By RACHEL BOLTON
Staff Writer
Moe, Larry, and Curly (and later Shemp) are the paragons of three man comedy. Everyone remembers the iconic slap on the face, punch in the belly, and poke in the eye routine. But if a viewer looks a little bit deeper into the trio, they will see that their humor was a reflection of the world they lived in.
During the Great Depression the Stooges’ shorts showed them mercilessly bothering the rich. As WWII loomed ahead of the nation, the Stooges could be found parodying Hitler or “fighting” Nazis. The Three Stooges should also be remembered for their verbal comedy as well as their physical. Their dialog was filled with puns and references to just about everything.
As a loyal Stooge fan, I believe that it is my duty to share the best of the best Three Stooges shorts with readers. Check them out when you want a study break and a laugh. Most can be found online.
10. Termites of 1938 (1938) – The Stooges work as exterminators and accidentally get sent to a fancy house during a big dinner. Oblivious to their surroundings, the trio ends up destroying the mansion in the process of trying to kill the bugs. Best Scene: The Stooges mine while playing instruments to a John Phillip Sousa record.
9. Three Little Pigskins (1934) – Its football time! The Stooges are mistaken for college football players and are bullied into playing a game by a tough-talking gangster. The game is quickly ruined by their lack of knowledge and confusion with the ball. Trivia: A pre-redhead Lucille Ball appears as one of the gangster’s girlfriends.
8. Who Done It? (1949)- The Three Stooges are hapless detectives in this one. When kindly, rich, old man disappears, it is believed that a gang of killers is responsible. The trio sneaks into his house and find out that they are not alone. Best Scene: The entire ending. Moe, Larry, and Shemp fight off the Phantom Gang and their monstrous goon, in a pitch black room. The sound effects make it one of the most memorable endings in a Stooge Short.
7. How High Is Up? (1940)- The Stooges play handymen who end up being hired as riveters on the 97th floor of a skyscraper. Misplaced rivets and Curly’s fear of heights lead the trio to taking the quick way off the building. Best Scene: The Stooges are forced to take a jump and Moe and Larry have to use Curly’s parachute on the long way down.
6. Grips, Grunts, and Groans (1937) – The Stooges get hired by gangsters to look out for a wrestler named Bustoff who has a tendency to get inebriated before matches. When Bustoff gets too sick to fight, Moe and Larry are forced to dress Curly up as him instead, or else they will face the wrath of the Gangsters.
5. A Plumbing We Will Go (1934) – Never let the Stooges fix your plumbing is the moral of this short. Moe will flood your basement. Larry will dig large holes in your yard. And Curly will create a maze of pipes in your bathroom. Best Scene: The Stooges combine the house’s electricity with the plumbing. The result is disastrous, hilarious, and wet.
4. Disorder In The Court (1936) – The Stooges are called as witnesses for a dancer who is accused of murder. They proceed to break every rule of how to behave in a courtroom, including playing music and knocking out the jury. Best Exchange: Curly gets frustrated when he cannot hold his cane, take off his hat, and swear on the bible at the same time.
3. Men In Black (1934) – Calling Doctor Howard, Doctor Fine, Doctor Howard. Healthcare is in jeopardy when the Stooges are in charge. Their adventures culminate in a battle against the Hospital’s Speaker System. Trivia: This was the only Stooge short to be nominated for an Academy Award; Best Short Subject, Comedy.
2. Brideless Groom (1947)-Shemp plays a voice teacher who learns that his Uncle left him half a million dollars. On one condition, that he gets married 48 hours after the will is read. Unfortunately Shemp has only a few hours to get married and he does not have a bride. This short is the best that was made with Shemp as the third Stooge. It has funny one-liners and great physical comedy. Trivia: This is the Stooge short that the drug dealer watches in Pulp Fiction.
1. You Nazty Spy (1940) – This is the short that made the Stooges culturally and historically important. In the fictional country of Moronica, three businessmen attempt to come up with ways to start a war. They decide to overthrow their king and put a figurehead dictator in charge. They pick Moe as their victim and drag Larry and Curly along for the ride. This short is a blatant satire on Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler. They make fun at everything about them, and I mean everything. They poke fun at Hitler’s speaking, dress, past experiences, and mustache. Moe Howard makes a convincing Hitler. (Larry and Curly parody Joseph Gobbels and Hermann Goring respectively.) The writing is witty and self-aware. It takes several viewing to catch all the jokes. If you want to see if you will enjoy the Stooges, this is the one to watch. Trivia: This short made Moe Howard the first actor to play Adolf Hitler on film.
