Dizzy Detectives

I agree with Jim-500 I thought the episode 'Pardon My Scotch 'looked very similar to Dizzy detective. In fact Moe actually broke his ribs when he feel from table. He was able to get up and complete the scene but quickly passed out soon after. All time great comedy group I only wish AMC would air more episodes..

I think the thing to remember is that Dizzy Detectives came out in 1943 and a lot of cops were in the armed forces. So I imagine that various police agencies had to take what they could get even if it means the 3 Stooges.

After failing as contractors the boys are excited to learn that they've been admitted to the force. Just in time too because there is a rash of mysterious burglaries perpetrated by someone who by all appearances is a simian. Could this be the beginning of Planet Of The Apes?

Not that but someone who has trained a circus ape in the fine art of second story work. Battling a criminal somewhat near their own intelligence Moe, Larry, and Curly actually clean up the situation, though the ape commits a bizarre suicide.

Even dead though, the ape has plenty of fight. Would you believe Curly is the best one cut out for law enforcement?

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes............

The Three Stooges short films traditionally were shown on television during the 60's and 70's on Saturday mornings aimed at children. As funny as the three comedians were, some parents felt they were too violent for their kids. The second Stooges' shorts released in early 1943 gave them plenty of ammunition to support their case.

In February 1943's "Dizzy Detectives," this Stooges classic shows decapitations, a knocked-out police commissioner, and a three-way brawl which everyone except Curly is clonked unconscious, and ends with a gorilla blown up. Directed by Jules White, who was known for his affinity with physical comedy, "Dizzy Detectives" is strangely front-ended by a four-minute clip from the Stooges' 1935 "Pardon My Scotch," where they're carpenters. The scene is the one Moe actually was sent to the hospital after falling off a table Curly had cut in half with a power saw, causing him to break several ribs. The sequence seamlessly segues to the three as police officers assigned to capture the "Ape Man" (Ray 'Crash' Corrigan, the stuntman who specialized in dressing in his own gorilla costumes.). The ape is causing havoc in the city, but is controlled by three thugs, one who wants to be commissioner of the police to rip off the city.

The violence grows as the Stooges stake out an antique store where the ape is known to frequent. In one scene Curly is lying on a sofa napping when he wakes up to discover a hat on one of his feet. Startled, he shoots at it, clipping one of his toes off. As an early teenager, Curly was cleaning a rifle when it accidentally discharged, hitting his ankle, an injury causing him to limp throughout his life. Curly also sits on a chair rocking back and forth, not knowing there's a cat beneath him with his tail waging. Curly rocks one too many times crushing the feline's tail, causing the cat to scream while sending the Stooge flailing in fright. Later, Curly finds himself stuck in a guillotine, and unknowingly pulls on a rope in an effort to free himself, only to find its blade falling upon his neck. Moe and Larry, emerging from their hideout in a trunk, see the head of a mannequin next to them the gorilla has knocked off, thinking it's Curly's head decapitated.

Larry, Curly, and Moe are workmen trying to install a door. It goes badly as expected. The boys are excited to be new policemen. There is an ape-man burglar on the loose and the commissioner is under pressure to find him/it. The boys receive a tip and go to find the ape-man.

This is two stories in one. I really like the door story. It's hilarious in the best Stooges way. Then there is this non-sensical switch in the story. I know the Stooges are the masters of nonsense but the writing still needs to flow better than a random flip of a switch. It completely throws me off. This is really better as two separate stories. The gorilla is an often used Stooges device. It has its fun like Curly shooting at his own foot. I'm guessing it's a robo-ape at the end. It could be more explicit. The big thing here is that this needs to be two separate shorts.

This is a great Stooge short, especially the fight with Pickle and his two henchmen. I always love it when the boys get into a fight as they always get beat up in the beginning but in the end wind up knocking their opponents out in their own way. Also, the ending where Curly rams his head into the gorilla's stomach after it guzzled down a bottle of nitro glycerine is a classic gag. You can see that this was definitely an inspiration for Scooby Doo.