Category: Z-View

“Tricky Dicks” starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Tricky Dicks (1953)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay:  Felix Adler

Stars: Shemp Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Phil Arnold, and Murray Alper

Tagline:  A Mad Melee of Mirth!

The Plot…

The boys are police detectives dealing with folks (a pickpocket, a compulsive confesser to crimes, an organ grinder, his monkey, and a person off the street).   What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Tricky Dicks reuses the file cabinet gag from Hold That Lion.  The killer fires his gun 85 times without reloading!

Tricky Dicks earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Dangerous Money” (1946) starring Sidney Toler / Z-View

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Dangerous Money (1946)

Director: Terry O. Morse

Screenplay: Miriam Kissinger, based on characters created by Earl Derr Biggers

Stars: Sidney Toler, Victor Sen Yung, John Harmon, Dick Elliott, Tristram Coffin, Selmer Jackson and Dudley Dickerson

Tagline: THE RIDDLE OF THE “KNIVES OF DEATH!”

The Plot…

While traveling on an ocean liner Charlie Chan is approached by a Scott Pearson, a Treasury Agent.  Pearson is on a case involving counterfeit money and stolen art.  There have been two attempts on his life when Chan saves Pearson from a third!  When Pearson is later murdered, Chan is determined to find the killer.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Mantan Mooreland doesn’t appear in Dangerous Money.  Charlie Chan’s valet is now Chattanooga Brown (perhaps Birmingham’s nephew?), played by Willie Best. Chattanooga and Charlie Chan’s son make an interesting team, but I missed Mooreland.

Dangerous Money, like all Charlie Chan films, is a low-budget affair that runs just over an hour.  It gives us several likely suspects for the killer, with most folks getting it wrong.  Not Charlie Chan though.  That dude is like Columbo before there was a Columbo.

Dangerous Money earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Mummy’s Dummies” (1948) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Mummy’s Dummies (1948)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Screenplay:  Elwood Ullman

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

Tagline: The Stooges run riot through ancient Egypt!

The Plot…

The boys are shyster used chariot salesmen.  When they are caught swindling the Captain of the Royal Guard, they are taken before King Rootentootin, who is suffering a terrible tooth ache.  The King agrees to spare their lives if they can cure his toothache.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The boys get a lot of mileage as incompetent dentists and the scene in Mummy’s Dummies is no exception.  Get Shemp in the Coke-bottle-bottom glasses, give him a pair of pliers and all bets are off.  There are some good laughs when the boys are on the run after discovering a plot to cheat the King out of tax money.

Mummy’s Dummies earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Dark Alibi” (1946) starring Sidney Toler & Mantan Moreland / Z-View

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Dark Alibi (1946)

Director:  Phil Karlson

Screenplay: George Callahan, based on characters created by Earl Derr Biggers

Stars: Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Ben Carter, Benson Fong, John Eldredge, Tim Ryan, Ray Walker and Milton Parsons

Tagline:  THE MASTER OF MYSTERY EXPOSES A GENIUS OF CRIME!

The Plot…

When Thomas Harley is sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit it will be up to Charlie Chan to prove his innocence.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Mantan Mooreland, who plays Charlie Chan’s valet, Birmingham, is the reason I started watching.  Mooreland is one of my favorite comedians from that era.  His timing and physical comedy are pure perfection.  Mooreland has three scenes in Dark Alibi with his former vaudeville partner, Ben Carter, that are shoehorned into the film.

The Charlie Chan films are low-budget and run just over an hour.  They’re a great way to close out a day.  The Chan films often set the viewer up to think one person is the villain only for it to turn out to be another.  Thankfully, we have Charlie Chan to set us straight.

Dark Alibi earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Knutzy Knights” (1954) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Knutzy Knights (1954)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay:  Felix Adler, Edward Bernds (uncredited)

Stars: Shemp Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Jock Mahoney, Vernon Dent, Christine McIntyre, Philip Van Zandt and Kenner G. Kemp

Tagline:  Hits a New High in High-Jinks!

The Plot…

Princess Elaine (McIntyre) loves Cedric the Blacksmith (Mahoney). Unfortunately the King (Dent) has promised his daughter’s hand in marriage to The Black Prince (Van Zandt).  When the boys learn that the Black Prince has evil intentions, our guys are determined to help the young lovers.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Knutzy Knights has the same basic plot as the Stooges short Squareheads of the Round Table made just six years earlier.  Although slight changes occur in the remake there’s a lot of re-used footage.

This is the last Stooges short to feature new footage with Vernon Dent who regularly appeared with the boys.  Dent was suffering from diabetes and going blind.

Jock Mahony appeared in Squareheads of the Round Table.  When Knutzy Knights was made six years later, Mahony was a much bigger star, regularly appearing in films and starring in his own television series.  Despite his increased star status, Mahony returned to film new scenes for the update. (Mahony would go on to a long career in movies and television.  He played Tarzan in two feature films,  He was also the stepfather of Sally Field.)

Knutzy Knights earns 4 of 5 stars.

“My Name is Vendetta” (2022) / Z-View

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My Name is Vendetta (2022)

Director:  Cosimo Gomez

Screenplay: Sandrone Dazieri, Franco Fraternale, Cosimo Gomez

Stars: Alessandro Gassmann, Ginevra Francesconi

The Plot…

Santo, a former mob hitman, has been living a quiet life with his wife, daughter and brother for years.  When his former boss learns where Santo lives, a hit team is sent in to kill him.  The team takes out Santo’s brother and Santo’s wife.  His daughter gets away.  Santos arrives home to the massacre.  He finds his daughter and then begins to take revenge…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I was expecting better for My Name is Vendetta.

Santos’ daughter creates the situations that leads to her mother and uncle’s death by not listening to her dad.  Then after they are murdered she disobeys him again causing their location to be known again.  This makes her character pretty unlikeable from the start.

The action ranges from good to boring.  The fact that Santos’ former mafia employers have access to technology that can find him so easily is just too unrealistic.  The ending was also unsatisfying.  All of these issues point to a need for tighter writing.

My Name is Vendetta earns 2 of 5 stars.

“Matri-Phony” (1942) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Matri-Phony (1942)

Director:  Harry Edwards, Del Lord (uncredited)

Screenplay: Monte Collins, Elwood Ullman

Stars: Curly Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Vernon Dent, Bobby Barber, Cy Schindell and Max Wagner

Tagline: Goofiest comedy you ever saw!

The Plot…

When a woman on the run enters the boy’s Ye Olde Pottery shop they learn that Emperor Grabus plans to marry her against her will.  The boys help her hide.  When she is discovered they are taken into custody.  Grabus condemns the boys and moves forward with his marriage plans.  The boys must escape and save the young lass.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Matri-Phony was plagued with problems, most of which were caused by the director, Harry Edwards.  Most Stooges shorts were filmed in 3 to 5 days.  Matri-Phony took three weeks to complete.  Edwards was abusive towards the actors and crew.  Reshoots were needed.  Some shots are out of focus, some scenes lacked coverage for smooth edits.  The Stooges worked with him on one other short and then asked to never have him direct them again.

The highlight is an extended scene with Curly in drag and chased around the room by the nearly blind Emperor Grabus!

Matri-Phony earns 4 of 5 stars.

“The Black Phone” (2021) starring Ethan Hawke / Z-View

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The Black Phone (2021)

Director:  Scott Derrickson

Screenplay: Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill based on “The Black Phone” short story by Joe Hill

Stars: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies and E. Roger Mitchell

Tagline: Never Talk to Strangers

The Plot…

A sadistic serial killer of children has been dubbed The Grabber by news media.  Despite multiple kidnappings and murders, the killer leaves no clues.  When Finney, a thirteen year old boy, wakes up in a locked basement, he comes to realize that The Grabber plans to torture and kill him… unless Finney can find a way out.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although The Grabber’s “name” isn’t that scary, the masks he wears are.  The scene (picture below) of the serial killer sitting shirtless, in a mask, whip in hand waiting in the kitchen to see if Finney will come up is truly creepy.

The Black Phone has a supernatural aspect to it that makes it less scary in my opinion.  A kid, alone in a serial killer’s basement is frightening.  When he begins getting “help” from beyond, it is much more likely that he’ll survive.

There are couple of cool plot twists and the ending works well.

The Black Phone earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Restless Knights” (1935) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Restless Knights (1935)

Director:  Charles Lamont

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Curly Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Stanley Blystone and Walter Brennan

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys learn they’re royalty!  Larry is the Duke of Durham, Moe the Count of Fife  and Curly is Baron of Grey Matter.  They are tasked with protecting the Queen.  Little do they know that a plan is underway to kill her and make our boys the fall guys!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Restless Knights was the first Stooges short to feature the now famous triple slap!  The castle sets were originally created for Boris Karloff’s The Black Room.

Restless Knights earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Jack Ryan”: Season 3 (2022) starring John Krasinski / Z-View

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Jack Ryan: Season 3 (2022)

Written by: Vaun Wilmott (episode 17, 24); Amy Berg (episodes 18, 22); Jennifer Kennedy (episode 19); Dario Scardapane (episode 20, 23); Marc Halsey and Amy Berg (episode 21)

Directed by: Jann Turner (episodes 17 – 20, 24); Kevin Dowling (episode 21); Kevin Dowling & David Petrarca (episodes 22 – 23);

Stars: John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Nina Hoss, Peter Guinness

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Jack Ryan discovers rouge Russian operatives have a plan to detonate a nuke that will start World War III.  Ryan lacks enough evidence and is told to stand down.  Denying orders, Ryan goes back into the field and soon has the CIA and foreign operatives trying to stop him.  Meanwhile, plans proceed to detonate the nuke!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

It’s interesting to see Jack Ryan’s development over three seasons.  He’s gone from an brilliant analyst to a capable John Bourne-ish agent.

Season three’s story has a great deal of depth with flashbacks to 50 years ago.  There are tense moments and unexpected plot twists.  Bring on season 4.

Jack Ryan: Season 3 (2022) earns 4 of 5 stars.

“G.I. Wanna Home” (1946) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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G.I. Wanna Home (1946)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Felix Adler

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

Tagline: The Stooges on a Hilarious Hunt for a Home!

The Plot…

The boys are discharged from the army ready to marry their girls.  First they need housing. Our guys search everywhere but nothing is available.  In desperation, the boys turn a deserted lot into their new home.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Curly’s health had deteriorated to the point that much of the business scripted for him was given to Larry.  It was obvious from Curly’s weight loss, the lines now creasing his face and his timing that his career was coming to an early end.

G.I. Wanna Conga earns 4 of 5 stars.

“They Stooge to Conga” (1943) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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They Stooge to Conga (1943)

Director:  Del Lord

Screenplay: Monte Collins, Elwood Ullman

Stars: Curly Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Lloyd Bridges, Vernon Dent, Dudley Dickerson and Christine McIntyre

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

The boys are are door-to-door repairmen hired to fix a doorbell.  When they discover that the house belongs to Nazi spies, it is up to them to save the day.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

They Stooge to Conga was often edited to exclude the violence where Curly climbs the power pole.  Curly on his way up (and wearing spikes) steps on Moe’s head, then spikes him in the ear and eye! Other violent scenes include: Curly getting his rear set on fire, Moe pulled through a wall, a grinding wheel to the nose, wrench to the nose, multiple electric shocks, sitting on a hot waffle iron, exploding telephone as it is answered, multiple hammer strikes to the head… NYUK-NYUK-NYUK.

Lloyd Bridges has a cameo!

This is the third time that Moe parodies Adolph Hitler.  It cracks me up every time.

They Stooge to Conga earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Violent is the Word for Curly” (1938) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Violent is the Word for Curly (1938)

Director:  Charley Chase

Screenplay: Al Giebler, Elwood Ullman

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

Tagline:  THEY’RE CRACKED IN THE CRANIUM…ON A CUCKOO CAMPUS!

The Plot…

The boys are new hires at a service station.  They screw things up so badly that they take off down the road.  They end up at an women’s college where they are mistaken for three college professors due to arrive that day.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The opening set piece has the boys working at a service station.  There’s an extended sequence where the boys are shining up a car and Curly begins vigorously polishing a bald man’s head.  The slapping sound effect cracks me up every time.

The Three Stooges singing “Swinging the Alphabet” is a classic.

When Violent is the Word for Curly was colorized it became obvious that in the scene where the college girls are playing basketball some are braless.

Violent is the Word for Curly earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Primal: Season 2” (2022) / Z-View

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Primal: Season 2 (2022)

Written and storyboarded by: Genndy Tartakovsky (episodes 11, 13, 16, 18, 20); David Krentz & Genndy Tartakovsky (episode 12, 17); Mark Andrews (episode 14); Darrick Bachman & Genndy Tartakovsky (episode 15); David Krentz (episode 19)

Story: Darrick Bachman & Genndy Tartakovsky (episodes 11 – 20)

Stars: Aaron LaPlante, Laëtitia Eïdo, Fred Tatasciore, Imari Williams

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Season 2 continues the story of Spear and Fang as they fight for survival in a primordial world.  Their adventures bring them in contact with strange creatures, mystic beings, warrior clans and more.  This season finds Spear searching for Mira with Fang at his side.  Their journey is full of surprises and a shocking ending.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Genndy Tartakovsky is the creative force behind Primal.  Season 2 builds on the foundation set in season one. Hard to believe it’s possible, but season two is even better than the original.

Primal won three Primetime Emmy Awards.  It wouldn’t surprise me if season two earns the series even more.

Primal: Season 2 (2022) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“He Cooked His Goose” (1952) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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He Cooked His Goose (1952)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Shemp Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard and Diana Darrin

Tagline:  The boys need rumpus room when the love ‘n’ laughter bug bites them!

The Plot…

Larry is a pet shop owner and a womanizer.  He’s having an affair with Moe’s wife at the same time trying to start a romance with Shemp’s girl!  When Moe shows up at the pet shop, Larry says, it’s Shemp who’s trying to make time with Moe’s wife.  Moe leaves ready to give Shemp a beating.

Larry quickly hires Shemp as a door to door underwear salesmen.  Larry sends Shemp to Moe’s house to model underwear for Moe’s wife.  Larry then calls Shemp’s girl and tells her that Shemp’s with another woman.  Moe’s on his way home.  Shemp’s girl is on the way as well.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

He Cooked His Goose is one of the rare Stooges shorts where the boys aren’t brothers, partners or a team.  It is also one of the few where Larry has the lead.  Larry as a lady’s man is funny enough, but add Shemp as an underwear model and things really take off.

He Cooked His Own Goose earns 4 of 5 stars.