Out West

Shemp's second appearance while waiting for Curly to recuperate was April 1947's "Out West," the Stooges' 99th short film for Columbia Pictures. The movie begins with a doctor advising Shemp to spend a couple of months in the western dry climate to cure an abnormal vein impairing his leg. Once there, Doc Barker (Jack Norman) overhears the three at a saloon talking about Shemp's vein, thinking it's a gold vein the three are working on in the mountains. After some uncomfortable moments, including Shemp winning at poker, the Stooges discover Doc is a leader of a gang who has imprisoned the Arizona Kid (Jack Mahoney) for ransom. "Out West" was Mahoney's first of many Stooges movies. A year later he famously performed the hair-raising jump doubling for Errol Flynn in 1948's "Adventures of Don Juan." Director Vincent Sherman said of Mahoney's stunt, "Errol wanted to make a leap from midway up the staircase to the floor below, but we had trouble finding a double willing to try it. Frank Pattison, our unit manager, said there was only one man in Hollywood who could do it: Jock Mahoney." The actor demanded and got $1,000 for the potentially neck-breaking jump. Sherman recalled, "It was a spectacular leap. I should have shot it in slow motion to show Mahoney sailing through the air, but I didn't, and every time I see the film I want to kick myself." For Shemp, "Out West" proved he was comfortable filling in for Curly, who was expected back on the set as he did after his first severe stroke a couple of years before.

Shemp has a troubled leg vein and his doctor orders him to go out west. He is joined by Larry and Moe. Doc Barker orders dancing girl Nell to find out about the strangers. Shemp tells her about his vein and everyone assumes it to be a vein of gold. Doc had murdered Nell's father, stolen the family saloon, and locked up her beau The Arizona Kid. The guys agree to help her defeat the villain.

This is a fine Shemp Stooges short. Curly is still the best for me. Shemp is mostly fine. The jail breakout is a bit annoying. I get the premise of the sonic assault. I just don't want it assaulting me. Overall, it has some fun bits and the story flows well for a Stooges short.

As much as I love Curly, I never complain seeing Shemp in a Three Stooges film.

Shemp made me laugh almost as much as Curly, sometimes even more. He had tremendous footwork, able to make great pratfalls or dance around like some rubber-legged Muhammad Ali-type boxer. He shows it early on in this story by collapsing while walking out of the doctor's office.

The only solution to Shemp's ailing leg is a trip out West, says his doctor. Make sense? No, but these stories never did. In this case, it gave The Boys a chance to make some laughs by being cowboys.

Except for the first minute-and-a-half, this is all Old West gags and some of them are still clever. Almost all the action takes place in a saloon, where we get shootouts, crooked card games, jail breakouts, the U.S. Calvary (which "has never been late in the history of motion pictures," as stated in here) and more!

Jock Mahoney, who starred in a short-lived but excellent 1950s TV western called "Yancy Derringer," guest stars in here as "The Arizona Kid." He's billed in here as "Jacques O'Mahoney."

This was a very enjoyable Three Stooges film, and a very fast-moving one.

OUT WEST is the funniest of 17 Three Stooges westerns. The reason I like it is because it's more cleverly plotted that other westerns like: PUNCHY COWPUNCHERS, THE THREE TROUBLEDOERS, & WHOOPS, I'M AN INDIAN! The plot is that the stooges have to go out west until Shemp's bad leg heals. This is Christine McIntrye's first appearence with Shemp.So, Stooge fans, watch OUT WEST and have a good laugh.

3 1/2 out of 4 stars!

Trivia- Remade as PALS AND GALS in 1954.

The Three Stooges has always been some of the many actors that I have loved. I love just about every one of the shorts that they have made. I love all six of the Stooges (Curly, Shemp, Moe, Larry, Joe, and Curly Joe)! All of the shorts are hilarious and also star many other great actors and actresses which a lot of them was in many of the shorts! In My opinion The Three Stooges is some of the greatest actors ever and is the all time funniest comedy team!

This is one of My favorite Three Stooges shorts with Shemp! All Appearing in this short are Christine McIntyre, Norman Willis, Jock Mahoney, Stanley Blystone, George Chesebro, Heinie Conklin, Vernon Dent, Frank Ellis, and Blackie Whiteford! This one is so hilarious! Shemp has a great performance here and in My opinion its one of his best. I strongly recommend this Three Stooges short!