Category: Movies

“Uncivil Warriors” (1935) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Uncivil Warriors (1935)

Director:  Del Lord

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Heinie Conklin and Bud Jamison

Tagline: Two Laughtereels with Moe Howard, Jerry Howard, Larry Fine.

The Plot…

The boys (Larry, Curly and Moe) are sent behind enemy lines to spy on the Confederate army.  They take on the identities of Lieutenant Duck, Captain Dodge and Major Hyde.  All is going well until Major “Bloodhound” Filbert arrives with news that there could be spies about.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Uncivil Warriors marks the first time that the Stooges use the “Everybody knows Charlie” gag to get past a guard.  It also contains the popular gag where something is coated with icing and the Stooges eat it.  This time it’s a feather potholder. (In later productions they use bubble gum or soap.)

Uncivil Warriors features as much wordplay humor as physical gags and it works.  Every scene has laughs.  It’s especially funny seeing the boys work together to try to fool “Bloodhound” Filbert.  Larry slipping out to pose as Moe’s father; Curly coming in as Moe’s wife!  The scene with the African-American baby was cut for many early television broadcasts!

Uncivil Warriors earns 5 of 5 stars.

Variety: The 100 Greatest Movies of All Time!

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Variety recently sought input from over 30 of their critics, writers and editors to come up with a list of The 100 Greatest Movies of All Time. The list isn’t thought to be definitive, but more to stir up discussion. So in that spirit, here are my thoughts on the list…

I’ve seen 59 of the 100 movies listed. Here’s the breakdown:

01 – 10: 10

11 – 20: 05

21 – 30: 08

31 – 40: 09

41 – 50: 06

51 – 60: 05

61 – 70: 03

71 – 80: 02

81 – 90: 06

91 – 100: 05

Using just Variety’s Top Ten, here’s a comparison to how I’d rank them.

Variety

Zablo
10. Saving Private Ryan (1998) 10. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
09. All About Eve (1950) 09. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
08. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) 08. All About Eve (1950)
07. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) 07. Seven Samurai (1954)
06. Seven Samurai (1954) 06. Citizen Kane (1941)
05. Pulp Fiction (1994) 05. Psycho (1960)
04. Citizen Kane (1941) 04. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
03. The Godfather (1972) 03. Pulp Fiction (1994)
02. The Wizard of Oz (1939) 02. The Godfather (1972)
01. Psycho (1960) 01. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

“Beer Barrel Polecats” (1946) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Beer Barrel Polecats (1946)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Gilbert Pratt, Felix Adler, Clyde Bruckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Robert B. Williams, Vernon Dent, Bruce Bennett, Al Thompson and Blackie Whiteford

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys (Larry, Curly and Moe) can’t find a beer anywhere.  Their solution?  Become bootleggers.  Making the beer shouldn’t be a problem.  But it is.  Selling the beer to a cop, an even bigger one.  Life in prison is never easy.  Especially if you’re a Stooge.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Beer Barrel Polecats was first short filmed after Curly had suffered a stroke.  Curly looks much thinner than usual.  In fact he’s not much larger than Moe or Larry.  The stroke also affected Curly’s endurance and performance.  Because of this, director Jules White used footage from In the Sweet Pie and Pie (1941) and So Long Mr. Chumps (1941) to pad the production.  In those scenes Curly is noticeably heavier with more expressions and body language.

Beer Barrel Polecats earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Knock at the Cabin” (2023) Directed by M. Night Shyamalan – The Second Trailer is Here!

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Here is the second trailer to M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin.  Deal me in.

Knock at the Cabin – Only in Theaters February 3, 2023
https://www.knockatthecabin.com/

While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. With limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost.

From visionary filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, Knock at the Cabin stars Dave Bautista (Dune, Guardians of the Galaxy franchise), Tony award and Emmy nominee Jonathan Groff (Hamilton, Mindhunter), Ben Aldridge (Pennyworth, Fleabag), BAFTA nominee Nikki Amuka-Bird (Persuasion, Old), newcomer Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn (Little Women, Landline) and Rupert Grint (Servant, Harry Potter franchise).

Universal Pictures presents a Blinding Edge Pictures production, in association with FilmNation Features and Wishmore Entertainment, an M. Night Shyamalan film. The screenplay is by M. Night Shyamalan and Steve Desmond & Michael Sherman based on the national bestseller The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay. The film is directed by M. Night Shyamalan and produced by M. Night Shyamalan, Marc Bienstock (Split, Glass) and Ashwin Rajan (Servant, Glass). The executive producers are Steven Schneider, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos and Ashley Fox.

“Three Loan Wolves” (1946) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Three Loan Wolves (1946)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard and Harold “Tiny” Brauer

Tagline: Here Today – Pawn Tomorrow

The Plot…

The boys (Larry, Curly and Moe) own a pawn shop and have a young son named Eggbert.  Eggbert wants to know which of the Stooges is his real father.  So the boys explain that years ago a woman left Eggbert there. She never returned.  The story is told in flashback.  There’s a subplot with gangsters trying to shake down our guys.  This is the first Stooges short where Larry gets center-stage!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Three Loan Wolves was filmed near the end of Curly’s career.  He’d had several small strokes and lost a lot of weight prior to filming.  His timing was off and he didn’t have much stamina.  By all reports his performances were becoming unpredictable.  Director Jules White decided to make Larry the central character for this one.  Most of Curly’s lines were then given to Larry.  Larry does a, pardon the expression, fine job.  It’s bittersweet knowing that the change was due to Curly’s illness.

Harold “Tiny” Brauer is one of two people (the other being Emil Sitka) to work with all six Stooges.

Three Loan Wolves earns 4 of 5 stars.

“The Raven” (1935) starring Boris Karloff & Bela Lugosi / Z-View

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The Raven (1935)

Director:  Lew Landers aka Louis Friedlander

Screenplay: David Boehm based on the poem by Edgar Allan Poe

Stars: Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lester Matthews, Irene Ware, Samuel S. Hinds, Spencer Charters and Ian Wolfe

Tagline: While this mad surgical genius chanted “The Raven,” horrible screams rose up from his torture chamber below!

The Plot…

Dr. Richard Vollin (Lugosi), who is obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe, is called out of retirement to perform a life-saving operation on Jean Thatcher (Ware).  The operation is a success.  Jean and Dr. Vollin become friends.  As the friendship grows, Vollin becomes obsessed with Jean.

When escaped killer Edmond Bateman (Karloff) shows up at Dr. Vollin’s mansion asking for a facelift, Vollin comes up with a sick plan.  He performs the operation, but turns Bateman into a hideous looking monster.  Vollin says he will fix Bateman’s face if Bateman will help him kill Jean’s fiance and father.  Vollin plans to murder them using methods based on Edgar Allan Poe stories.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although Bela Lugosi had the leading role in The Raven, Boris Karloff got top billing.  In addition Karloff earned $10,000 to Lugosi’s $5,000.  Lugosi was reportedly unhappy to learn this news.

The idea of disfiguring an escaped murderer to make him do your bidding is an interesting take.  Credit to the writers to wrap that idea around an obsession with Edgar Allan Poe.   I wish the end result was as good as the ideas.

The Raven earns 2 of 5 stars.

“Three Smart Saps” (1942) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Three Smart Saps (1942)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Clyde Bruckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Vernon Dent and Bud Jamison

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys (Larry, Curly and Moe) are about to be married to three sisters.  That’s when they learn that their future father-in-law, the warden at a local jail has been locked up.  Gangsters have turned the jail into a club for crooks to gamble, dance and booze it up.  It’s up to Larry, Curly and Moe to break into the jail, get incriminating photos and save their father-in-law.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Three Smart Saps is a rare Stooges short where the humor is less dependent on Moe hitting Larry and Curly.  The laughs come (mostly) from the situations the boys put themselves in.  There’s an extended dance scene where Curly takes center stage and really performs.  He was light on his feet and able to move for a big man.

Three Smart Saps earns 5 of 5 stars.

“The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special” (2022) starring Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff and the Legendary Kevin Bacon / Z-View

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The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special (2022)

Director:  James Gunn

Screenplay: James Gunn

Stars: Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel (voice), Bradley Cooper (voice), Sean Gunn, Michael Rooker (voice) and Kevin Bacon

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Mantis and Drax want to get the perfect gift for Peter “Starlord” Quill.  They decide that Peter’s boyhood hero, Kevin Bacon would fit the ticket.  So Mantis and Drax head to earth to kidnap the legendary Kevin Bacon! What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I love that Marvel is putting together these one hour specials.  The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special is a great follow up to the Halloween Werewolf by Night Special.  It’s also cool that Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, and Michael Rooker reprise their roles. Drax is always a hoot, and Kevin Bacon running for his life from aliens is more fun than it should be.

Of course like all good Holiday Specials, this one will leave you will a smile and warm feelings.

The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special earns 4 of 5 stars.

Humphrey Bogart’s 16 Noirs Ranked!

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Anthony Crislip, at /Film, recently posted All 16 Humphrey Bogart Noir Films, Ranked.  Here’s how our lists compare.

CRISLIP

ZABLO
16. Sirocco *** Tokyo Joe
15. Tokyo Joe *** The Enforcer
14. Knock On Any Door *** Dead Reckoning
13. Deadline — U.S.A. 13. Sirocco
12. They Drive By Night 12. Deadline — U.S.A.
11. The Enforcer 11. Knock On Any Door
10. Conflict 10. They Drive By Night
9. Dark Passage 9. Conflict
8. The Desperate Hours 8. Dark Passage
7. Dead Reckoning 7. The Desperate Hours
6. High Sierra 6. The Harder They Fall
5. The Harder They Fall 5. High Sierra
4. Key Largo 4. In A Lonely Place
3. The Maltese Falcon 3. The Maltese Falcon
2. The Big Sleep 2. The Big Sleep
1. In A Lonely Place 1. Key Largo

*** Means I haven’t seen the film.

My top three might change depending on my mood.  They’re all great.

I would have included Bogart in To Have and Have Not on my list.  It would have come in at #4.

“Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise” (1939) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise (1939)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Andrew Bennison, Mauri Grashin

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard and Dorothy Comingore

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys (Larry, Curly and Moe) are hobos.  After a run-in with a farmer who catches our guys stealing eggs, Curly makes a wish… and it comes true.  Then every time Curly makes a wish, something happens to make it come true.

The boys meet a farm lady with three daughters.  The lady was just swindled out of her land for the oil it contains.  Will the boys be able to make things right?  I’d bet on it!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise is the only Stooges’ short where Moe never hits Larry!  There’s some funny business with the boys trying to work off their debt to the farmer.  The real laughs occur when Larry, Curly and Moe try to get the farm lady’s pump to work.  Although you might think that Curly got the worst of it (and he does in the film); it was Moe who really got an eye injury during that scene.

Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Troll” (2022) / Z-View

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Troll (2022)

Director:  Roar Uthaug

Screenplay: Espen Aukan from a story by Roar Uthaug

Stars: Ine Marie Wilmann, Kim Falck, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen and Billy Campbell

Tagline: Mountains Will Move

The Plot…

A drilling operation accidentally sets of a large explosion in the Norwegian Dovre mountains.  Something huge is unleashed. Whatever was set free is destroying everything in it’s path.  Surprisingly there is little evidence left behind the destruction.

The government brings in a diverse group of military leaders and scientists to brainstorm next steps.  Nora Tidemann (Wilmann), after studying blurring camera images and evidence comes to believe the monster could be a giant troll.  She’s nearly laughed out of the room.

By the time it’s understood that Nora is right, the giant mythological beast is heading for the nation’s capital destroying all that gets in it’s way.  While the city evacuates, Nora and Captain Kristoffer Holm (Pettersen) put together a plan that may stop the creature. If it doesn’t kill them first.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Troll is so much fun!  If someone came to me with the idea of a giant troll movie, I would have passed.  It’s a great thing I wasn’t in charge of greenlighting this movie.  Everyone plays it straight which sets up both comedic and scary scenes.  The troll design is awesome.  If you’re a fan of King Kong and Godzilla, you should love Troll.  Keep an eye out for Billy Campbell of Rocketeer fame in a small role!

Troll earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Dizzy Pilots” (1943) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Dizzy Pilots (1943)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Clyde Bruckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard and Al Thompson

Tagline: Dog-Gone Good Fun!

The Plot…

The boys (Larry, Curly and Moe) claim that they have invented an airplane that will revolutionize flight.  Military and Government inspectors are coming to test their claims.  If the plane is all they say, the boys will get a deferment from joining the military.  If the plane falls short of their claims, the boys will be in the army now.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

In Dizzy Pilots Moe gets the worst treatment, which is rare in any Stooges’ short.  There is extended business when Moe falls into a trough of kick drying rubber that forms around his body.  Larry and Curly shoot air into the gunk and Moe is in danger of floating away.  Larry and Curly’s attempts to get him down are priceless.  Curly gets the most laughs when his Drill Sargent shows the proper way to “present arms” and Curly follows his Sarge’s every movement.

Dizzy Pilots contains about 5 minutes of footages from their Boobs in Arms short, but the scenes fit right in.

Dizzy Pilots earns 5 of 5 stars.