Category: Humor

Heavenly Daze (1948)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Zion Meyers

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Vernon Dent, Sam McDaniel, Symona Boniface and Jules White (voice).

Tagline: The Stooges AT THEIR Howlingest Best!

The Plot…

Shemp has died and is waiting outside the pearly gates hoping to get into heaven.  It looks like he’s come up short and may be taking the down elevator.  Shemp is given one chance at heaven.  He must return to earth invisible to all and reform Moe and Larry.  It won’t be easy, because Larry and Moe are about to scam some rich business prospects.  Can Shemp save his and the other two Stooges’ souls?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

There’s a cool Easter Egg for fans of The Jack Benny Program (and I am one!).  It involves a train going from heaven to earth and one of the stops is… “Cuc…..amonga.”

There’s mixed stories about a gag that went sideways.  A fountain pin flies across the room and sticks in the middle of Larry’s head.  The stunt misfired and actually did hit Larry’s head.  Some say that Moe was so made that he chased Jules White (the director) around the set.  Others say, Larry was stuck in the forehead, but Moe didn’t go after White.

Heavenly Daze (1948) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Fiddlers Three (1948)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Vernon Dent, Virginia Hunter, Philip Van Zandt and Al Thompson.

Tagline: Hilarity Reigns…when THE STOOGES make merry for Old King Cole!

The Plot…

Moe, Larry and Shemp are the famous “fiddlers three” for Old King Cole (Dent).  Our boys want to get married, but the King has ruled that until his daughter, Princess Alicia (Hunter) marries Prince Gallant III of Rhododendron there shall be no marriages allowed.  Working behind the scenes the diabolical magician Murgatroyd (Van Zandt) has his own plans of his own to marry the princess.  It will be up to our boys to foil Murgatroyd’s plans.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When Shemp hears that guards have kidnapped the Princess he says, “Let me at ’em, I’ll tear ’em limb from limb. Let me at ’em!”  Moe responds, “Well, what’s keeping you?”  Shemp, “Me.”

The Stooges would rework Fiddlers Three using plot elements and footage for the 1954 short Musty Musketeers.

Fiddlers Three (1948) rates 2 of 5 stars.

Pardon My Clutch (1948)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer:  Clyde Bruckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Matt McHugh, Stanley Blystone,  and Emil Sitka.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

After Larry and Moe have a series of mishaps trying to remove Shemp’s aching tooth, they decide a camping trip is just the thing they all need.  The only problem is they don’t own a car.  Our guys end up buying a jalopy that needs work.  Let the hijinks begin.  Oh, and one more thing, the “lemon” may actually be an expensive collector’s car!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Writer Clyde Bruckman was known for recycling plots and gags.  Pardon My Clutch borrows from the Laurel & Hardy shorts Perfect Day (1929) and Them Thar Hills (1934).  The tire rolling into a gas station gag was used before in I’m the Sheriff (1927) and Slightly at Sea (1940).  Interestingly enough, the Stooges using footage from Pardon My Clutch reworked it into Wham-Bam-Slam (1955).

Pardon My Clutch (1948) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Shivering Sherlocks (1948)

Director:  Dell Lord

Writer:  Del Lord, Elwood Ullman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Christine McIntyre, Vernon Dent, Stanley Blystone, Duke York  and Blackie Whiteford.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

When the boys’ friend, Gladys (McIntyre) learns that she has inherited a house, they go with her to look it over.  Turns out it is a spooky old joint in a remote area.  To make it even worse, crooks along with a big, scary looking goon are using the house as a hideout.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Moe brings back a classic Stooges’ gag when he attempts to eat a bowl of clam chowder but the clam gets the best of him.

There’s a funny gag involving the cops, our guys and a lie detector.

Duke York plays Angel a big, dumb, scary-looking thug.  Love the look of this character.  And any time a monster is after our guys, it is the best.

Shivering Sherlocks (1948) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Monkey Businessmen (1946)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer:  Edward Bernds

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Wade Crosby, Kenneth MacDonald, ‘Snub’ Pollard and Jean Willes.

Tagline:  It’s shock-full of hilarious laughter!

The Plot…

After getting fired, the boys need to get away and recharge.  They decide that Mallard’s Rest Home is just what’s required.  Little do our guys know that Mallard’s is run by crooks!  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Curly’s health had deteriorated from a series of strokes to the point that Moe had to teach Curly his parts line by line.  In one scene Moe calls Curly by his pet name “Baby” and this mistake was left in the short.  Moe can also be seen nudging Curly to say his line in Dr. Mallard’s office.  In another scene Moe was coaching Curly out of camera range.  Curly was supposed to yell, “Moe and Larry!” but Curly remembered this line and yelled, “I know!  Moe and Larry!” and this also stayed in.

Moe and Larry enter a room after a loud crash.  Curly is on the floor wrapped around a ladder.  Moe says, “You lame brain, why don’t you be careful when you climb up a ladder?” Curly says, “I only climbed up seven steps.” Moe responds, “The ladder has six steps.”

Monkey Businessmen (1946) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Uncivil War Birds (1946)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Clyde Buckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Theodore Lorch, Robert B. Williams and Blackie Whiteford.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

The American Civil War has started.  The boys decide to join the fight.  Larry and Moe come back in Union uniforms, while Curly has signed up with the Confederacy!  Suddenly the war is raging around them and the Union Army controls the area… but just as quickly the Confederacy wins it back.  Our guys are going crazy trying to keep up with which side has the power and to protect the boy(s) in the wrong uniform!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Clyde Buckman recycled his Buster Keaton script Mooching Through Georgia adapting it for the Stooges.  Buckman would later re-work the story for The Abbott & Costello Show.

When an officer orders the soldiers with the command, “Forward march, you fools!” Curly doesn’t move.  The officer yells, “What’s the matter with you?”  Curly responds, “I’m no fool.”  The commander is exasperated and yells, “Forward march, you idiot!” Curly answers, “That’s different” and begins marching.

The boys, in an attempt to escape dress up in blackface and try to pose as minstrel singers. While blackface is not their proudest moment, it wasn’t an uncommon occurrence during that era.

Sadly, because of strokes, Curly’s career was coming to an end.  More of the funny bits and dialogue are given to Moe and Larry.  Still, Curly makes the most of what he is given.

Uncivil War Birds (1946) rates 4 of 5 stars.

A Gem of a Jam (1943)

Director:  Del Lord

Writer:  Del Lord

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Dudley Dickerson and Al Thompson.

Tagline:  Crammed with rib-tickling comedy!

The Plot…

The boys are night shift janitors working their way through a floor of offices.  They’re about to clean a doctor’s workspace when crooks on the run from the law bust in.  One of the gang members has been shot.  Thinking our boys are doctors, the crooks say if they don’t fix up their pal, it’s lights out for Larry, Curly and Moe.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Curl was injured when the gurney gag tilted too far and he busted his head requiring several stitches.

The boys accidentally drop the wounded crook out of the office building window.  Curly gets under the blanket and the boys act as if they are about to operate.  One of the thugs threatens that if any harm comes to their friend, he’ll shoot them.  Moe responds, “Don’t worry, when we get through with him he’ll be a different man.”

As the boys are running for their lives they hide in a dark storage room filled with creepy stuff.  Curly trips into a trough filled with plaster.  He’s covered from head to toe and looks scary.  Curly playing like a statue and his interactions with the night watchman (Dickerson), Larry & Moe and the crooks are classic!

A Gem of a Jam (1943) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“I Can Hardly Wait” (1943)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Clyde Buckman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Bud Jamison, Adel Mara and Al Thompson.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

The boys decide on a midnight snack before night-night.  While Larry and Moe share a single slice of ham and an egg, Curly gets the whole ham bone and the whole egg shell.  Sadly Curly breaks a tooth eating his meal. Now it’s up to Larry and Moe to fix Curly’s broken tooth.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

A classic Stooge sight gag that leads to slapstick appears in “I Can Hardly Wait” – the boys sleep in triple bunk beds with Curly on the top!

Of course everything Larry and Moe try to help ease the pain of Curly’s broken tooth fails.  Moe suddenly says, “I’ve got it!”  Curly replies, “Every time you got it, I get it.”

“I Can Hardly Wait” (1943) rates 5 of 5 stars.

Back from the Front (1943)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Jack White, Ewart Adamson

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Stanley Blystone, Heinie Conklin, Vernon Dent, Bud Jamison and Adele Mara.

Tagline:  Any resemblance between the characters in this picture and other human beings is a dirty shame.

The Plot…

Larry, Curly and Moe are merchant marines during World War II.  After some misadventures they end up on a German war ship!  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Moe disguises himself as Adolph Hitler (as he did in 1940’s You Nazty Spy and 1941’s I’ll Never Heil Again – I never get tired of this) and tells the German officers, “Use your heads and shoot out your brains.”  The commandant replies, “But mein Führer, we’re Nazis. We have no brains.”

The Nazi warship our guys sneak aboard is the the SS Schicklgruber.  “Schicklgruber” is Adolph Hitler’s father’s real last name.  He changed it to Hitler later in life.  The British often referred to Hitler as Schicklgruber for propaganda purposes and it is the only name the Stooges would use when referring to him.  “Schicklgruber” pops up in other Stooges shorts.

There’s a dog named Terry on the ship. This dog also played Toto in The Wizard Of Oz.

When the boys sneak aboard the Nazi warship, Moe says, “If we’re discovered, we’re lost.”  Curly responds, “You’re crazy. If we’re discovered, we’re found.”  NYUK-NYUK-NYUK.

Back from the Front (1943) rates 4 of 5 stars.

What’s the Matador? (1942)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Jules White, Saul Ward

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Suzanne Kaaren and Al Thompson.

Tagline: World’s Champion Bull Throwers!

The Plot…

Larry, Curly and Moe are comedians headed to Mexico.  After a few chance encounters with a beautiful woman, and her very jealous husband, our boys are in for it.  Then when suitcases get mixed up, our guys decide to sneak into the woman’s house to get theirs.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

There’s a scene with Moe, Curly and Larry trying to get directions from a Mexican citizen that’s not typical Stooges’ humor, but is funny.

What’s the Matador? (1942) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Nutty But Nice (1940)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Clyde BruckmanFelix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Vernon Dent, Lynton Brent,  Charles Dorety, Ned Glass, Ethelreda Leopold and Harry Wilson.

Tagline:  Calling all laugh lovers!

The Plot…

Larry, Curly and Moe are bumbling waiters.  Their antics amuse two doctors having a meal.  The docs think that our boys might be able to bring a little girl out of her depression.  The girl’s father was kidnapped while delivering a huge sum of money.  When our guys are unable to change the girl’s mood, they vow to find her father.  After a few false starts our boys find her father.  To free him they will have to go against a rough group of gangsters.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The boys perform an extended scene in drag.  It didn’t bring the girls out of her depression, but it almost put me in one.  Our guys do NOT make good looking dames.

Saved by the Belle (1939) rates 3 of 5 stars.