Sing a Song of Six Pants

This is the first of the Shemp shorts that I've seen, and while some of the gags were not the cleverest I've seen from some the Stooges' earlier works, there were also some pretty good sight gags in this film. Moe comes off as a pretty mean guy at the beginning, and cooking lunch on the linen press was hardly impressive, but the ironing scene was funny, as was the fight scene at the end. Besides that, you just have to love the characteristic sound effects.

A burglar runs into the Stooges linen shop, curiously named Pip Boys, followed by a police officer, who the Stooges promptly begin trying to sell new clothing to. They are not doing very well in their business, and when they discover that the burglar was in their shop and not only is there a reward available for his capture but he also left a piece of paper with a combination written on it, they frantically begin their efforts to cash in on the opportunity.

It's a very simple premise devised as a ploy to allow for some of their characteristic slapstick comedy, but that's what these shorts were made for. I found that the funny parts and the parts that just seemed to fall flat just about evened each other out, and while I tend to be more impressed by earlier works like Disorder in the Court, one of my favorites, Sing a Song of Six Pants is an entertaining short film.

While this short features Shemp and not Curly, it's still a lot of fun--though I always prefer Stooges shorts with Curly--he was THE third Stooge. However, Shemp does a pretty good job and the team was forced to either disband or keep going without Curly due to his ill health.

This short features the threesome as tailors. They owe money on their rent and unless they pay up ASAP, their business will be closed. But employing some comedy timing, just after getting this letter they overhear an announcement on the radio concerned a wanted safe cracker--and the reward will take care of all their expenses. So naturally the boys ultimately have a showdown with the tough guys and in the end, everything is exactly as you would predict....well, not quite, as the ending provides a cute little twist. While this is NOT a great short, it's agreeable enough and something non-Stooge fans can still enjoy.

Moe, Larry, and Shemp use comic timing and smooth interplay with each other and with the supporting cast to make this a good comedy that gets a lot of laughs from their standard repertoire of slapstick and gag ideas. The setting in a clothing store is used well, with many of the props featuring in the slapstick routines.

The story has the trio stumbling across a wanted criminal, even as they are in the midst of their own business problems. As usual, the Stooges are oblivious to most of what is going on, and yet that merely serves to make it impossible for their adversaries to outwit them. The effect is always funny, and especially so when combined with a little good slapstick.

It's easily among the better of the features that have Shemp replacing Curly. The pace is good, and the story is amusingly improbable. The material is familiar, but funny nonetheless.

No, you knuckleheads! That's Terry Horgan! He was here! Yes, there's a lot to like in this brilliant short. Where can I begin? Moe cooking pancakes on a steam press? Shemp keeping a pair of trousers in a window shade? How about Shemp reading with his lips as he peruses the Sunday funnies---this, of course, interspersed with fits of convulsive laughter, along with the requisite "hee-bee-bees" thrown in. Then there's Shemp reaching down a trouser leg and snatching a 50 dollar bill from Moe's hand, thinking he's found another fifty, whence follows a bit of comedic brilliance: you know what Moe's going to do (justifiably so), but it kills you nonetheless. How about that set-up to the film's climax: Terry Horgan and his henchmen stroll into the shop in disguise (phony beards) and deliver that immortal line, "We-would-like-our-suits-cleaned-and-pressed-while-we-wait," in a ridiculously overplayed staccato. Even the Stooges' suspicions are aroused by that! And the great Shemp almost gets away by putting on one of the phony beards himself. Then there's Cy Schindling getting the steam press treatment. There's even Vernon Dent, as if the film didn't have enough! Check out Shemp's reaction when Vernon threatens him with "I ought to run you in!" There's Larry wondering if he's hallucinating whether the "Pip Boys'" mannequins are coming to life, before shoving Terry Hargan's trousers in Vernon Dent's face with the imperative, "Smell the ocean!" Oh, brother, I could go on and on . . . The pace is breakneck, the timing sublime. Even time-worn gags, when interjected, come off great, thanks mostly to the Stooges' formidable talents. I can't recommend this Stooges short strongly enough. So I won't. Watch it when you have the chance.

Although I Am not the biggest Three Stooges fan in the world, a little of them here and there can't hurt now, can it? In 'Sing A Song of Six Pants', The combo, consisting this time of Larry, Moe and Shemp, are dry cleaners. After finding a safe combination in a pair of pants and realizing the clothes they dryclean are owned by a local gangster in town, they decide to keep the combination when the gangster's moll shows up. When the gangster himself comes by, then of course all pandemonium breaks loose! You can imagine the rest of the story, and well, the way the guys flesh the thing out, eg more kiddie violence, stupid humor and generally bad behavior then one can tolerate. Although this is of course juvenile, I found myself laughing at spots, so I guess this won me over!