Norman Zenos McLeod (September 20, 1898 – January 27, 1964) was an American film director, cartoonist and writer.
McLeod made several successful and influential movies such as Taking A Chance (1928), Monkey Business (1931), Horse Feathers (1932), Alice in Wonderland (1933), Topper (1937) and Merrily We Live (1938). Other memorable films directed by McLeod includes It’s a Gift (1934) with W. C. Fields, and the Danny Kaye comedy The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) and The Paleface starring Bob Hope (1948).
His nickname, as recorded on a publicity still on the set of Monkey Business, was “Macko.”
He was educated at the University of Washington and spent two years as a fighter pilot in the Army Air Service in France during World War I. He was married to Evelyn Ward. He died, aged 65, following a stroke. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. —Wikipedia
The Great Man is a hen-pecked grocer who dreams of moving to California with his family to grow oranges. As is usual with Fields the plot is minimal and just an excuse to string along a series of brilliant sketches, some of which were honed during his years in vaudeville. The film maintains a relentless pace for its brief running time and the glorious gags come thick and fast. It's a gift? It's a near-masterpiece....
