Movie Maniacs

This Three Stooges short was a particular disappointment given the Hollywood milieu; in fact, the opening scene aboard the train is more inventive than the ensuing studio silliness! The comic trio are mistaken for movie executives and given the run of the studio (the president's name, Fuller Rath, emerges as the film's best gag): unsurprisingly, they drive the director and leading actors to distraction with their antics and end up by replacing them (with Moe as director, Larry the leading man, and Curley – naturally in drag – takes on the part of the leading lady)! The film is okay in itself, but clearly not in the same league as feature films on the subject starring other contemporary comedians – such as Harold Lloyd's similarly-titled MOVIE CRAZY (1932) and W.C. Fields' NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK (1941).

Some famous footnotes to this campy comedy, all set in a real movie studio. We actually get to see parts of Columbia Pictures in the 30s, which is a treat by itself.

Moe, Larry and Curly land in Hollywood, hoping to become movie stars or whatever?

As Stooge luck would have it, they're mistaken for executives -- who telegrammed they are on their way, but haven't shown up -- take over a film and do it their wacky way. Felix Adler's script is goofy as usual, filled with some surprises.

First off, the director, leading man and lady walk off the set in a huff. That leaves Moe to take over as director, Larry plays the leading man and, yes, it's Curly in drag(!) as the leading lady? Outrageous, a gag that would be repeated many more times to come. Curly was a comedy original. The charade doesn't last long when the real bosses show up, prompting the guys to make a run for it, bumping into some lions, and you can guess the rest. By the way, the movie studio is called Carnation Pictures, as in milk!

The lions were, in fact, famous. They were called Tanner and Jackie, known as the MGM lions. A fun bit of trivia. Silent film actress Mildred Harris, who married Charlie Chaplin at age 17, plays the leading lady. Kenneth Harlan, also a silent screen actor, plays the leading man. Harlan was reportedly married a record nine times. Bud Jamison wins the nutty name contest, this time called Fuller Rath.

Another treat by director Del Lord.

Always on remastered Columbia dvd, separated by years, 30s, 40s and 50s episodes. Thanks always to METV for running these golden oldies Saturday nights.

I love Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, but The Three Stooges do absolutely nothing for me, their childish slapstick routines leaving me stony faced. This short sees the guys (Larry, Moe and Curley) travelling to Hollywood where they hope to become famous; after sneaking into a studio and being mistaken for New York film executives, they cause chaos on the set of a movie.

If you're a fan of the trio, I guess this one will keep you entertained, but all of the face-slapping, eye-poking, head-bopping and cross-dressing failed to make me crack a smile, and even at just 17 minutes, I found myself quite bored with this one. I'm willing to give the trio a couple more goes to try and amuse me: this was an early effort from the Stooges and they might get better, but I have my doubts.

Larry, Curly, and Moe arrive in Hollywood hoping to make it big. They sneak into a movie studio and get mistaken for three expected new executives who are supposed to take over the place.

The first half is standard Stooges with the bad cooking and sneaking past the guard. There's nothing terribly new until they get on set. The kissing is hilarious and one can see the joy in the girls' eyes. They are inches from breaking out laughing. That scene is the best. It's also always fun to get Curly dressed up. All in all, this has some real intriguing laughs in a fun standard Stooges.

The Stooges are heading to Hollywood as stowaways on a train. They've created quite the setup in the boxcar where they are traveling...almost like a hotel on wheels.

Once in Hollywood, they are mistaken for executives with Carnation Pictures. Because of this, they are given control of the studio...and they begin making films their own way. In one, Curly plays the pretty lady and Larry her ardent suitor! Eventually the studio figures out the mistake...though considering how awful the film the Stooges are making, it's surprising it took this long! What's next? See the film.

Overall, this film is a big disappointment...much of it because their prior short, "Ants in the Pantry" was comedy gold. This one, by contrast, is a rather run of the mill short and could have been funnier given the situations. Good for die-hard Stooge fans...others...not so much.