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

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.