It’s cool enough to watch the lovable Three Stooges but then when color is added to most of this film, what’s not to like? The film opens, appropriately enough, with a short bio which looks back at the beginning of one of the world’s most famous trios ever. Back to the days of the early twenties when Moe worked along with a man named Ted Healy, to the eventual additions of Larry Fine and Moe’s brother Shemp, the origins of this famous threesome is fascinating to view. Later along came Moe and Shemp’s brother, Jerome, who became famous as Curly, the one who would say the memorable, “Woo, woo, woo!” as well as, “Yuck, yuck, yuck!” And, of course, “Soitenly” instead of “certainly.” Later on Joe Besser joined the group after Curly passed away.
A lot of clips from movies and TV shows such as The Steve Allen Show are featured in this hilarious and energetic film. The Stooges also appear, again in color, in a Snow White movie with Olympian figure skater Carol Heiss playing Snow White. There are appearances by other celebrities, including Jack Haley, who played the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz. Other movies are featured, including the 1930 film, Soup to Nuts. The laughs are plentiful. Here’s an example of just one: When Curly is introduced it’s mentioned he’s a bit dim-witted and thinks that the race horse’s name, Seabiscuit, is a new kind of fish food! Funny stuff for sure.
We see a lot of slapstick and physical comedy, such as Moe slapping the various characters and Curly being punched in the stomach, as well as pies thrown in faces. A few characters smoke cigars or have unlit cigars in their mouths. The film is pretty wholesome actually and merits our Dove Seal for All Ages.
The Dove Take:
Joe Besser was a Stooge for two years and says in the movie that he loved the beautiful, clean humor and never laughed so much in his life as he did for those two years. This movie shows why. Every family will enjoy this wholesome, laugh-filled tribute to the Three Stooges.
