Blunder Boys

This film is probably one of the many spoofs of the then new Dragnet TV series,aside from Stan Freberg's comedy recordings! Moe's narration is as dead on as Jack Webb's voice overs! I like how Shemp keeps altering his "day" names:St.Patrick's Day, Independance Day,etc.

Halliday (Moe Howard), Tarraday (Larry Fine), and various Days (Shemp Howard) are cops in a parody of Dragnet. They recount their days in the Army, the police academy, and during a particular case to track master criminal The Eel.

Shemp would die soon after this. I'm not sure if the Stooges did more spoofs. They did a fine job with this one. I wonder if they could have gone on a whole rift with the new TV shows. Moe does a nice deadpan narration. Shemp's Days bit is stupid fun. At the end of the Days, that's all that is required. It's stupid fun.

This Stooges short is unique. First of all, the Stooges do not go by their real names (Moe, Larry, Shemp), but rather by Dragnet-inspired monikers Farraday, Tarraday, and any of several holidays (for Shemp's character) ranging from St. Patrick's Day to New Year's Day. In one sequence, the Stooges liken themselves to the anatomy of the human hand---Larry is metaphorically the middle finger. The two seconds or so of film where Larry displays his representative digit were blacked out by a Boston television station---Hence Larry was "banned in Boston," although his "gesture" was in no way obscene! The highlight of the film, however, has to be Routine 81-C, which Moe commands Larry and Shemp to prepare for and carry out. Unwillingly, but resignedly, Larry and Shemp do just that---Moe holds out two fingers of each outstretched hand, and Larry and Shemp run into Moe's fingers, thereby giving themselves eye-pokes. I have seen Routine 81-C countless times, and have died laughing every one of them.

This is sadly Shemp's last classic. But this one is in my top 5 favorite Shemp films! Shemp turned in a great performance, and so did Moe and Larry. Their introductions are just too funny! Catch this one on AMC sometime, you won't be disappointed!

Grade: A+

And all-original to boot. Who knew that the boys still had it in them, what with the glut of recycles they were usually churning out during this period. Anyway, this is a hilarious Dragnet send up & Moe does a great deadpan of Sergeant Friday.

Moe narrates the story of how the boys went from the army to going to detective school to being given their first assignment of trying to catch the slippery Eel. When the boys fail to get that slippery crook, it's back to manual labor.

I just love how Shemp comes up with various Holiday names & the scenes with Alma Matter (the beautiful Angela Stevens) and her father are my favorite. You guys prepare for 81-C....