Income Tax Sappy

Last updated
Income Tax Sappy
Incometaxsappy54onesheet.jpg
Directed by Jules White
Written by Felix Adler
Produced byJules White
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Shemp Howard
Benny Rubin
Margie Liszt
Nanette Bordeaux
Vernon Dent
Joe Palma
Cinematography Ray Cory
Edited by Edwin Bryant
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • February 4, 1954 (1954-02-04)(U.S.)
Running time
16:31
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Income Tax Sappy is a 1954 short subject directed by Jules White starring the American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). 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.

Contents

Plot

The Stooges are faced with the imminent deadline for filing their income taxes. During their preparations, Moe remarks on the potential ease of deceit in tax returns without detection. This prompts the three to devise a scheme involving falsifying deductions to secure a substantial refund. Expanding on this plan, Larry and Shemp propose offering fraudulent deductions services to others for a fee, thus positioning themselves as "tax experts".

Their scheme proves lucrative, leading to a period of opulence for the trio, who amass considerable wealth from their deceitful endeavors. However, their prosperity is short-lived. During a dinner event with a client, Mr. Cash, whose distinctive beard inadvertently falls victim to Larry's clumsy hand, tensions escalate due to a series of mishaps and the Stooges' ineptitude. Mr. Cash, revealing himself as an undercover agent for the Internal Revenue Service, promptly calls for backup to arrest the Stooges for tax fraud.

Cast

Credited

Uncredited

Production notes

The title Income Tax Sappy is a homonym for "Income Tax Happy." [1]

This is one of only two shorts released in 1954 containing all new footage, the other being Shot in the Frontier . Shemp Howard did not slick down his long hair in either film. This was because he had begun dying his hair by this time, and initially could not use pomade. [1]

Income Tax Sappy features a recurring gag of "Man Vs. Soup," wherein one of the Stooges is about to eat a soup that, at first unbeknownst to them, contains a live crustacean that continually eats all the crackers the Stooge drops in it, and a battle between the two parties ensues. In 1941's Dutiful But Dumb , Former Stooge Curly Howard tries to defeat a stubborn oyster in his stew; in 1948's Shivering Sherlocks , Moe is having problems with clam chowder; in this episode, Larry struggles against lobster gumbo. [1]

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.

<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 was called "Shemp" because "Sam" came out that way in his mother's thick Litvak accent.

<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>Soup to Nuts</i> 1930 film

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Three Stooges filmography</span> The Three Stooges starred in over 200 pictures during their decades-long run.

This is a complete list of short subjects and feature films that featured The Three Stooges released between 1930 and 1970.

<i>Dutiful But Dumb</i> 1941 film by Del Lord

Dutiful But Dumb is a 1941 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 54th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Baby Sitters Jitters</i> 1951 film by Jules White

Baby Sitters Jitters is a 1951 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 130th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Heavenly Daze</i> 1948 American film

Heavenly Daze is a 1948 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 109th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Bedlam in Paradise</i> 1955 American short film by Jules White

Bedlam in Paradise is a 1955 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 162nd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb</i> 1938 American short film by Del Lord

Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb is a 1938 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 31st entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>The Hot Scots</i> 1948 American short film by Edward Bernds

The Hot Scots is a 1948 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 108th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Shivering Sherlocks</i> 1948 film by Del Lord

Shivering Sherlocks is a 1948 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 104th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Palma</span> American actor (1905–94)

Joe Palma was an American film actor. Palma appeared in over 120 films between 1937 and 1968. He was well known as a supporting player for The Three Stooges and his brief tenure as a body double to member Shemp Howard for four shorts produced after Shemp's death, which led to the coining of the term "Fake Shemp".

<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>Out West</i> (1947 film) 1947 American short film by Edward Bernds

Out West is a 1947 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 99th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Goof on the Roof</i> 1953 American short film by Jules White

Goof on the Roof is a 1953 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 152nd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Shot in the Frontier</i> 1954 American short film by Jules White

Shot in the Frontier is a 1954 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 157th 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> (2000 film) 2000 biopic about the Three Stooges

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Solomon, Jon. (2002) The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion, p. 435; Comedy III Productions, Inc., ISBN   0-9711868-0-4