Micro-Phonies

Last updated
Micro-Phonies
Micrpphonries45.jpg
Lobby card for Micro-Phonies. Columbia Pictures incorrectly listed Harry Edwards as director instead of Ed Bernds.
Directed by Edward Bernds
Written byEdward Bernds
Produced by Hugh McCollum
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Curly Howard
Christine McIntyre
Symona Boniface
Gino Corrado
Fred Kelsey
Lynton Brent
Ted Lorch
Heinie Conklin
Chester Conklin
Judy Malcolm
Cinematography Glen Gano
Edited by Henry Batista
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • November 15, 1945 (1945-11-15)(U.S.)
Running time
16:53
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Micro-Phonies is a 1945 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 87th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Contents

Plot

In their roles as handymen at radio station KGBY, the Stooges engage in a series of mishaps while attempting to connect a pipe to a radiator. Their antics lead to a confrontation with their boss, resulting in further chaos as they inadvertently damage property and irritate an Italian baritone singer and pianist in a neighboring session. Seeking refuge, they stumble into the recording room of aspiring singer Alice Van Doren, where they serendipitously discover her record, "Voices of Spring."

Impressed by Alice's operatic prowess, the Stooges, with Curly impersonating her voice while disguised as a woman, catch the attention of radio host Mrs. Bixby, who hires them for a radio performance. A dispute ensues among the Stooges just before their performance, leading to Moe impulsively breaking a record over Curly's head, ironically, in an attempt to safeguard it. Larry improvises by hastily selecting the "Lucia Sextet" from a collection of records, misidentifying it as the "Sextet from Lucy." This selection necessitates pantomime by all three Stooges, which proceeds smoothly until the Italian baritone recognizes them and interrupts the performance by unplugging the phonograph. This abrupt halt leaves the trio groaning in disappointment, with Curly feigning the loss of his voice as an excuse.

Nevertheless, Alice's genuine talent is recognized by her father, prompting him to support her musical aspirations. Meanwhile, the Stooges face ridicule from the party guests, symbolized by being pelted with records as they hastily depart the scene.

Production notes

Micro-Phonies was filmed on June 4–7, 1945, several months after Curly Howard suffered a mild stroke. [1] His performances were marred by slurred speech and slower timing. Though Micro-Phonies was the first film released that was directed by novice director Edward Bernds, it was not his first attempt (the first being A Bird in the Head ). Understandably, Bernds was excited at his big chance to direct, but was shocked when he saw how ill Curly had become. [2] Years later, Bernds discussed his trying experience during the filming of A Bird in the Head:

"It was an awful tough deal for a novice rookie director to have a Curly who wasn't himself. [3] I had seen Curly at his greatest and his work in this film was far from great. The wallpaper scene was agony to direct because of the physical movements required to roll up the wallpaper and to react when it curled up in him. It just didn't work. As a fledgling director, my plans were based on doing everything in one nice neat shot. But when I saw the scenes were not playing, I had to improvise and use other angles to make it play. It was the wallpaper scene that we shot first, and during the first two hours of filming, I became aware that we had a problem with Curly." [2]

Bernds feared that his directing days would be over as soon as they began if A Bird in the Head (featuring a sluggish Curly) was released as his first effort. Producer Hugh McCollum acted quickly, and reshuffled the release order of the films Bernds had directed (Bernds had already completed Micro-Phonies and The Three Troubledoers in addition to A Bird in the Head). As a result, the superior Micro-Phonies (in which Curly was in much better form) was released first, securing Bernds's directing position. Bernds would forever be indebted to McCollum for this act of kindness; henceforth, McCollum produced all of Bernds's Stooge films. [3]

Bernds later recalled how Curly's condition was inconsistent:

"...it was strange the way he [Curly] went up and down. In the order I shot the pictures, not in the order they were released, he was down for A Bird in the Head and The Three Troubledoers, he was up for Micro-Phonies, way down for Monkey Businessmen and then up again, for the last time, in Three Little Pirates ." [4]

Footage was reused in the 1960 compilation feature film Stop! Look! and Laugh!

Quotes

Related Research Articles

<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">Edward Bernds</span> American film director (1905–2000)

Edward Bernds was an American screenwriter and director, born in Chicago, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christine McIntyre</span> American actress and singer (1911–1984)

Christine Cecilia McIntyre was an American actress and singer who appeared in various films in the 1930s and 1940s. She is mainly remembered as the beautiful blonde actress who appeared in many of The Three Stooges shorts produced by Columbia Pictures.

<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>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>Rhythm and Weep</i> 1946 film by Jules White

Rhythm and Weep is a 1946 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 95th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Pop Goes the Easel</i> 1935 American short film by Del Lord

Pop Goes the Easel is a 1935 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the seventh 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>Hoi Polloi</i> (film) 1935 American short film by Del Lord

Hoi Polloi is a 1935 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>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>Matri-Phony</i> 1942 American short film by Harry Edwards

Matri-Phony is a 1942 short subject directed by Harry Edwards starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 63rd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>A Bird in the Head</i> 1946 American short film by Edward Bernds

A Bird in the Head is a 1946 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 89th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Stop! Look! and Laugh!</i> 1960 film

Stop! Look! and Laugh! is a 1960 feature-length Three Stooges compilation film featuring Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard in scenes from 11 movie short subjects of 1937-1947. Additional footage, filmed especially for this production, features ventriloquist Paul Winchell and his dummies Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff, and animal act The Marquis Chimps.

<i>The Three Troubledoers</i> 1946 film by Edward Bernds

The Three Troubledoers is a 1946 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 91st 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>Three Loan Wolves</i> 1946 film by Jules White

Three Loan Wolves is a 1946 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 93rd 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>Dont Throw That Knife</i> 1951 film by Jules White

Don't Throw That Knife is a 1951 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 131st entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Hugh McCollum was an American film producer best known for his credits on Three Stooges short subject comedies.

References

  1. ↑ Micro-Phonies threestooges.net
  2. 1 2 Howard Maurer, Joan; Jeff Lenburg; Greg Lenburg (2013) [1982]. The Three Stooges Scrapbook. Citadel Press. p. 76. ISBN   978-0-8065-0946-4.
  3. 1 2 Fleming, Michael (2002) [1999]. The Three Stooges: An Illustrated History, From Amalgamated Morons to American Icons. Broadway Publishing. pp. 79, 80. ISBN   0-7679-0556-3.
  4. ↑ Okuda, Ted; Watz, Edward; (1986). The Columbia Comedy Shorts, pp. 66-67, McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN   0-89950-181-8
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.