“Hold That Lion” (1947) starring The Three Stooges with a Cameo by Curly! / Z-View

Hold That Lion (1947)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay:  Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Curly Howard, Kenneth MacDonald, Emil Sitka, Dudley Dickerson, Heinie Conklin and Blackie Whiteford

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The boys are after a crooked lawyer who is on the run with their inheritance.  Add in a loose lion and what could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Hold That Lion marks the only time that four Stooges appeared together on screen.  It was also the only time that the three Howard brothers appeared on screen together.  The scene takes place when the boys come upon a sleeping man in the train.  The sleeping man is Curly!

Curly had since retired due to the problems caused by his multiple strokes.  Curly came to visit the set.  Director, Jules White had no idea Curly was coming.  White spotted a man on set reading a newspaper.  The man slowly lowered the paper and waved.  The man was Curly!  White was inspired and asked Curly if he’d like a cameo.  The rest is history.

For me, the funniest scenes are when Larry, Moe and Shemp individually enter Icabod Slipp’s office to confront him. Slipp (MacDonald) acts as if he just entered the office and accuses each Stooge of being Slipp!  He then attacks them for stealing his money.

Hold That Lion earns 4 of 5 stars.