Category: Z-View

“Fling in the Ring” (1955) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Fling in the Ring (1955)

Director: Jules White

Writer: Jack White

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Dick Wessel, Claire Carleton, Heinie Conklin, Frank Sully and Sammy Stein.

Tagline:  A knockout of a knockabout comedy!

The Plot…

Our guys are managers of heavyweight boxer, Chopper Kane.  When gangsters tell our boys that Chopper loses his next fight or they lose their lives, they know what they have to do.  Chopper has to take a dive, but Chopper refuses.  Let the hijinks begin.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Fling in the Ring is a remake of the Stooge’s 1947’s Fright Night which was Shemp’s first film with the team.  The remake makes use of much footage from the original.

There is an extended scene of the Stooges being chased and fighting with the thugs in a warehouse full of crates that is worth the price of admission.

Moe gets his hand banged in a door and says, “I think I broke my eye-poking fingers.”

Fling in the Ring (1955) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Perry Mason: Season 1” (2020) / Z-View

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Perry Mason: Season 1 (2020)

Written by: Rolin Jones & Ron Fitzgerald (ep. 1-3, 8); Steven Hanna & Sarah Kelly Kaplan (ep. 4); Eleanor Burgess (ep. 5); Kevin J. Hynes (ep. 6); Howard Korder (ep. 7)

Directed by: Tim Van Patten (ep. 1 – 4; 7-8); Deniz Gamze Ergüven (ep. 4 – 6)

Stars: Matthew Rhys, Juliet Rylance, Chris Chalk, Shea Whigham, Tatiana Maslany, John Lithgow, Justin Kirk, Diarra Kilpatrick, Eric Lange, Verónica Falcón, Gretchen Mol, Gayle Rankin, Stephen Root, Robert Patrick, Lili Taylor and Matt Frewer. 

Tagline:  Everyone is guilty of something.

The Plot…

The year is 1932.  Perry Mason (Rhys) is a low-rent private eye. He’s a divorced parent, and a WWI vet who struggles with PTSD.  Mason’s main employer is a struggling attorney named “E.B.” Jonathan (Lithgow).  When EB takes on a sensationalized, highly publicized case involving a baby kidnapping/murder, he assigns Mason to investigate.  Mason follows leads that point to corruption at the highest levels and the fact that an innocent person is taking the fall.  As Mason gets closer to the truth, he and those around him become targets.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

This is not your grandparents’ Perry Mason.  Instead we are treated to the evolution of the great attorney from before he was even a lawyer.  The series captures the feel of the era.  It is well written, well directed, well acted and well, just an all-around superior viewing experience.

Perry Mason: Season 1 is one of the few shows were the supporting characters could actually be leads had the show been written differently.

  • Juliet Rylance plays Della Street, E.B.’s legal secretary and perhaps the most intelligent person in the series.
  • Chris Chalk plays Paul Drake, a beat cop who becomes a partner of sorts to Mason.  Drake was my favorite character in season one.
  • Shea Whigham, who is always great, plays Pete Strickland, Mason’s not too bright and somewhat shifty PI partner.
  • Tatiana Maslany plays Sister Alice McKeegan, the charismatic and beautiful religious leader who is either a true believer or one of the best religious shysters the world has ever seen.

The first season starts out very dark and Mason isn’t all that likeable.  Stick with the series and you’ll be rewarded.

Perry Mason: Season 1 (2020)) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Musty Musketeers” (1954) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Musty Musketeers (1954)

Director: Jules White

Writer: Jules, White, Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Vernon Dent, Philip Van Zandt, Heinie Conklin, Diana Darrin, Virginia Hunter, Norma Randall, Frank Sully and Al Thompson.

Tagline:  It’s a Laugh Riot!

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)…

Musty Musketeers is a remake of the Stooge’s 1948 short, Fiddlers Three.  The remake makes use of much footage from the original.

Musty Musketeers (1954) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Bubble Trouble” (1953) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Bubble Trouble (1953)

Director: Jules White

Writer: Jules, White, Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Emil Sitka and Christine McIntyre.

Tagline:  THE MIRTH MANIACS..AT THEIR MADDEST!

The Plot…

Larry, Shemp and Moe are pharmacists who invent a potion that reverses the aging process! What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Bubble Trouble is a remake of the Stooge’s 1957 short All Gummed Up.  Although it uses much footage from the original, the payoff with the old man is different.

Bubble Trouble (1953) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Rip, Sew and Stitch” (1953) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Rip, Sew and Stitch (1953)

Director: Jules White

Writer: Jules, White, Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Phil Arnold, Vernon Dent and Jules White (voice).

Tagline:  A RIOTOUS ROMP… BURSTING AT THE SEAMS!

The Plot…

Larry, Moe and Shemp run a dry cleaning shop and if they don’t get some fast cash, they’re going to lose their business. When a safe cracker ditches the police and leaves his clothes in their shop, the boys find his cash. They get an idea that when he returns they’ll capture him for the reward money. What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Rip, Sew and Stitch is a remake of the Stooges’ short Sing a Song of Six Pants from 1947.  The remakes uses much footage from the original.

For a brief moment, Shemp seems to be doing a Lou Costello impression when one of the thugs questions him.

Rip, Sew and Stitch (1953) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Pardon My Backfire” (1953) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Pardon My Backfire (1953)

Director: Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Frank Sully, Phil Arnold, Diana Darrin, Jules White (voice) and Blackie Whiteford.

Tagline:  3-Delirious in 3-Dimensions!!

The Plot…

Larry, Moe and Shemp are auto mechanics who need money in order to marry their sweethearts.  When escaped convicts pull into their gas station to get their car fixed, our boys release that the reward money would be just what they need to get hitched.  Let the fun times roll…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Pardon My Backfire was filmed and released in 3D.  It was their second (and last short) done this way.  The first was Spooks! released earlier that year. Because it was filmed in 3D, it took 5 days to complete.  Most Stooges’ shorts were done in 3 and the later remakes were sometimes done in a single day!

Pardon My Backfire (1953) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Loose Loot” (1953) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Loose Loot (1953)

Director: Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler, Jack White

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Kenneth MacDonald, Suzanne Ridgway  and Emil Sitka.

Tagline:  A BOFFO BONANZA! of burlesque belly-laffs!

The Plot…

Larry, Moe and Shemp learn that they’ve inherited a good bit of money.  They’ve also come to realize that their broker, Icabod Slipp (MacDonald) is a crook and plans to run off with their dough!  Let the hijinks begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 Loose Loot is a remake of The Three Stooges’ 1947 short, Hold That Lion! and makes use of ample footage from it.  Loose Loot also makes use of a gag used in their 1941 short, I’ll Never Heil Again.  Both feature a figure in a painting that comes to life to steal an object everyone is fighting over.

The extended scene in Icabod Slipp’s office is worth the price of admission. Each Stooge enters separately.  They find Slipp in the office, but Slipp pretends that he just entered as well.  He is there because “Slipp” ripped him off.  He then accuses each Stooge of being Slipp and beats them up!

Loose Loot (1953) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Up in Daisy’s Penthouse” (1953) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Up in Daisy’s Penthouse (1953)

Director: Jules White

Writer: Clyde Bruckman, Jack White

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard  and Blackie Whiteford.

Tagline:  THEY’RE BLOWING UP! – a gale of guffaws!

The Plot…

When Larry, Moe and Shemp learn that their father has struck it rich and plans to divorce their mother to marry a gold-digger, they know what they have to do: STOP THE MARRIAGE.  Let the good times roll!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Up in Daisy’s Penthouse is a remake of 3 Dumb Clucks, with Shemp taking on Curly’s role.  It also uses some footage from the original.  You can even hear Curly’s famous “Woowoowoo!” during the flagpole scene.

Up in Daisy’s Penthouse (1953) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Cuckoo on a Choo Choo” (1952) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Cuckoo on a Choo Choo (1952)

Director: Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard  and Victoria Horne.

Tagline: Your Favorite Funsters in Their Happiest Huddle!

The Plot…

Larry and Shemp are living in a stolen railroad car.  Shemp is rich, but also a drunk and in love with a giant, imaginary bird.  Larry wants to marry his girlfriend, Lenore, but her family’s tradition is that the oldest sibling must be married first.  So Larry and his girl are trying to convince Shemp to marry Roberta, the older sister.

Then Moe, a private detective for the railroad shows up.  He’s finally tracked down the stolen railroad car!  He’s about to arrest Larry and Shemp when he spots, Roberta, his old girlfriend that he never got over.  And if you think this all sounds crazy, it gets really nuts…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Cuckoo on a Choo Choo is another of Larry FIne’s favorite Stooges’ shorts.  It could be because he gets to play a tougher character than usual.

This short is also one of the few that has the boys not working together as brothers or a team (which defeats the concept of The Three Stooges).

Lenore (talking about Shemp): “He’s filthy with money.”  Larry: “He’s filthy without it!”

Cuckoo on a Choo Choo (1952) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“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.