Category: Humor

“The Shanghai Cobra” (1945) starring Sidney Toler & Mantan Moreland / Z-View

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The Shanghai Cobra (1945)

Director:  Phil Karlson

Writer: George Callahan, George Wallace Sayre based on characters created by Earl Derr Biggers

Stars: Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Benson Fong, Janet Warren, Gene Roth, James Flavin, George Chandler  and Cyril Delevanti

Tagline:  Charlie Chan at his best in his most thrilling adventure!

The Plot…

Charlie Chan (Toler) is brought in to work on a case where cobra venom is used as a murder weapon.  Chan solved a case ten years prior, but the alleged murderer’s face was badly burned in his escape.  Because of plastic surgery Chan won’t be able to recognize him from the several suspects he’s watching.  As Charlie Chan closes in on the killer, his #3 son Tommy (Fong) and Birmingham (Moreland) follow leads of their own.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

A highlight is Mantan and Fong performing a bit explaining how they received a traffic ticket. “You said, ‘No, you turn here.” “No, I said, no u-turn here.”

Charlie Chan has his usual (humorous) pearls of wisdom including when his son says, “Pop, I want to talk to you as man to man” and Chan responds with, “I am ready, but you still have few years to go.”

The Shanghai Cobra earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Sweet and Hot” (1958) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Sweet and Hot (1958)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Jerome S. Gottler, Jack White

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe Besser and Muriel Landers.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

Larry is a successful nightclub performer.  When he returns home to the farm  he hears his sister, Tiny, singing.  He immediately gets the idea to have her in his act.  The only problem is Tiny suffers from stage fright.  Larry and Joe take Tiny to Dr. Hugo Gansamacher (Moe) in an effort to cure her.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

There have been Stooges shorts before where the boys play separate characters rather than a team.  This happens again, in Sweet and Hot.  The difference between Sweet and Hot and those other shorts, is that in the others, the Stooges were still the leads.  In Sweet and Hot, Muriel Tiny Landers is the star.  And, for my money, that doesn’t work.

There are sight gags and wordplay, often making fun of Tiny’s size.  If you’re showing someone Stooges’ comedy, Sweet and Hot wouldn’t be the short to use.

“I’ll Never Heil Again” (1941) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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I’ll Never Heil Again (1941)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Clyde Bruckman, Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Don Barclay, Lynton Brent, Vernon Dent, Ned Glass, Bud Jamison, Cy Schindell and Al Thompson.

Tagline: Hilarious howls with Hollywood’s daffiest dictators!

The Plot…

I’ll Never Heil Again is a sequel to You Nazty Spy.  Moe is still the idiot figurehead dictator with Curly and Larry his dimwit field marshals in the country of Moronica.  As our boys meet with other dictators to plan a world takeover, there are those closer to home planning to overthrow Moe, Curly and Larry’s dictatorship.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’ll Never Heil Again was released 5 months before the US would enter World War II.

As a sequel to You Nazty Spy, it carries the story forward.  In the first short arms manufacturers supported the dictatorship of Moe, Curly and Larry.  In I’ll Never Heil Again, these manufacturers have seen the error of their ways.

I’ll Never Heil Again like You Nazty Spy is a classic, full of slapstick, sight gags, and wordplay.

I’ll Never Heil Again earns 5 of 5 stars.

“We Have a Ghost” (2023) starring David Harbour & Jahi Winston / Z-View

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We Have a Ghost (2023)

Director:  Christopher Landon

Writer: Christopher Landon based on the short story Ernest by Geoff Manaugh

Stars: Jahi Di’Allo Winston, David Harbour, Anthony Mackie, Isabella Russo, Tig Notaro, Tom Bower, Sean Boyd, Jennifer Coolidge and Peggy Walton-Walker.

Tagline: Set your spirit free.

The Plot…

The Presley family has just moved into an old house that they got for a rock-bottom price.  Kevin (Winston) isn’t happy about the move, but the family is looking for a fresh start.  Kevin’s dad, Frank (Mackie) is always looking for a get rich quick scheme and they never pan out.  While in the attic, a ghost named Ernest (Harbour) makes a poor attempt at scary Kevin.  Kevin manages to film Ernest.  When Kevin’s dad gets a hold of the video he has a plan to use it to make money.

Kevin and Ernest develop a friendship.  Ernest cannot remember all the details of his life, but thinks if he could it would help him to move on.  Meanwhile the CIA has seen the video of Ernest and they’re ready to move in…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

We Have a Ghost has some funny scenes and a wonderful cast.  Unfortunately it has as many scenes that miss the mark and a running time that goes a bit too long.

Jahi Di’Allo Winston and David Harbour have good chemistry.  Anthony Mackie does the best he can with what he’s given.  The writers make him an unlikeable loser at the start so when he does come around, it’s a little too late.  We Have a Ghost is probably best enjoyed by children in late elementary or middle school.  Your mileage may vary.

We Have a Ghost earns 2 of 5 stars.

“You Nazty Spy!” (1940) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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You Nazty Spy! (1940)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Clyde Bruckman, Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Don Beddoe, Dick Curtis, Charles Dorety, Ned Glass, Lorna Gray, John Rand and Al Thompson.

Tagline: A World of Laughs in the Wackiest Hit in This Gaga Globe!

The Plot…

Three weapons manufacturers in the country of Moronica realize that a war will increase their profits. They need a stupid dictator to start the war.  They choose Moe to be their fall guy and Larry & Curly to be his field marshals.  With these idiots as figureheads, what could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

You Nazty Spy was the first Hollywood film to satirize Adolph Hitler and Nazis.  It was released nine months before Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator.  It’s interesting to consider that when You Nazty Spy was made, the US was two years away from entering World War II.

Moe Howard and Larry Fine named You Nazty Spy as their favorite of all the Stooges shorts.  It was popular enough to spawn a Stooges sequel, I’ll Never Heil Again!

You Nazty Spy is a classic, full of slapstick, sight gags, and wordplay.

You Nazty Spy earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Charlie Chan in the Secret Service” (1944) starring Sidney Toler & Mantan Moreland / Z-View

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Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944)

Director:  Phil Rosen

Writer: George Callahan based on characters created by Earl Derr Biggers

Stars: Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Sarah Edwards, George J. Lewis, Benson Fong and Gene Roth

Tagline:  The screen’s most daring sleuth!

The Plot…

Charlie Chan (Toler), now a government agent, is assigned to investigate the murder of a scientist working on a new type of weapon for the war effort.  The scientist was killed by an unknown method right before a dinner party he was hosting.  The house was filled with guests who are now suspects.  Chan is assisted by his #3 son, his #2 daughter and  a limo driver named Birmingham Brown (Moreland) Chan has just met.  The security of the United States rests with Charlie Chan solving this murder!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

This is the first Charlie Chan to feature Mantan Moreland!  It is also the first Charlie Chan film made by Monogram Pictures.  Monogram’s films featured a lower budget, but this often adds to the charm of their Charlie Chan movies.

Charlie Chan in the Secret Service earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Jeepers Creepers: Reborn” (2022) / Z-View

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Jeepers Creepers: Reborn (2022)

Director:  Timo Vuorensola

Writer:  Sean-Michael Argo

Stars: Sydney Craven, Imran Adams, Jarreau Benjamin, Georgia Goodman and Dee Wallace

Tagline: Death gives it life.

The Plot…

Laine (Craven) and her boyfriend Chase (Adams) are heading to the Horror Hound festival held outdoors in a remote wooded area.  The festival is for fans of famous monsters, killers and all things horror.  Chase is a believer in the paranormal.  What they don’t know is an urban legend known as The Creeper is about to return.  Every 23 years for 23 days, the creature comes alive.  It then hunts and eats people.   The Creeper has it’s sights set on the Horror Hound festival.  Especially Laine.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I liked the original Jeepers Creepers.  I thought Jeepers Creepers 2 was even better. Jeepers Creepers 3 was just okay. I went into Jeepers Creepers: Reborn hoping for some scary fun.  Sadly, Jeepers Creepers: Reborn was worse than JC3.

Jeepers Creepers: Reborn is set at a Horror festival and sadly the Creeper looks like a bad cosplay.  If you don’t get the Creeper right in a Jeepers Creepers film, it’s just not going to work.  I make it through most movies, but I gave up on this one.  I just didn’t care about the characters and the Creeper just wasn’t as frightening as it should have been.

Jeepers Creepers: Reborn earns 1 of 5 stars.

“Corny Casanovas” (1952) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Corny Casanovas (1952)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard and Connie Cezon.

Tagline: None

The Plot…

The boys decide to clean up their house (with their usual brand of success) just hours before they are all to be married. Once their house is tidy, they will all head off to get hitched to their future brides.  Surprisingly none of our guys have seen the others’ fiancés.  What they don’t know, but will soon learn is they are all expecting to marry the same woman!  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Surprisingly, Shemp and Larry give Moe the business more than they get it from him in this one!

Corny Casanovas earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Listen, Judge” (1952) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Listen, Judge (1952)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer:  Elwood Ullman

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Kitty McHugh, Vernon Dent, Emil Sitka, John Hamilton and Gil Perkins.

Tagline: They’re very long on laughs as very short-order cooks!

The Plot…

The boys are door-to-door repairmen hired to fix a doorbell.  When our guys cause such a commotion that the chef and his staff leave, the Stooges are hired to cook and serve at a high class dinner party.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Listen, Judge was the first Stooges short released after Curly’s death.  The film borrows from three previous Stooges outings: A Plumbing We Will Go (the courtroom chicken scene); They Stooge to Conga (the whole doorbell repair sequence) and An Ache in Every Stake (the food preparation scene).

Shemp having a chicken escape from his suit jacket immediately after a judge finds the boys not guilty of being chicken thieves due to a lack of evidence is hilarious.

Listen Judge earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Some More of Samoa” (1941) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Some More of Samoa (1941)

Director:  Del Lord

Writer:  Elwood Ullman, Harry Edwards

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Symona Boniface and Dudley Dickerson

Tagline: Gales of laughter in the South Seas!

The Plot…

The boys head to the remote tropical island of Rhum-Boogie in search of a rare tree.  On the island they are captured by cannibals.  Our guys are going to on the menu unless Curly agrees to marry the Chief’s ugly daughter.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

At one point Larry and Moe do a short Amos ‘n Andy bit.

Some More of Samoa earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Grips, Grunts and Groans” (1937) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Grips, Grunts and Groans (1937)

Director:  Jack White

Writer:  Clyde Bruckman from a story by Searle Kramer, Herman Boxer

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys become friends with Ivan Bustoff, a professional wrestling champion.  Bustoff has a match that evening, but spends the day drinking/carousing with our guys.  A local mobster has placed a big bet on Bustoff and if he’s unable to wrestle or loses, it’ll be the death of the Stooges. So when Bustoff is unable to compete, Larry and Moe disguise Curly as the champ.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

In Grips, Grunts and Groans when Curly smells Wild Hyacinth perfume, it makes him go crazy. (Much like in Horses’ Collars when the sight of a mouse sets him off.)  They could have made more shorts just of our guys going out drinking with Bustoff – think of the misadventures they could have had!

Grips, Grunts and Groans earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Florida Man” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like the poster and trailer for Florida Man.  Since it is on Netflix, checking it out will be a no-brainer.

Murder. Manhunts. Manatees. FLORIDA MAN, a new Netflix limited series from creator Donald Todd (Ugly Betty, This Is Us), follows a struggling ex-cop (Edgar Ramírez) who is forced to return to his home state of Florida to find a Philly mobster’s runaway girlfriend. What should be a quick gig becomes a wildly spiraling journey into buried family secrets, and an increasingly futile attempt to do the right thing in a place where so much is wrong.

Also starring Abbey Lee, Anthony LaPaglia, Otmara Marrero, Lex Scott Davis, Emory Cohen, Clark Gregg, Isaiah Johnson, Paul Schneider and Lauren Buglioli.

“Men in Black” (1934) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Men in Black (1934)

Director:  Ray McCarey

Writer:  Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Phyllis Crane, Charles Dorety, Billy Gilbert  and Bud Jamison

Tagline: A TONIC for the “BLUES”!

The Plot…

The boys are recent graduates (because they’d been there too long) from a medical school sent to work at a hospital.  There our guys respond to a variety of calls with the type of success/zaniness you’d expect.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Men in Black was the third Three Stooges short and the only one to ever be nominated for an Academy Award. (It was nominated for Best Short Subject – Comedy. If only it had won.  Can you imagine future ads proclaiming The Stooges as Academy Award Winners?)

Curly forgot a line and adlibbed his famous “Woo-woo-woo” which would go on to become one of his trademark phrases.  Men in Black also contains many bits that would often turn up in Stooges shorts – the boys going into a quick huddle; breaking a plate glass door window repeatedly as they run through/by; pulling objects (bicycles, a horse, a go-cart) out of a closet that are obviously too big to fit, etc.

Men in Black earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Killer Klowns from Outer Space” (1988) / Z-View

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Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

Director:  Stephen Chiodo

Writer:  Charles Chiodo, Stephen Chiodo

Stars: Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, John Vernon, Royal Dano and Christopher Titus

Tagline: Alien bozos with an appetite for close encounters

The Plot…

When a couple discover an ship of hostile aliens has landed on the outskirts of a small town, no one believes it. That’s because the ship looks like a big top and the aliens resemble clowns!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Killer Klowns from Outer Space has become a cult classic thanks to video, dvd and television showings.  It probably works best with a rowdy crowd in the mood for low-budget silliness.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space earns 2 of 5 stars.

“The Scarlet Clue” (1945) starring Sidney Toler & Mantan Moreland / Z-View

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The Scarlet Clue (1945)

Director:  Phil Rosen

Writer:  George Callahan based on the character by Earl Derr Biggers

Stars:  Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Ben Carter, Benson Fong, Virginia Brissac, Robert Homans and Leonard Mudie

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charlie Chan (Toler), aided by his valet Birmingham (Moreland) and his son Tommy (Fong) are working for the US Government tracking down spies trying to steal radar secrets.  The trail leads to a radio station where one of the many suspects is murdered… with no visible cause for the death!  As Charlie gets closer to solving the murder, the more at risk he, his son and Birmingham become!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Scarlet Clue features a murder that’s pretty shocking for a Charlie Chan film made in 1945.

Mantan Moreland and Ben Carter recreate two of their nightclub acts for the film. The more screen time a movie gives Mantan, the better the film will be.

At one point Charlie, his son and Birmingham are learning about the dangers of some of the radio station equipment.  In the scene it appears that Sidney Toler was actually shocked!

The Scarlet Clue earns 4 of 5 stars.