Brideless Groom

"Professor Shemp Howard - Teacher Of Voice," reads the sign on the door.

After a funny scene with a woman whose voice would crack glass, Shemp learns from Moe that a recently-departed uncle left him $500,000 with the provision that he get married. Whoa.....not a confirmed bachelor like Shemp! No thanks, but wait....thanks to Moe's persuasiveness (some brutality) and thinking how much money that is (about $10 million today), Shem goes searching for a bride.

He has seven hours to find one, too, as a time deadline is alway in the will (only in the Three Stooges flicks to hear things like this!).

One happens after that starts slowly but builds to an incredible finish at the Justice Of The Peace where all hell breaks loose with a bunch of women beating up everyone in sight. It's incredible!

I love this short. It's probably most famous for Emil Sitka's, repeated Stooge straightman, line "Hold hands, you lovebirds.". Some of my favorite moments are when Moe and Shemp are stuck in the phone booth, Shemp's critique of his student, and Christine McIntyre thinking Shemp's a cousin. You have to see this one, if you love Shemp, Sitka, and the Three Stooges.

Not wishing to repeat what everyone else has noted, I will only say this:

Nearly everybody says they loved Curly best... but I will put BRIDELESS GROOM up against ANY of other the Stooges shorts.

I think it's the most hilarious from start to finish, as well as being the most re-watchable.

The off-key singing student... Christine McIntire's "Cousin Basil" routine, and of course Emil Sitka's J.P. are highlights, but only around the Stooges' impeccable timing and the great writing too!

Nuff said.

The entire civilized world by now knows that this is where Emil Sitka says his immortal "Hold hands, you lovebirds." But Shemp Howard, Professor of Music, steals the show. Watch him tutoring Dee Green as she fractures the "Voices of Spring." Watch Shemp as he shaves by a mirror suspended from the ceiling by a string. Watch him as he gets walloped by Christine McIntyre. Watch him, and you will laugh and learn. Moe is no slouch either. Watch him as he attempts to induce a woman to sit on a bear trap. Larry, as usual, is the Zen master of reaction. All in all, one of the very best Stooge shorts. You won't find one weak moment.

"Gargle with old razor blades. Can I help it if I'm not cousin Basil? I think the piano's out of tune. Ginger Grey. This is your little snookums." Laughs throughout the entire 20 minute short as the boys spoof gold diggers and opera singers. They even manage to show us how to properly demonstrate to some attractive ladies how to handle both a rifle and a bear trap. Wonder how many times they rehearsed the scene with the phone booth. Adding Christine McIntyre and Emil Sitka, 2 frequent collaborators, to the mix makes it even better. Only Vernon Dent is missing. The Stooges did some great individual scenes, but this was their best overall.