All the World's a Stooge

Last updated
All the World's a Stooge
AllWorldsStoogeTITLE.jpg
Directed by Del Lord
Written by John Grey
Produced by Hugh McCollum
Del Lord
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Curly Howard
Lelah Tyler
Emory Parnell
Richard Fiske
Olaf Hytten
Bud Jamison
Symona Boniface
Ethelreda Leopold
Cinematography Benjamin H. Kline
Edited by Art Seid
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • May 16, 1941 (1941-05-16)(U.S.)
Running time
16:03
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

All the World's a Stooge is a 1941 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 55th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Contents

Plot

Wealthy Ajax Bullion finds himself in a predicament when his eccentric wife expresses a desire to adopt a refugee, prompted by the prevailing socio-political climate. Meanwhile, Ajax grapples with a severe toothache, prompting his wife to insist he visit the dentist while she prepares for the nursery.

Simultaneously, The Stooges are engaging in their occupation as window washers on a tall building's scaffold. Following a mishap involving a bucket of water splashing into a dentist's office, the irate dentist threatens termination. Instructed by Moe, the Stooges are then tasked with drying the wet floor. Ajax encounters the Stooges, mistaking them for interim dentists. In an attempt to alleviate his suffering, the Stooges inadvertently knock him unconscious and proceed to extract his bridge-work. The ensuing efforts to reinsert the bridge with cement go awry, prompting them to resort to dynamite. The dentist returns just as the dynamite is ignited, compelling the Stooges to flee, leaving Mr. Bullion unharmed but oblivious to the dental intervention.

Capitalizing on the situation, Mr. Bullion concocts a scheme to exploit the Stooges as pseudo-refugee children, aiming to dissuade his wife from her philanthropic aspirations. The Stooges, now dressed as toddlers, endure a comical adoption by Mrs. Bullion, with Moe, Curly, and Larry assuming the names Johnny, Frankie, and Mabel, respectively.

As the Stooges integrate into the Bullion household, their antics and disruptive behavior during a party organized by Mrs. Bullion lead to regret on her part. Simultaneously, Mr. Bullion, initially complicit in the scheme, finds himself frustrated by the Stooges' continuous interference, including the theft of his cigars and wine. The culmination of chaos prompts Mr. Bullion to chase the Stooges out of the house wielding an axe.

Production notes

Filmed on August 24–28, 1940, [1] the title of the film parodies William Shakespeare's "All the world's a stage." [2]

Adopting refugees from European countries was a common event amongst society people during World War II. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Three Stooges</span> American slapstick comedy trio

The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short-subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical, farce, and slapstick comedy. Six total Stooges appeared over the act's run ; Moe Howard and Larry Fine were mainstays throughout the ensemble's nearly 50-year run, while the "third stooge" was played in turn by Shemp Howard, Curly Howard, Shemp Howard again, Joe Besser, and "Curly Joe" DeRita.

<i>Punch Drunks</i> 1934 film by Lou Breslow

Punch Drunks is a 1934 short subject directed by Lou Breslow starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the second entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 short subjects for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moe Howard</span> American comedian and actor (1897–1975)

Moses Harry Horwitz, better known by his stage name Moe Howard, was an American comedian and actor. He is best known as the leader and straight man of the Three Stooges, the farce comedy team who starred in motion pictures and television for four decades. That group initially started out as Ted Healy and His Stooges, an act that toured the vaudeville circuit. Moe's distinctive hairstyle came about when he was a boy and cut off his curls with a pair of scissors, producing an irregular shape approximating a bowl cut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shemp Howard</span> American comedian and actor (1895–1955)

Shemp Howard was an American comedian and actor. He is best known as the third Stooge in The Three Stooges, a role he played when the act began in the early 1920s (1923–1932), while it was still associated with Ted Healy and known as "Ted Healy and his Stooges"; and again from 1946 until his death in 1955. During the fourteen years between his times with the Stooges, he had a successful solo career as a film comedian, including a series of shorts by himself and with partners. He reluctantly returned to the Stooges as a favor to his brother Moe and friend Larry Fine to replace his brother Curly as the third Stooge after Curly's illness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curly Howard</span> American comedian and actor (1903–1952)

Jerome Lester Horwitz, better known by his stage name Curly Howard, was an American comedian and actor. He was a member of the comedy team The Three Stooges, which also featured his elder brothers Moe and Shemp Howard, as well as actor Larry Fine. In early shorts, he was billed as Curley. Curly Howard was generally considered the most popular and recognizable of the Stooges.

<i>The Outlaws Is Coming</i> 1965 film by Norman Maurer

The Outlaws Is Coming is the sixth and final theatrical comedy starring The Three Stooges after their 1959 resurgence in popularity. By this time, the trio consisted of Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Joe DeRita. As with its predecessor, The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze, the film was cowritten, produced and directed by Howard's son-in-law Norman Maurer. The supporting cast features Adam West, Nancy Kovack and Emil Sitka, who plays three roles.

<i>Half-Wits Holiday</i> 1947 film by Jules White

Half-Wits Holiday is a 1947 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. It is the 97th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>I Can Hardly Wait</i> 1943 film by Jules White

"I Can Hardly Wait" is a 1943 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 73rd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>A Plumbing We Will Go</i> 1940 American short film by Del Lord

A Plumbing We Will Go is a 1940 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 46th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Pardon My Scotch</i> 1935 American short film by Del Lord

Pardon My Scotch is a 1935 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the ninth entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who appeared in 190 shorts at the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Violent Is the Word for Curly</i> 1938 American short film by Charley Chase

Violent Is the Word for Curly is a 1938 short subject directed by Charley Chase starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 32nd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Slippery Silks</i> 1936 American short film by Preston Black

Slippery Silks is a 1936 short subject directed by Preston Black starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 19th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>The Three Stooges</i> (2012 film) Film by Bobby and Peter Farrelly

The Three Stooges is a 2012 American slapstick comedy film based on the 1934–59 film shorts starring the comedy trio of the same name. It was produced, written and directed by the Farrelly brothers and co-written by Mike Cerrone. It stars Chris Diamantopoulos, Sean Hayes, and Will Sasso, re-creating the eponymous characters played by Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard.

<i>Beer Barrel Polecats</i> 1946 film by Jules White

Beer Barrel Polecats is a 1946 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 88th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>They Stooge to Conga</i> 1943 American short film by Del Lord

They Stooge to Conga is a 1943 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 67th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Cactus Makes Perfect</i> 1942 American short film by Del Lord

Cactus Makes Perfect is a 1942 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 61st entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Crash Goes the Hash</i> 1944 film by Jules White

Crash Goes the Hash is a 1944 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 77th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who appeared in 190 shorts at the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Scheming Schemers</i> 1956 film by Jules White

Scheming Schemers is a 1956 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 173rd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Monkey Businessmen</i> 1946 film by Edward Bernds

Monkey Businessmen is a 1946 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 92nd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Income Tax Sappy</i> 1954 American short film by Jules White

Income Tax Sappy is a 1954 short subject directed by Jules White starring the American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 153rd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

References

  1. ↑ Pauley, Jim (2012). The Three Stooges Hollywood Filming Locations. Solana Beach, California: Santa Monica Press, LLC. p. 38. ISBN   9781595800701.
  2. 1 2 Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Glendale, California: Comedy III Productions, Inc. p. 191. ISBN   0971186804.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.