“Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb” (1938) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb (1938)

Director:  Searle Kramer

Screenplay:  John Grey

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Bud Jamison and Lucille Lund

Tagline:  Larry Lets On It’s “LOVELY!”  Moe Murmers It’s “MARVELOUS!” Curly Calls It “COLOSSAL!”

The Plot…

When Curly wins $50,000 in a radio contest, the boys begin living like millionaires.  Fine clothes, BIG cigars and a room at Hotel Costa Plente.  Unfortunately the boys realize they’re in hot water when the winning check after taxes comes to $4.85.  They’ll end up in jail if they can’t pay their hotel bill and it’s huge.  Luckily the boys discover four rich widows are in the room down the hall.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

There’s a fun set-up scene before Curly wins the radio contest.  Moe and Larry are playing poker for pancakes.  Curly is cooking ’em as fast as Moe is losing.  Could Larry be cheating?

The plot twist of the women needing money and hoping to marry three rich men just as our boys need to marry three rich ladies is a good one.  Plus the writers through in a monkey for good measure.

Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb earns 4 of 5 stars.