Half Shot Shooters

Half Shot Shooters (1936)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Seventeen years after the end of WW1, the Three stooges find themselves poor and hungry so they accidentally sign up for the Army to cause more trouble. There are a few gags here that work but most of them miss. One of the best gags has Curley pulling his shoe up and another has the three firing off a canon, which hits their Admirel's boat.

Now available on Columbia's 2-disc set, which features over 20 shorts, all digitally remastered and looking better than since they were originally released.

It's World War I, and the Stooges are tormented by their sergeant (Stanley Blystone). Even when the war ends, Curly and Larry receive black eyes and Moe gets his arm broken by the sarge. The Stooges exact some delicious revenge upon him, however!

Cue ahead 17 years to the depression. The Stooges are tricked into re-enlisting in the army, and their good ol' sarge is their to take them by the hand once again. Will the Stooges and the sarge mend fences this time?

"Half-Shot Shooters" was banned in Holland, and it's not difficult to see why: ultra-violence permeates this short. One reason the Stooges are funny is that the slaps and pokes they receive are brief and the pain is minimal. We can relax knowing that and enjoy their films.

What is NOT funny is seeing the Stooges inflicted with long-lasting pain that is fully in view of the audience (black eyes, a broken arm, busted eardrums). In addition, this torment is inflicted by a sadistic sergeant who enjoys what he does to the boys.

"Half-Shot Shooters" has some funny moments, but the violence level here can make even the most devoted Stooge fan uncomfortable. 5 out of 10.

The Three Stooges were known for their physicality, but most of the antics were supplied to themselves. In April 1936' "Half Shot Shooters," Clyde Bruckman's script was unusually violent for its time. The legendary screenwriter Bruckman, who co-wrote many of Buster Keaton's silent movie classics, inserted many unusual cruel scenes for this, the Stooges' 14th episode.

Actor Stanley Blystone, as Sgt. MacGillicuddy, dishes out the brutally sadistic punishment to our three heroes. "Half Shot Shooters" opens in the last day of World War One on the front. The sergeant spots our three heroes sleeping while the morning battle rages, and proceeds to punch Curly and Larry in the face, giving them both black eyes while he twists Moe's arm so much he breaks it. The three are subsequently given medals for their 'wounds.' The short jumps to year 1935, with the Stooges out of work, and are coerced into joining the Army again. They meet up with their same sergeant, who takes them to the bathroom, makes them dunk their heads in a large sink, and shoots his gun into the water, making them deaf. Lastly, after the Stooges are firing a coast artillery canon in what they think is a practice session, MacGillicuddy arrives, lines them up as if taking their picture, aims the canon at them and fires. All that's left of the Three Stooges are the smoking shoes they left behind.

"Half Shot Shooters" is famous for being the first Columbia Pictures short to not contain any females. In addition, the studio's logo, designed in 1928, was last seen in the opening of this Stooges short. The new logo, introduced in the studio's next film, has the Torch Lady standing on a pedestal, not adorning any headdress, and having the text 'Columbia' chiseled in letters behind her.

"Half Shot Shooters" also introduces to the Three Stooges series veteran actor Vernon Dent, playing the restaurant patron whose chicken is stolen by the Stooges' dog. A Mack Sennett actor in the early 1920s, Dent played in a number of Harry Langdon's movies, and worked alongside comedians Buster Keaton, Charley Chase and Bert Wheeler. Dent appeared in more Stooges' shorts than any other supporting actor-96. He became especially good friends with Shemp Howard when he returned to the Stooges after replacing Curly.

Begins in final day of wwi leave after attacking sgt can't find work...join army again.

Artillary...shoot at flagship instead of target ship very dark ending.

"Half Shot Shooters" begins on the final day of WWI. While the war is STILL going on around them, the Stooges try to catch up on some sleep. And, when they are awoken by the Sergeant and told the war is over, lots of slapping ensues. In the next scene, as they are now home and discharged, they take their vengeance out on their hated Sergeant. But when they can't find work and accidentally re-signup for the army, guess who they'll be reporting to? Yep, their old Sergeant...and wow does he get his revenge in one of the darkest endings I can recall from a Three Stooges film.

This one only has a few laughs and I can't help think that the writers were not particularly inspired when they wrote this. It should have been a very funny short...instead it's an okay short with a dark ending. But this ending is so dark and weird, I recommend you see it...just to see how the story ends.

Larry, Curley, and Moe sleep through most of the war and are the bane of Sgt. MacGillicuddy's existence. Despite being lazy soldiers, they are honorably discharged with awards. They find themselves as bums on the streets. They are tricked into signing up for the US Army again under the command of MacGillicuddy. I like most of this. The guys and MacGillicuddy have great chemistry. I would change the targets of the final sequences. The targets need to be funnier. They could blow silly billboards or setting off an explosion which flips a car crash back to its normal place. The final explosion should be the boys blowing themselves up. That's the only truly hilarious finish.