Hollywood on Parade No. B-9

This was one of a string of short films made by Paramount Studios that featured variety acts and supposedly behind the scenes looks of their stars. The problem is that today, these films seem very dated and the films themselves are very crudely made. There isn't even a semblance of a plot--just one cameo or song after another. Some of the notables appearing included Ben Turpin (who takes an AMAZING fall at the end of the film), Rudy Vallee, Polly Moran and Ted Healy and His Stooges (i.e., the Three Stooges).

None of this was really any good, but it was interesting to see how strange the chemistry was between Healy and the Three Stooges. Instead of Moe slapping the others around, it was Healy and the three guys looked out of place with the no-talent Healy. I've seen Healy with the Stooges in several other early films and found that he was pretty obnoxious and unlikable--something biographies of the Stooges say was much like the real-life Healy!! For film historians and lovers of the obscure, this is a highly recommended film. For most others, it will probably be a chore to complete.

This is a comedy, musical short, that was part of a long-running series of theatrical shorts, seen in the movie theaters, from the 1920s to the 1950s. This is, for lack of a better word, episode #B-9, which you can see at the bottom of the title card, in the beginning of the film. I hate using the word "episode", because that word sounds too much like television. Jimmy Durante opens things up in the film, by running around a bar, looking for a dog, with different people, interacting with each other, in quick little comedy or musical bits. It all seems very improvisational. It feels very conversational. It is so laid-back, that some of the performers, look a little buzzed-up in this short subject.

Ben Turpin plays the bartender, with Ted Healy, Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard coming in as customers. They put on the best show in this short 12 minute romp. This looks every bit like a 1934 version of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968-1973). It also reminded me a little of Hee-Haw (1969-1993). Ted Healy's gang, which includes Bonnie Bonnell and the Stooges, save this thing, but the film does finish strong, whoops, maybe not. I just saw Ben Turpin do a backflip, for no reason. The audio is not great in this film, even for 1934 and I'm not sure if it has anything to do with age. I think it was originally recorded like that. It is an artifact from a forgotten era.

4.9 (E+ MyGrade) = 5 IMDB.

You see various stars (mainly singers and comedians) in a nightclub setting. Among them: Cross-eyed Ben Turpin as a bartender who provides a funny somersault at the end. Jimmy Durante is also around to ask an inane question that wasn't funny to me. Neither was getting a frost on his lip. There's also a female impressionist who does a pretty good Greta Garbo though she didn't say anything funny either. Ted Healy arrives at Turpin's bar and attempts some banter with him before getting interrupted by then-girlfriend Bonnie Bonnell and his Stooges: Moe, Larry, and Curly! The only thing even slightly amusing about this whole segment was seeing Ted doing the three-face slap on the boys after Howard, Fine, and Howard fail initially in doing it to each other! Imagine that, Moe having trouble slapping Larry or brother Curly! Wait till they get to Columbia Pictures...Finally, Rudy Vallee drops by to sing some songs before the ending with Turpin serving a couple of large glasses and what I told about earlier...Like I said, this wasn't very funny but it was interesting to see The Three Stooges for the first time with new member Curly replacing brother Shemp who had previously appeared on film with Moe, Larry, and Ted in Soup to Nuts. So on that note, this episode of Hollywood on Parade is worth a look.