Dizzy Pilots

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Dizzy Pilots
Dizzypilots43LOBBY.jpg
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Directed by Jules White
Written by Clyde Bruckman
Produced byJules White
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Curly Howard
Richard Fiske
Harry Semels
Al Thompson
Cinematography Benjamin H. Kline
Edited byCharles Hochberg
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • September 24, 1943 (1943-09-24)(U.S.)
Running time
16:53
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Dizzy Pilots is a 1943 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 74th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959. [N 1]

Contents

Plot

The Stooges are aviators ("the Wrong Brothers") in the Republic of Cannabeer, P.U., whose work is interrupted by an army draft notice (signed by one Joe Strubachincoscow). However, they have been deferred because of their plans for the new "Buzzard" aircraft. Their progress is stymied by a succession of mishaps.

Foremost among their problems is Moe being repeatedly immersed in quick-drying melted rubber. Curly and Larry's attempts to correct this involve hydrogen and a shotgun, culminating in Moe's aerial ascent and subsequent descent into a well. Then they try to maneuver the unwieldy aircraft out of its hangar, sending Moe skyward again and back into the liquid rubber.

They demonstrate the Buzzard to representatives of the Sky Aircraft Company, but are foiled by mechanical failures and errors. The Stooges lose control of the plane and fall into a well, drenching both themselves and the officials. This lands the Stooges in the army, where they tangle with a tough drill sergeant and finally flee from military service.

Cast

In footage from Boobs in Arms (1940):

Production notes

Dizzy Pilots was filmed April 6–9, 1943. [1] The boot camp segment is stock footage from 1940's Boobs in Arms , with the exception of the ending shot where the Stooges escape from the base itself. [2]

The gag of an aircraft being too large to take out of a hangar was reused in 1972 on The New Scooby-Doo Movies episode featuring the Stooges as guest stars ("The Ghost of the Red Baron"). [2]

Dizzy Pilots marks the final appearance of co-star Harry Semels. [2]

Reception

DVD Talk critic Stuart Galbraith IV noted that Dizzy Pilots was the "last genuinely excellent Curly short" with "a set-up similar to Higher Than a Kite though executed infinitely better." [3]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ This is the third and final Stooge short with the word "dizzy" in the title.

Citations

  1. ↑ Pauley 2012, p. 85.
  2. 1 2 3 Solomon 2002, pp. 234–235.
  3. ↑ Galbraith IV, Stuart. "The Three Stooges: The Ultimate Collection." DVD Talk, July 7, 2012. Retrieved: September 5, 2013.

Bibliography

  • Pauley, Jim. The Three Stooges Hollywood Filming Locations. Solana Beach, California: Santa Monica Press, 2012. {{ISBN} 978-1-59580-070-1}}.
  • Solomon, Jon. The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Glendale, California: Comedy III Productions, Inc., 2002. ISBN   0-9711868-0-4.
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