Category: Humor

“Gents in a Jam” (1952) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Gents in a Jam (1952)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer: Edward Bernds

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Kitty McHugh, Emil Sitka, Danni Sue Nolan, Mickey Simpson  and ‘Snub’ Pollard.

Tagline: Head Over Heels and Up To Their Ears in Laughs! 

The Plot…

The boys are about to be evicted when they (and their landlord, Mrs. MacGruder) learn that Shemp’s rich uncle is coming for a visit.  Mrs. McGruder decides to let them stay since she has eyes on marrying Shemp’s uncle for his money.  To complicate matters, the boys’ pretty neighbor, Gertie, comes by to borrow a cup of sugar. Her husband is world-famous for his incredible strength (and his insane jealously of any man around his wife).  When Gertie trips, Shemp goes to help her and accidentally rips her dress off!  Cue the husband coming down the hall… and let the hijinks begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Gents in a Jam was the final Stooges’ short for both…

  • director Edward Bernds.  Many consider Bernds to be the best of all the Stooges’ directors.  All of the remaining Stooges’ shorts are directed by Jules White and make use of footage from previous Stooges outings.
  • and character actor Snub Pollard.  Mr. Pollard has over 600 acting credits on his resume dating back to 1913!

Larry to Moe: “How come you give all the orders?”  Moe: Because I have all the brains.  Any objections?”  Larry: “Yeah!” Moe slaps Larry and says, “Objection overruled.”

Gents in a Jam (1952) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“A Missed Fortune” (1952) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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A Missed Fortune (1952)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler, Jack White

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Vernon Dent and Stanley Blystone.

Tagline: They’re hitting the jackpot in a top hat, white tie and gales of laugher.

The Plot…

When Shemp wins $50,000.00 in a radio contest, the boys decide to live it up.  They check in at the expensive Hotel Costa Plente and begin to live like millionaires.  Meanwhile, three gold-diggers have spotted our guys and plan to make a move.  Get the popcorn, because things are about to get nuts.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

A Missed Fortune is a remake of 1938’s Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb, using a small amount of footage from the original.  They’d probably have used more if Shemp hadn’t replaced Curly.  (Sad to note this is the last Stooges’ short released during Curly’s life.)

A Missed Fortune (1952) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Hula-La-La” (1951) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Hula-La-La (1951)

Director:  Hugh McCollum

Writer: Edward Bernds

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Jean Willes, Emile Sitka, Kenneth MacDonald and Heinie Conklin.

Tagline: Oodles of Lulus and Laughs

The Plot…

The boys are dance instructors/choreographers for B.O. Pictures.  The company is planning a big blockbuster musical featuring native dancers.  Unfortunately the island that B.O. Pictures purchased has natives that don’t dance.  So our guys are sent down to teach the islanders how to shake a leg.  Unfortunately, nobody realizes the natives are cannibals!  Let the fun begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

This is the only Stooges’ short directed by Hugh McCollum.  He normally worked as a producer and it was thought that his directing style was too restrained for The Three Stooges.

Moe: to Shemp: “You know, for an imbecile, you’ve got some brains.”

Hula-La-La (1951) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Scrambled Brains” (1951) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Scrambled Brains (1951)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Emile Sitka, Vernon Dent and Pamela Britton.

Tagline: Those cut-up kings in their funniest free-for-all fun frolic!

The Plot…

Shemp is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.  He is hallucinating and nothing seems to help.  In desperation, Larry and Moe call in Dr. Gesundheit (Sitka).  If he can’t help Shemp then it’s back to the  sanatorium.  Let the good times roll.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Larry Fine considered this his favorite of all the Stooges’ shorts.

Muhammad Ali was famous for saying, “I’d fight that chump in a phone booth.”  There is an extended scene with our boys fighting Vernon Dent in a phone booth!

Scrambled Brains (1951) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Don’t Throw That Knife” (1951) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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“Don’t Throw That Knife” (1951)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Jean Wiles and Dick Curtis.

Tagline: The nonsense kings take the census – the hard way

The Plot…

The boys are census takers.  They get to the apartment of Mr. and Mrs. Wykoff, a famous knife-throwing act.  The husband isn’t home but the wife is.  The boys barge in to ask her census questions.  She warns them that they must get out of the apartment because her husband is insanely jealous.  He would kill any man caught alone with her.  And wouldn’t you kn0w it, just then, they hear the husband coming through the door.  Let the festivities begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The boys: “What does your husband do?”  Mrs. Wykoff: “He’s a magician.  He makes things disappear.”  Shemp: “I got an uncle who can make things disappear.”  Moe: “Is he a magician?”  Shemp: “No.  He’s a kleptomaniac.”

The best scene is when the husband finds his wife is hiding a man… no, two men… wait, three men!! (And the nonsense that follows.)

“Don’t Throw That Knife” (1951) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Three Arabian Nuts” (1951) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Three Arabian Nuts (1951)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer: Elwood Ullman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Philip Van Zandt, Vernon Dent and Dick Curtis.

Tagline:  Your Favorite Cut-Ups Cut Loose in a Harem-Scarem Comedy Riot!

The Plot…

The boys are warehouse workers unpacking expensive Arabian antiques.  When Shemp comes across a magic lamp, he thinks it is a syrup dispenser.  He wipes it off and a genie appears!  Unfortunately, two Arabian killers are close by and ready to steal the lamp!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Shemp realizes he has a magic lamp, but thinks the genie is called “genius”.

Shemp gets trapped by an Arab with a sword.  Shemp: “I suppose you think I’m scared?” Arab: “Yes!” Shemp: “You’re right!”

Three Arabian Nuts (1951) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Slaphappy Sleuths” (1950) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Slaphappy Sleuths (1950)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Stanley Blystone, Emil Sitka, Gene Roth and Blackie Whiteford.

Tagline:  The Stooges fuel around with their own brand of laughing-gas.

The Plot…

The boys are detectives hired by an Oil Company to catch crooks who are robbing their gas stations.  The boys are to pose as gas station attendants and catch the robbers in the act.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Ethel is worth the price if you can afford her.

Slaphappy Sleuths (1950) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Three Hams on Rye” (1950) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Three Hams on Rye (1950)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Clyde Bruckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Christine McIntyre, Emil Sitka, Ned Glass and Blackie Whiteford.

Tagline: THE STOOGES’ SLAP-HAPPIEST LINE-UP OF GAGS AND GALS!

The Plot…

The boys are stagehands and bit actors for a theater production.  Already on the bad side of the producer, he orders them to keep a theater critic from sneaking in.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although this one ends with a positive outcome for the Stooges, it just doesn’t resonate with me.  Your mileage could vary.

Three Hams on Rye (1950) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Self Made Maids” (1950) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Self Made Maids (1950)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard

Tagline: Oh Baby… It’s the Stooges’ Screwiest Comedy!

The Plot…

The boys are artists in love with models named Larraine, Moella and Shempetta.  The girls accept our guys’ marriage proposals.  The problem will be getting the ladies’ father to agree.  Let the fun begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Self Made Maids is unique in that the Stooges play all the characters!  Larry, Moe and Shemp play the artists, their girlfriends and their children.  In addition, Moe plays the girls’ father,  Larry and Shemp appear as a couple in a painting.

While playing one of the girls, Moe actually tripped, twisted an ankle, hit his head and needed crutches to get around the next day.  Filming continued.

Self Made Maids (1950) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Love at First Bite” (1950) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Love at First Bite (1950)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Christine McIntyre and Al Thompson. 

Tagline: The Stooges Go Romantic in a Riot of Fun!

The Plot…

The boys are celebrating.  Their wartime sweethearts are to arrive this afternoon.  The boys decide to have a celebration drink.  One thing leads to another and our guys become angry drunks.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Flashbacks where the individual Stooges remember their sweethearts just isn’t as funny as the boys working together.

Love at First Bite (1950) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Hugs and Mugs” (1950) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Hugs and Mugs (1950)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Clyde Bruckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Christine McIntyre, Emil Sitka and Kathleen O’Malley. 

Tagline: Howl As The Stooges Spring To New Fun Highs!.

The Plot…

The boys run an upholstering shop.  They bought a warehouse full of stuff because the renters never kept up with the cost of storage.  It turns out the renters were three dames in prison.

Now the women are out and after the valuable stolen pearl necklace that was hidden in the warehouse goods.  They’ve headed to the Stooges’ shop and plan to get the necklace using whatever means they must.  To make matters worse, the girls’ partners in crime have followed with plans to get the necklace for themselves.  Our boys are in for it!  Let the hijinks begin.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The boys re-use one of their popular gags when a sofa spring attaches to someone’s rear.

During the filming of Hugs and Mugs, the Stooges were presented with the Exhibitor’s Laurel Award for being the top two-reel moneymakers of 1948.

Hugs and Mugs (1950) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Punchy Cowpunchers” (1950) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Punchy Cowpunchers (1950)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer: Edward Bernds

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Jock Mahoney, Christine McIntyre, Kenneth MacDonald, Dick Wessel, Vernon Dent, Emil Sitka, Heinie Conklin and Blackie Whiteford. 

Tagline: You’ll salute the Stooges for their screwiest comedy ever.

The Plot…

A small town in the old west has been taken over by the Dillon Gang.  Led by, uh, Dillon (MacDonald), the crooks are making life miserable for everyone.  Elmer (Mahoney), is a heroic cowboy, but realizes he’ll need help running the Dillon Gang out of town.  So Elmer rides to the nearest US Cavalry fort to get assistance.

Meanwhile at the fort, the Sergeant is trying to turn our boys into soldiers.  You can imagine the success he’s had.  When the fort commander says that soldiers are needed for a potential suicide mission to run the Dillon Gang out of town, the Sarge volunteers Larry, Moe and Shemp.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Punchy Cowpunchers is not our usual Three Stooges short.  It features a soundtrack and gives supporting cast members ample opportunities for comedy.  This is especially true for Jock Mahoney who looks the part of a handsome cowboy star of the era, but is played dimwitted and clumsy.  Mahoney was a stuntman before becoming a star and he gets multiple gags showing his talents.

This is writer/director Edward Bernds favorite short that he did with The Three Stooges.

Punchy Cowpunchers (1950) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Boobs in Arms” (1940) starring The Tree Stooges / Z-View

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Boobs in Arms (1940)

Director:  Jules White 

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Richard Fiske, Bobby Barber, Lynton Brent, Charles Dorety and Philip Van Zandt. 

Tagline:  Mad buffoons in a barrage of laughs!

The Plot…

The boys are door to door salesmen.  When a woman invites them inside, her crazy, jealous husband returns home.  He attacks the boys who fight back.  In fear for their lives, Larry, Moe and Curly run away with the husband in pursuit.  Our guys find sanctuary in an Army recruiting office.  Before they know it, the Stooges are “in the army now.”  Imagine their shock when they learn that the drill sergeant is the jealous husband!  Let the hijinks continue!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Richard Fiske who played the jealous husband/army drill sergeant was drafted to fight in World War II.  He was killed in France in 1944.

The extended scene where the boys try to rescue their drill sergeant while high on laughing gas is a hoot.

Boobs in Arms (1940) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Dunked in the Deep” (1949) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Dunked in the Deep (1949)

Director:  Jules White 

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Gene Roth

Tagline: Ahoy. Stooges!  The merriest stowaways to ever sail the briny!

The Plot…

The boys’ neighbor, Mr. Bortch (Roth) is a Russian spy.  Our guys have no clue.  So when Mr. Bortch asks Larry, Moe and Shemp to bring watermelons to the ship he is sailing on, they do.  The watermelons contain top secrets.  The boys don’t learn all this until the ship has left port and they are trapped with Bortch in the hold!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dunked in Deep would be remade by the Stooges in 1956.  It was titled Commotion on the Ocean and re-used footage from the original.

The voice on the radio at the start of the short is Moe Howard’s.

Dunked in the Deep (1949) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Vagabond Loafers” (1949) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Vagabond Loafers (1949)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer: Elwood Ullman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Christine McIntyre, Emil Sitka, Kenneth MacDonald, Symona Boniface, Dudley Dickerson and Herbert Evans.

Tagline: The Stooges go plumbing for leaks…and laughs!

The Plot…

A rich couple are throwing a dinner party to show off their expensive new painting.  When a leak is discovered, the butler calls Night & Day plumbing owned and operated by Larry, Moe and Shemp.  The boys go right over to fix the leak.  Little do they know (and they know very little about plumbing), they’re about to get caught up in a plot to steal the painting.  Let the hijinks begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Vagabond Loafers is a remake of the Stooges’ A Plumbing We Will Go (1940) and borrows footage as well.  It was so popular it would be remade again by our boys in 1956’s Scheming Schemers.

Not counting re-used stock footage for later shorts, this is the last Stooges’ appearance for both Symona Boniface and Dudley Dickerson.

Vagabond Loafers (1949) rates 4 of 5 stars.