Fright Night | |
---|---|
Directed by | Edward Bernds |
Written by | Clyde Bruckman |
Produced by | Hugh McCollum |
Starring | Moe Howard Larry Fine Shemp Howard Dick Wessel Claire Carleton Harold Brauer Cy Schindell Heinie Conklin Sammy Stein Stanley Blystone Dave Harper Tom Kingston |
Cinematography | Philip Tannura |
Edited by | Paul Borofsky |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 17:26 |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Fright Night is a 1947 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard, in his first starring role after returning to the act). It is the 98th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.
The Stooges are boxing managers overseeing the career of the formidable pugilist, Chopper Kane. Their financial stakes in Chopper's success prompt them to wager their entire capital on his upcoming bout. However, their aspirations are imperiled when they are confronted by a menacing underworld figure, compelling them to orchestrate Chopper's defeat under threat of dire consequences.
To ensure Chopper's compliance with the nefarious scheme, the Stooges employ various tactics, including indulging him with rich fare and arranging his dalliance with their acquaintance, Kitty. Yet, their stratagem backfires when Kitty forsakes Chopper for his opponent, Gorilla Watson, and a fortuitous mishap leaves Gorilla incapacitated after an encounter with Moe.
Believing they have outwitted the criminal elements, the Stooges find themselves ensnared in a perilous predicament when the gangsters ensnare them in an abandoned warehouse. However, through a stroke of luck and their trademark ingenuity, the Stooges reverse the tables, apprehending the felons and ultimately receiving a commendation for their valorous actions.
Fright Night marked the return of Shemp Howard to the Stooges, who had last performed with the act 17 years prior. Shemp agreed to rejoin the act until brother Curly Howard recovered enough to return to the Stooges (Curly never did). [1] It was filmed June 5–8, 1946: production commenced less than one month after Curly suffered a debilitating stroke on May 6. The film was remade in 1955 as Fling in the Ring , using ample stock footage. [1] It was Shemp's favorite Stooge film. [1]
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. 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.
Moses Harry Horwitz, better known by his stage name Moe Howard, was an American comedian and actor. He is best known as the leader 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.
Louis Feinberg, better known by his stage name Larry Fine, was an American comedian, actor, and musician. He is best known as a member of the comedy act the Three Stooges and was often called "The Middle Stooge".
Shemp Howard, was an American comedian and actor. He was called "Shemp" because "Sam" came out that way in his mother's thick Litvak accent.
Jerome Lester Horwitz, better known by his stage name Curly Howard, was an American comedian and actor. He was as 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.
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.
Joe Besser was an American actor, comedian, and musician, known for his impish humor and wimpy characters. He is best known for his brief stint as a member of The Three Stooges in movie short subjects of 1957–59. He is also remembered for his television roles: Stinky, the bratty man-child on The Abbott and Costello Show, and Jillson, the maintenance man on The Joey Bishop Show.
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Soup to Nuts is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film written by cartoonist, sculptor, author, and inventor Rube Goldberg and directed by Benjamin Stoloff. It was the film debut of the original four members who would later, minus Ted Healy, go on to become known as The Three Stooges comic trio. Goldberg made a cameo appearance in the film as himself, opening letters in a restaurant. Several other comedians are also featured.
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.
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Fling in the Ring is a 1955 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 159th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.
The Three Stooges is an American biographical comedy television film about the slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges directed by James Frawley. The film was entirely shot in Sydney, Australia. It was broadcast on ABC on April 24, 2000.