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Speaking all their dialogue in rhyme, confirmed misogynists Moe and Curly try to break up Larry's marriage with perky Marjorie White. Hal Erickson

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The Three Stooges become the unlikely owners of a modiste's shop in the amusing short Slippery Silks. The boys have inherited Madame de France from their Uncle Pete. Before that they were woodworkers whose last assignment was to duplicate a small but very valuable Chinese cabinet. The ill-fated cabinet lasts about two minutes before being decimated in the Stooges' hands. They are forced to flee from the man who brought it in (the imposing Vernon Dent). At Madame de France the Stooges make themselves at home, even if the haughty patrons are a bit perplexed by them. Then comes the morning when Mrs. Morgan-Morgan calls and requests a fashion display for her and her friends. Little do the Stooges know that Mr. Morgan-Morgan is the man with the Chinese cabinet. The fashion show starts off as a success, even Larry's fashions -- he seems to have gotten "dress" and "dresser" mixed up; as a result his outfits sport drawers. While the Stooges are creating a new "mode" for Mrs. Morgan-Morgan, her husband shows up and begins slugging away at the Stooges. Their escape from him results in a big food fight in the showroom. The matrons all wind up covered in whip cream and custard and finally three of them knock the Stooges unconscious. Janiss Garza

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The Three Stooges play slap-happy exterminators in the comic short Ants in the Pantry. The Lightning Pest Control Company is having trouble staying afloat. "This rat-catching business is going to the dogs!" moans manager A. Mouser. He calls for his three workers -- Moe, Larry and Curly -- and tells them to go out and drum up some jobs. Their first stop is at a mansion where a matron (former silent star Clara Kimball Young) is entertaining a large group of guests who are preparing for a fox hunt. The boys secretly release ants on the food, mice on the curtains and moths in the closet. When they finally ring the doorbell, the butler is more than happy to see them. The matron insists on putting them in jodhpurs so that her guests won't know that her home is infested with vermin. So attired as equestrians, the Stooges create mayhem amongst the society folk -- mice pop up in the most curious places and Curly tries eating a poppy seed cake (the seeds are actually the ants), much to Moe's consternation. At the matron's insistence, they've hidden the cats they've brought in the piano, which causes serious problems when a certain Mr. Repulso tries to play a song. The piano winds up smashed on the floor, covered in Stooges. As it turns out, the guests think they're entertainers and congratulate the matron on finding them. The Stooges are invited to the hunt, but before they can even begin, Curly -- whose nose is stuffed up from a cold -- finds the fox. But it's not a fox, it's a skunk. Moe, Larry and one of the horses faint from the smell. Janiss Garza

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Even a run-of-the-mill Three Stooges short had its moments, as this one proves. It begins in November, 1918, and Larry, Moe and Curly are sleeping through the end of World War I. The sergeant (Stanley Blystone) wakes them up to tell them the war is over -- and to abuse them, blacking Curly and Larry's eyes and mercilessly twisting Moe's arm. But the Stooges release their pent-up anger at the sarge once they have their discharge papers, and he winds up much the worse for wear. Seventeen years later, it's the depths of the depression and the Stooges are broke and hungry. When they see a diner sitting in front of a sumptuous feast, they get a stray dog to run in and grab the roast chicken. The dog, of course, won't give it up, and the diner is ready to throttle them. Instead, he tricks them into re-enlisting in the Army. The worst part about being back in uniform is that once again they're stuck with the same nasty sergeant. During one drill with a cannon, they are sent out to get the shells and gun powder. When they return they don't realize that target practice has been canceled and proceed to shoot everything in sight, including the admiral's flagship (at this point it's pretty obvious that Columbia thanked its lucky stars for stock footage!). The boys are proud of their work, and the sergeant cheerfully lines them up. But instead of the reward they're expecting, he points the cannon at them and fires. All that's left of the Stooges is their smoking boots. Janiss Garza

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This Three Stooges short is a remake of the Thelma Todd/Zasu Pitts comedy, Show Business. The Stooges are staying at Mrs. Hammond Eggerley's Theatrical Apartments, where they're behind on the rent and haven't eaten in days. Curly, in fact, is roasting his shoe and wants to cook their monkey, who is their main attraction. They begin to practice their act, which annoys the actor across the hall -- "Paul Payne," as he haughtily introduces himself, "heartthrob of millions!" The monkey is less than impressed and steals his toupee. The Stooges' agent finally calls with work and the boys sneak out under Mrs. Eggerley's nose when Curly pretends to be a G-man. They run down the street, carrying their trunk and knocking down everyone in their path. Payne, too, is on the train and it's inevitable that the Stooges will continue to annoy him. They take over his drawing room and steal his food (it's crab, but Larry thinks it's a spider, while Curly and Moe are certain it 's a turtle), and when they're kicked out, they aren't able to climb up to their bunks. After driving the whole car, especially the tour manager, completely nuts, they are literally thrown off the train and catapult onto a trio of bucking steers. Janiss Garza

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While this was the second short that The Three Stooges shot for Columbia, this one is the first where they use their own names (and, thankfully, they don't have to talk in couplets, like they did in their first, Woman Haters). Stooge Moe Howard plays a down-on-his-luck fight manager. While eating at a restaurant with some cronies, he finds himself a new fighter -- their waiter (Curly Howard). When a hungry violinist (Larry Fine) offers to play for some soup and begins a lively rendition of "Pop Goes the Weasel," Curly goes into a conniption fit that would soon become classic Stooge fare -- slapping his face, dancing around and "Woop-wooping" wildly. Before anyone can move, he's knocked out all of Moe's pals -- and the restaurant's manager. Moe grabs both Curly and Larry and the trio work their way up in the boxing world -- until one bout in which an accident breaks Larry's violin. Curly takes a brutal beating from Killer Kilduff while Larry runs all over town! looking for something -- anything -- that is playing "Pop Goes the Weasel." He finds a politician's campaign truck blaring the tune from its speakers and races it to the arena in time for Curly to win the fight. In fact, the song -- and Curly's fit -- doesn't stop until Moe and Larry also wind up in a heap in the ring. The Stooges would use this same gag -- Curly stimulated into going nuts -- in at least two other films, 1935's Horses' Collars and 1937's Grips, Grunts and Groans. Janiss Garza

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This comedy short puts The Three Stooges into a medieval setting and opens with a cameo from Walter Brennan as the boys' old father. It turns out that the Stooges are the progeny of a chambermaid to the King of Anesthesia, and they head to court to offer their services to the young Queen (Geneva Mitchell). But there is intrigue afoot at the court -- the Prime Minister is plotting to take over Anesthesia's rule. While the Stooges show their prowess (or lack thereof) at wrestling, the Queen is spirited away. For letting the Queen be kidnapped, the boys are sentenced to be executed, but they manage to escape when their enemies are distracted by the silhouette of a pretty girl undressing in a window. The Stooges find the Queen in the wine cellar and knock out her captors one by one. They also knock out the Queen and each other. While this isn't one of the Stooges' best shorts -- their period pieces were rarely as good as those that took place in the present -- it does have one of the best lines. The dying Brennan tells the Stooges their noble titles: Larry is the Duke of Durham, Moe is the Count of Fife and Curly is "Baron of Graymatter." Janiss Garza

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Hoi Polloi is one of the earlier Three Stooges shorts, and one of the funniest. It opens on an exclusive restaurant where two wealthy gents are having an argument -- what really makes the man, heredity or environment? They wager ten thousand dollars and take off in search of three men to use in their experiment. They haven't far to go -- right outside the establishment they are pelted with garbage flung by none other than Larry, Moe and Curly. But when the pair offer to make gentlemen of the boys, they aren't interested -- "I'll disgrace us!" bemoans Larry. Reluctantly they finally agree to go along with the plan and spend three months at the home of one of the men while he tries to teach them some manners. After two months, they are little better than when they started -- in fact their benefactor resorts to slapping them! Dancing lessons are even less effective when a bee flies into the instructor's cleavage and the boys try to imitate her St. Vitus dance. Nevertheless, the Stooges make their debut in society, and it is predictably manic. The highlight is Curly's dance with a extra-large maiden. -- a couch spring has affixed itself to his behind, so whenever his partner knocks him down with her heft, he bounces right back up. Although the Stooges' benefactor loses the bet, there apparently is something to be said about the effects of environment because by the end, everyone at this fancy dress party is gleefully knocking each other about, Stooges-style. The idea for this short came from Moe Howard and his wife, Helen. Helen was offered either screen credit or money -- she went for the cash. Janiss Garza

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In one of the Three Stooges' lesser comedies, the boys play a trio of Northwest frontier con artists. They are on the run after tricking some men out of their money at a rough saloon -- for violating the gaming laws, they are wanted "dead or in bad shape." On top of that, they're broke -- says Curly, "I threw away the money so I could run faster." They go hunting for some food and prove that, left on their own, their survival skills won't carry them very far. Meanwhile, Lucky Pierre, a brutal trapper, has discovered that his wife just left him for an Indian. He storms out of his cabin to kill any Indian that comes his way. The Stooges break into his home and unfortunately, they choose Indian costumes as disguises. They meet up with Pierre back at the saloon, but before he can do them any major damage, he falls for Curly, who is dressed like a squaw. Moe prods the reluctant Curly into sticking with Pierre, at least temporarily. The trapper weds Curly and gleefully carries him upstairs for the honeymoon. "For you I have the grand surprise!" he promises. "So have I," Curly mutters, "if you only knew it." In their room, Curly loses his wig, and Moe and Larry are discovered hiding under the bed. They run from Pierre and find what they think is a good hiding place. After Moe has shut the gate, a sign reveals it to be the Lobo jail. Janiss Garza

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It's the Great Depression and The Three Stooges are having a hard time finding work in Pop Goes the Easel. And no wonder -- they hold up signs looking for completely inappropriate jobs. Moe is offering to be a social secretary, while Larry's sign insists, "Will do anything. Position as bridge instructor preferred." Finally the three of them decide that showing off their work ethic is a better idea, so they grab brooms and begin sweeping up the sidewalk. Unfortunately the brooms' owner thinks they are thieves, and the boys end up running from a detective. Hiding out in an art studio, they are mistaken for students. When they are presented to Professor Fuller (who Curly mistakes for the Fuller brush man), he tells them to start from the bottom up by painting the floor. As much as the Stooges want to leave, the persistent cop refuses to go away. Eventually, in deviation from the Stooges' standard pie fight, the whole studio explodes into a raucous clay fight. Janiss Garza

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The Three Stooges are in fine form for Horses' Collars, their fifth Columbia short. Clyde Bruckman, who worked with silent luminaries Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, was the director, and it's obvious that he added quite a bit to the fun. The boys are working for the Hyden Zeke Detective Agency, as evidenced by their Sherlock Holmes-style hats and pipes. While the boss explains their next assignment -- going out West to save a girl's ranch from the evil Double Deal Decker -- Curly's eyes seem to be glazed over. It turns out he has eyes painted on his eyelids to hide the fact that he's napping. A mouse, however, sends him into a hyperactive fit, which is only cured when Moe and Larry feed him cheese. Soon enough, the Stooges arrive at the gambling hall run by Decker. They take a few turns on a dance floor in an attempt to lift Decker's wallet, which they assume contains the I.O.U. they're looking for. But they're caught and strung-up, only to be saved at the last minute when Curly sees a mouse and knocks everyone unconscious. He comes to the rescue again when the Stooges are found breaking into Decker's safe. Two mice are inside and as a result, Decker and his henchman get floored. Unfortunately, this time the cheese cure also knocks out the other Stooges when they get a whiff of Curly's Limburger breath. Janiss Garza

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Prohibition has recently ended, and alcoholic beverages are very much in demand in this Three Stooges short. A druggist is furious because his liquor supplier can't come through with the goods. While he is arguing over the phone, the Stooges show up -- they're carpenters who are supposed to install a door. Since they can't even tell right from left, the results are predictably disastrous. However, the druggist has no choice but to leave them in charge of the store while he dashes off to solve his liquor dilemma. Meanwhile, the supplier has sent one of his men to the store to work damage control. He asks the Stooges, who are working behind the counter, for some strong refreshment, and the boys concoct something explosively potent (in a Stooge's film, that means literally). The man is impressed by the stuff, and convinces the Stooges to bring their "scotch" to his boss' dinner party -- dressed as Scotchmen. The boys show up properly kilted, and proceed to create havoc. They silence the performance of an opera singer by flinging grapes and a banana into his mouth, and their table manners at dinner are just as juvenile. They finally bring out a barrel of the strong stuff -- resulting in an explosion that leaves the dining room waist high in suds. Janiss Garza

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The Three Stooges try to break into show business in this Columbia short subject. They're first seen as stowaways on a train headed for Hollywood. While Curly is cooking pancakes (one of which sticks to the boxcar's ceiling) and Larry is ironing sooty burn marks into a pair of Moe's white pants (he tries saving them with white paint), Moe is explaining why they have a chance in Hollywood: "There's a couple thousand people in pictures now who know nothing about it -- three more won't make a difference." They have to work very hard, however, to get past the guards at Carnation Studios. By a stroke of luck, general manager Fuller Rath (Bud Jamison) is expecting three New York executives to show up, and thinks the Stooges are her men. Given free reign at Carnation, the boys interrupt a director while he's attempting to film a love scene. Director and actors all quit, but this doesn't throw the Stooges; Moe takes over the megaphone, Larry plays the leading man, and Curly dons a dress to play opposite him. Everything is going fine (at least in Stooge terms) until Rath discovers that the boys are impostors. The trio escapes -- right into a lion's den. To get away from the lions they jump into a car and drive off. Unfortunately, the lions have leapt into the car right after them. Janiss Garza

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The Three Stooges play firemen in the comic short False Alarms. While the other firemen are off fighting a fire, the Stooges are still in the shower. As a result, the Captain wants to fire them, but they beg for another chance. He gives in, but orders them to clean the hoses. Curly rolls them out onto the street, where they are sliced into little pieces by a couple of passing trolley cars. Then, one evening, while the boys are supposed to be on duty, Curly sneaks out to spend time with his girl, who has invited two of her friends to come along. The hefty friend is especially boy-crazy and very disappointed that the other Stooges couldn't make it. Curly gets the bright idea of making a false alarm to get the boys over. Not surprisingly, all the firemen head off to the call, but Moe and Larry get left behind and lock themselves in a room. After breaking down the door and finding the others gone, they decide to borrow the Captain's shiny new car and race down there. They beat their fellow firemen to discover that it was just Curly wanting them to come party. The girls and the Stooges pile into the Captain's car and after a number of hair-raising misses, the inevitable happens -- the car is wrecked. There's an interesting variation on the traditional Stooge eye poke in this comedy -- Moe gives it to Curly over the phone. Janiss Garza

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Directed by Jack White (under his usual pseudonym of Preston Black), the two-reel courtroom caper Disorder in the Court is, by many, regarded as the best of the Three Stooges' early comedies. Moe, Larry, and Curly are witnesses in a murder trial involving a dancer (Suzanne Kaaren) from "The Black Bottom Cafe," the club where they work. Curly is called on the stand to explain "Who killed Kirk Robin?" and the rest is pandemonium. Court clerk James C. Morton's toupee is mistaken for a tarantula, a supposedly unloaded revolver kills Moe's boutonniere, the entire courtroom becomes the victim of an errand fire hose, and the real killer is proven to be the hoofer Buck Wing, who in the meantime has shuffled off to Buffalo. Moe and Curly's real-life parents are briefly spotted among the courtroom spectators. Hans J. Wollstein

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Although it was nominated for an Academy Award, the third Three Stooges comedy two-reeler for Columbia has not dated well. A spoof of MGM's Clark Gable vehicle Men in White, Men in Black was a rather shapeless romp in which Moe, Larry, and Curly played dumbbell interns at the Lost Arms Hospital. The team was supported by such veteran comedians as Bud Jamison, Dell Henderson, Hank Mann, and Neal Burns, while Ruth Hiatt, Kay Hughes, and a host of starlets appeared as nurses, but the two-reeler remains one of the team's lesser early efforts. Hans J. Wollstein

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In Three Little Penguins, their fourth two-reeler for Columbia, the Three Stooges are mistaken for college football heroes by a beautiful gangster's moll. The latter was played by a very young Lucille Ball, who would always credit the Stooges with introducing her to "slapstick and physical comedy." According to Jack White, brother of Stooges producer Jules White, Lucille quickly left the studio because "Harry Cohn didn't want to bother with her. He didn't think she had any talent!" Hans J. Wollstein

Product Details

• UPC: 043396211049
• Source: SONY PICTURES
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1)
• Presentation: B&W
• Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo
• Language: English
• Time: 5:40:00
• Sales Rank: 36

This set contains DVDs which may be available separately:

• Hoi Polloi
• Horses' Collars
• Men in Black
• Pardon My Scotch
• Pop Goes the Easel
• Restless Knights
• Three Little Beers
• Uncivil Warriors
• Punch Drunks
• Three Little Pigskins
• Woman Haters
• False Alarms
• Half-Shot Shooters
• Movie Maniacs
• Slippery Silks
• Ants in the Pantry
• Disorder in the Court
• A Pain in the Pullman
• Whoops! I'm an Indian

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