Category: Z-View

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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.

“Malice in the Palace” (1949) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

Posted on by

Malice in the Palace (1949)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Shemp Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Vernon Dent and Everett Brown

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys are diner owners whose customers end up wearing more food than they eat.  When two crooks dupe the boys into stealing a cursed diamond, they get wise and attempt to return the gem for a reward.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Malice in the Palace almost featured Curly!  Based on Curly’s successful  cameo in Hold That Lion, he was set to play an angry chef.  Sadly, his illness affected the performance, so the scene was reshot with another actor.  The photo below features a nearly unrecognizable Curly (he’d lost much weight, had hair and a fake mustache).

Malice in the Palace earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Even as IOU” (1942) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

Posted on by

Even as IOU (1942)

Director:  Del Lord

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Shemp Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Stanley Blystone, Heinie Conklin, Vernon Dent, Bud Jamison and Suzanne Ridgway

Tagline: A 1000 to 1 howler!

The Plot…

The boys decide to help a homeless mother and her child.  How you ask?  (And I’m glad you did.)  They steal the kid’s piggy bank.  They bet the cash on a longshot and… win!!  A couple of con men then sell the boys a broken down nag for their winnings.  The boys think that the horse will bring in even more money when it wins races.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The funniest part of Even as IOU is at the beginning.  The boys are selling race track tip sheets.  Curly tells a man he guarantees every race a winner.  The man buys the sheet only to realize that the sheet is from yesterday’s races.  Curly responds, “They won, didn’t they?”  Curly helps the man call for the police until he realizes the cop is for him.  The boys pose as mannequins to hide from the policeman.  Curly then has an exchange with the police officer,  Truly fun stuff.

The racetrack bits are pretty generic.

Even as IOU has one of the most bizarre endings of any Stooges short… and that’s saying something.  Curly eats a horse vitamin and it causes him to give birth to a colt.  Huh?

Even as IOU earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Three Dark Horses” (1952) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

Posted on by

Three Dark Horses (1952)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Shemp Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard and Kenneth MacDonald

Tagline: A vote for them is a vote for mayhem – and mirth.

The Plot…

The boys are janitors who become political delegates recruited to support Hammond Egger, a dishonest politician.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Bud Jamison appeared in many Stooges shorts.  Although he died in 1944, his photo is used as Hammond Egger in a tribute to the talents of Mr. Jamison.

Three Dark Horses earns 3 of 5 stars.

“All the World’s a Stooge” (1941) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

Posted on by

All the World’s a Stooge (1941)

Director:  Del Lord

Screenplay: John Grey

Stars: Curly Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Symona Boniface and Bud Jamison

Tagline: It’s Sock-Full of Laughs!

The Plot…

The boys are window washers.  A rich man mistakes them for dentists.  So… they decide to pull his tooth!  Afterwards, the man gets an idea.  His wife wants to adopt some refuges.  He’s against it.  So if he brings home the Stooges disguised as children, his wife won’t want to adopt more children.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

All the World’s a Stooge has three major set pieces – the boys as window washers, dentists and then children! Each section holds up well.  Only in a Stooges short would the audience go along with a rich man having grown men pretend to be children (and Larry a girl!) that he’s going to adopt.  And no one catches on.

All the World’s a Stooge earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Disorder in the Court” (1936) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

Posted on by

Disorder in the Court (1936)

Director:  Jack White

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Curly Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Bud Jamison, Edward LeSaint, Hank Mann and James C. Morton

Tagline: The Three Stooges turn plumbers in Scheming Schemers.

The Plot…

The boys are witnesses in a murder trial.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Disorder in the Court is a classic.  It features as much wordplay as physical comedy.

One of my favorite scenes is when Curly is sworn in to testify.  All Curly has to do is raise his right hand, put his left on the Bible and repeat after the court clerk.  If you can watch this scene without laughing, then have your pulse checked.  What I didn’t know was that this routine was “borrowed” from Buster Keaton’s Sidewalks of New York, directed by Jules White.  The same Jules White who produced Disorder in the Court!

Disorder in the Court earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Scheming Schemers” (1956) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

Posted on by

Scheming Schemers (1956)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Jules White, Elwood Ullman

Stars: Shemp Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Christine McIntyre, Emil Sitka, Kenneth MacDonald, Dudley Dickerson, Symona Boniface and Al Thompson

Tagline: The Three Stooges turn plumbers in Scheming Schemers.

The Plot…

The boys are plumbers trying to retrieve a valuable ring that fell down a drain.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Scheming Scheamers is a remake of A Plumbing We Will Go with Shemp replacing Curly.  It is also the only Stooges short to re-use scenes from three previous Stooges films,  It is also one of four Stooges shorts filmed after Shemp’s death.  A stand-in was used in some of his scenes.

Scheming Schemers earns 3 of 5 stars.

“I’m a Monkey’s Uncle” (1948) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

Posted on by

I’m a Monkey’s Uncle (1948)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay:  Zion Myers

Stars: Shemp Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Heinie Conklin and Cy Schindell

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys are cavemen dealing with day to day living… until rival cavemen try to steal their girls!  Then it’s war!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’m a Monkey’s Uncle is pretty generic.  Still any Three Stooges short is fun.

I’m a Monkey’s Uncle earns 3 of 5 stars.