still do!

[ffflappy]

He lied--the ladies greatly swooned over Fredric March! This one still does :)

[Nationsnotregimes]

Dated March 21st, 1954.

[animebabe917]

hilarious!!!!!! thanks 4 posting! i loved watching whats my line on gsn. missed this 1 !

[Limastudent]

So great! I love him so much and this is such a treat!

[jdmars02]

Fredric March was an incredibly versatile and talented actor. Hence the panel is baffled.

[bertmustin]

I think it helped he had the element of surprise going for him here. The panel seemed to be thinking he was a comedian or made funny movies.

[maxreger100]

Some people think that Sophie Tucker's appearance on WML was the funniest. Watch it and Jack Benny's appearance. BUT.....

I believe that Frederic March played this game better than any celebrity. I think THIS is the best episode.

[filmaddict818]

I love his Boris Karloff "I often ask myself!!" remark.

[tallpaul521]

A great actor and a great gentleman. Please see his great talent in "A Star Is Born" and "The Best Years of Our Lives".

[auntbecky]

@tallpaul521 He did a great version of "Le Miz" too.

[stevevandien]

Wonderful panel, delightful guest:). I grew up with the last version of "What's My Line" in the early 1970s, hosted by the late Larry Blyden. I loved it:) --

[MJSweetChildofGod]

FINALLY! An episode where NO ONE guesses it!! I CANT BELIEVE he doesnt think "ladies swoon over you in films"! Yes they do!! Adore Fredric!!

[hippiegirl58]

One of the greats. Everyone should see his performance in INHERIT THE WIND, also starring another great actor, Spencer Tracy. This is a must see film.

[vibrantsource]

Wow, I can remember watching TV that

was enjoyable and full of real comedy without

tons of commercials and delivereing great

communication.. A truly great actor!! thanks for

posting..we need more creative actors willing to be as real as Mr March!!

[cyncityful]

Fredric March stumping the panel. Would you expect anything less from a great actor? This is great. March is/was one of the best. Thanks for posting. Enjoyed it immensely.

[pauldavisfan]

March is brilliant in this!!

[ShawDAMAN]

Wow that was hilarious. He had the panel in KNOTS. :P Hardly ever did they get to the 50 mark.

[wmlfan9]

When I clicked on this clip I was not prepared to for a funny WML guest appearance. I was pleasantly surprised!

[ktfilla]

This episode is hilarious! Fredric March is such an amazing actor that he fooled the entire panel.

[JubalCalif]

@ktfilla

I second that emotion! I never saw the late great Mr March being so funny. A truly gifted actor...and one of the GIANTS of the American stage & screen. CHEERS! :-)

[youngfreak32]

I never knew he could be this funny!

[killerlady1955]

I. Love. This. Show.

[ShawDAMAN]

Me too. He was a tremendous actor. Convincing practically no matter what he did and he was quite versatile.

[greenappletea123]

My favorite favorite actor ever :3

[mfan0825]

Agreed!!

[miggymiggins]

Absolutely!!!

[WintersWar]

March was crazy! lotsa laughs here.

[Eyllek2]

I didn't know much about March until recently and now absolutely adore him.

[ipmoic]

a truly great actor--even here, he gives a sterling performance.

[tranquility4all]

One of the All Time Great Thespians.

I will always remember his scene with Spencer Tracy questioning him in Inherit the Wind.

[wellohmeeeeeee]

VERY good actor...see THE ORIGINAL 1937 A Star is Born

he is fab ...and its in colour

[beriflor]

i agree with above comment on dana andrews, he stole the great epic the best years of our lives, but mr march has to be rated at the very top with a few others as the finest actors of all time

[hatgirl09]

absolutely. one of those at the very top and sadly one of the most underrated today.

[HarveyCartwright]

A great actor, womaniser and the best Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

[responsenow]

He is the best...Thank you very much.

Does anybody know how to get a GOOD DVD of Christopher Columbus? March acts together with Florence Eldridge there. I already have it, BUT the colors are mousy and some scenes are shortened / missing, e.g. Columbus' visit of Isabella in Granada and how Isabella takes of his shackles.When I saw the film on TV in '93, they included.What about a version restored and unabridged?

[DesiluTrek]

He was great in so many things. I love him in the WWII homecoming movie "The Best Years of Out Lives" along with Myrna Loy, Teresa Wright, Dana Andrews (1946)

[rexthebarker]

That's my favorite movie of all time. But as great as March was, I think Dana Andrews was the true lead of that film - and he wasn't even nominated!

[srmarcher]

His mother's Grandfather, George Henry Marcher came from England in 1818. I have his diary recording the journey.

My Grandfather would visit him frequently. I dont remember him. Richard Marcher

[notredamehesamighty]

Great actor and very funny here. Check out "Seven Days In May" or "Man on a Tightrope" and you'll see what I mean. He's one of the few actors to win two Oscars and probably should have won a few more. Why don't we see more of him on classic TV?

[musik102]

Brilliant!!

[grabit1]

Simply one of the finest actors that America has ever had. And I think that he swindled the panel also when he said he wasn't a comedian. I think NOTHING SACRED proves differently, and if Carole Lombard were around, I'm sure she would agree.

[Tikilizzy]

"Unless you're quite stupid" Classic!

[Tikilizzy]

Just shows how good an actor March is... even in this minor throw-away role as mystery guest he is totally in the moment and excels at remaining a mystery. As an aside, what lady could resist?! He's almost 60 here and well, need I say more? How dare he say he doesn't make ladies swoon. Someone should have picked him up on that. He was clearly misdirecting the panel!

[VintageLady1980]

Where do you guys hear he was a notorious ladies man? Tell me more! ;D

[grabit1]

According to legend, anyway, Carole Lombard more than once had to shoo his hand away from trying to find out if her cuffs matched her collar.

[4MaryAnna]

read Robert Wagners book.this guy was a hound and he was always putting his hands where they didn't belong.

[ParkerAllen2]

I've heard this, too. He really liked the ladies. In some earlier cultures the close relationship between creative energy and sexual energy was recognized. It takes a sophisticated, overly self-conscious culture like ours to lose that understanding.

[VintageLady1980]

LOL! Just noticed the incorrect spelling of his name. You think they'd have gotten it right! ;)

[VintageLady1980]

My favorite classic actor! So happy to see this! Thanks so much for sharing! :D

[Ulysses61]

Notorious ladies man!

[goldbergje]

INDEED...it is not often that the panel was stumped. Mr. March did it.

[moorlock2003]

I was named after this fine actor, the correct (Fredric) spelling, that is.

[grabit1]

Well, his real birth name was Frederick Ernest McIntyre Bickel. The "k" at the end made it too long, and the Bickel . . . well, I don't need to explain that.

[UncleCharlieOakley]

Oh, and how could I forget him with Miriam Hopkins in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"? Fantastic!

I hear he was quite the seducer, too.

[UncleCharlieOakley]

What a magnificent actor Fredric March was. I loved him in "I Married a Witch" and "Design for Living," but just as much in the unforgettable "The Best Days of Our Lives."

He was so charming and witty here.

Wonder if he noticed how someone at "What's My Line?" spelled his name wrong.