An Ache in Every Stake

Last updated
An Ache in Every Stake
Acheineverystakelobbycard41.jpg
Directed by Del Lord
Written by Lloyd French
Produced byDel Lord
Hugh McCollum
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Curly Howard
Vernon Dent
Bud Jamison
Gino Corrado
Bess Flowers
Blanche Payson
Symona Boniface
Cinematography Philip Tannura
Edited by Burton Kramer
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • August 22, 1941 (1941-08-22)(U.S.)
Running time
18:09
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

An Ache in Every Stake 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 57th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Contents

Plot

The Stooges are hapless icemen, grappling with a series of misadventures as they navigate their mundane profession. Upon awakening from slumber within their delivery wagon, precipitated by their horse's agitation, Moe and Larry find themselves extricated from the vehicle's confines, while Curly, having employed a block of ice as an improvised pillow, becomes ensconced within its chilly embrace. Subsequently liberated from his icy enclosure, the trio embarks on their routine ice block deliveries, culminating in a challenging assignment at a residence perched atop a daunting staircase.

The arduous ascent to the elevated abode presents a formidable obstacle, exacerbated by the inexorable melting of their burdensome cargo. Despite concerted efforts and repeated setbacks, including fortuitous encounters with the aggrieved Mr. Lawrence, whose confectionery endeavors fall prey to the Stooges' inadvertent disruptions, the trio perseveres in their delivery endeavors, albeit with characteristic ineptitude.

Complications ensue when the Stooges, inadvertently precipitating the departure of the household staff, assume the roles of servants, tasked with preparing a birthday dinner for the homeowner's husband. Unbeknownst to them, the husband in question is none other than Mr. Lawrence, whose prior encounters with the Stooges have left him less than enamored. Amidst their culinary exploits, characterized by misguided attempts at ice shaving and turkey stuffing, the Stooges unwittingly introduce foreign objects into the meal, eliciting bemusement and consternation among the dinner guests. However, their pièce de résistance, a birthday cake inflated with town gas, culminates in calamitous hilarity as the festivities devolve into chaos, culminating in a combustible denouement that exposes the Stooges' true identities.

In a flurry of indignation and chaos, the Stooges, compelled to vacate the premises, descend the staircase in ignominious fashion.

Cast

Credited

Uncredited

Production notes

Although similar in appearance, the long staircase seen in the film is not the same one used in Laurel and Hardy's lost film Hats Off (1927) nor the Academy Award-winning film The Music Box (1932). The stairs — 147 steps in length — are approximately two miles northeast, located at Fair Oak View Terrace and Edendale Place in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles. [1] Unlike the stairs in The Music Box, this stairway begins from a cul-de-sac. [2] Filming was completed March 26–29, 1941. [3]

Curly's turkey-stuffing scene was performed earlier by Shemp Howard in the 1934 film A Peach of a Pair and again by Shemp in the Stooges' 1952 film Listen, Judge . [2]

The plot device of carrying ice up a flight of stairs derives from the Billy Bevan silent film Ice Cold Cocos (1926), also directed by Del Lord. [2] According to the SilentEra website, Ice Cold Cocos used the same staircase as Hats Off and The Music Box (located in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles on Vendome (923-937 Vendome) at Del Monte. [4]

This is one of several Stooge shorts in which a sofa spring becomes attached to someone's backside. This gag was also used in Hoi Polloi , Three Little Sew and Sews , Hugs and Mugs and Have Rocket, Will Travel . [2] The film marked the final appearance of supporting actress Bess Flowers with the Stooges. [2]

An Ache in Every Stake is considered a quintessential Three Stooges film. Ranking as a consistent fan favorite, [5] a colorized version was released in 2004 as part of the DVD collection "Stooged & Confoosed." [6]

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>The Music Box</i> 1932 short film by James Parrott

The Music Box is a Laurel and Hardy short film comedy released in 1932. It was directed by James Parrott, produced by Hal Roach and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film, which depicts the pair attempting to move a piano up a long flight of steps, won the first Academy Award for Best Live Action Short (Comedy) in 1932. In 1997, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The film is widely seen as the most iconic Laurel and Hardy short, with the featured stairs becoming a popular tourist attraction.

<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">Larry Fine</span> American comedian and actor (1902–1975)

Louis Feinberg, better known by his stage name Larry Fine, was an American actor, comedian and musician. He is best known as a member of the comedy act the Three Stooges and was often called "The Middle Stooge".

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe DeRita</span> American actor and comedian (1909–1993)

Joseph Wardell, known professionally as Joe DeRita, was an American actor and comedian, who is best known for his stint as a member of The Three Stooges in the persona of Curly Joe DeRita.

<i>You Nazty Spy!</i> 1940 American film by Jules White

You Nazty Spy! is a 1940 comedy film directed by Jules White and starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 44th short film released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 short films for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>The Three Stooges Meet Hercules</i> 1962 film by Edward Bernds

The Three Stooges Meet Hercules is a 1962 American comedy fantasy film directed by Edward Bernds. It is the third feature film to star the Three Stooges after their 1959 resurgence in popularity. By this time, the trio consisted of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Joe DeRita. Released by Columbia Pictures, The Three Stooges Meet Hercules was directed by long-time Stooges director Edward Bernds. It was the most financially successful of the Stooges' feature films.

<i>Hoi Polloi</i> (film) 1935 American short film by Del Lord

Hoi Polloi is a 1935 slapstick comedy short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the tenth entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Termites of 1938</i> 1938 American short film by Del Lord

Termites of 1938 is a 1938 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 28th 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>Three Little Sew and Sews</i> 1939 film by Del Lord

Three Little Sew and Sews is a 1939 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 36th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Up in Daisys Penthouse</i> 1953 American short film by Jules White

Up in Daisy's Penthouse is a 1953 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 144th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>G.I. Wanna Home</i> 1946 film by Jules White

G.I. Wanna Home is a 1946 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 94th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Three Little Pirates</i> 1946 film by Edward Bernds

Three Little Pirates is a 1946 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 96th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Hugs and Mugs</i> 1950 film by Jules White

Hugs and Mugs is a 1950 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 121st entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Listen, Judge</i> 1952 American short film by Edward Bernds

Listen, Judge is a 1952 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 138th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Husbands Beware</i> 1956 film by Jules White

Husbands Beware is a 1956 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 167th 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 Scrapbook</i> 1960 unsold American television miniseries starring the Three Stooges

The Three Stooges Scrapbook is an unaired 1960 television miniseries starring The Three Stooges. In the opening title and Hollywood trade advertisements, the show's title is spelled without "The," including a promotional photograph of the Stooges holding an oversized scrapbook. The first episode's plot finds the men evicted from a rooming house and finding refuge in the home of a mad inventor. The second and final episode features the trio presenting an animated short called The Spain Mutiny that imagines them as part of Christopher Columbus’ crew.

References

  1. The Three Stooges Journal # 98
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Comedy III Productions, Inc. pp. 195–197. ISBN   0971186804.
  3. Pauley, Jim (2012). The Three Stooges Hollywood Filming Locations. Solana Beach, California: Santa Monica Press, LLC. p. 38. ISBN   9781595800701.
  4. SilentEra entry for Ice Cold Cocos
  5. Howard Maurer, Joan; Jeff Lenburg; Greg Lenburg (2012) [1982]. The Three Stooges Scrapbook. Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Review Press. p. 240. ISBN   978-1613740743.
  6. Stooged & Confoosed