The Three Stooges Meet Hercules

Last updated
The Three Stooges Meet Hercules
Stoogeshercules.jpg
Directed by Edward Bernds
Screenplay by Elwood Ullman
Story by Norman Maurer
Produced byNorman Maurer
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Joe DeRita
Vicki Trickett
Quinn Redeker
George N. Neise
Samson Burke
Emil Sitka
Hal Smith
Marlin McKeever
Mike McKeever
CinematographyScotty Welbourne
Edited byEdwin H. Bryant
Music by Paul Dunlap
Production
company
Normandy Productions
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • January 26, 1962 (1962-01-26)(U.S.)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$420,000 [1]
Box office$2 million [1] or $1,175,000 (US/Canada) [2]

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 (dubbed "Curly Joe"). 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.

Contents

Plot

The Stooges find themselves embroiled in an unexpected journey through time when they assist their neighbor, Schuyler Davis, in constructing a time machine. Transported to Ithaca in ancient Greece during the reign of King Odius, the Stooges and their companions become entangled in a series of misadventures. Initially mistaken for gods due to their arrival coinciding with the imprisonment of Ulysses, they must navigate the amorous advances of the lecherous king while attempting to rectify the historical disruption they have caused.

Following a daring escape and a perilous shipwreck, the group, armed with Curly-Joe's soporific concoction, successfully vanquishes a Siamese Cyclops. Their exploits then take an unexpected turn as they showcase Schuyler's newly acquired strength, forged through laborious rowing in a galley, at a local gladiatorial arena. This remarkable feat propels Schuyler into the role of Hercules, culminating in encounters with the genuine Hercules and subsequent collaboration to rescue Diane Quigley, Schuyler's disaffected girlfriend, from Odius's clutches.

Their exploits culminate in a chariot chase and a strategic maneuver to restore the proper course of history by depositing King Odius in the Wild West. Upon their return to the present day, they find their employer, Dimsal, inexplicably trapped in a pillory.

Cast

Production notes

The Three Stooges Meet Hercules was filmed over 13 days on June 6–22, 1961. [3] The film marked the return of director Edward Bernds, who had worked with Stooges during the Shemp Howard era and was recruited to help revive several proven routines from the past. Bernds later commented, "The team wasn't the same. They were older and I had to remind myself to be careful with them. I didn't want them to have a heart attack in the middle of a scene. If they had to run up a flight of stairs, I'd cut to something and jump to them at the top of the stairs." [4] Bernds also commented on working with new third Stooge, Joe DeRita: "[Joe DeRita] wasn't quite the typical Stooge, he wasn't quite as willing to be hurt as Curly was or even Shemp. And Moe was very considerate of him and Joe DeRita was a little temperamental and didn't like to be hurt. Moe took pains to make sure that Joe wasn't hurt the way Larry was, for instance, or the way Shemp used to be. He didn't get slapped as much. We had to use doubles more for Joe DeRita than we did Shemp or Curly." [4]

Injury

Larry Fine sustained an injury that landed him in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center when filming a scene that involved climbing aboard a parked chariot. The 300-pound DeRita lost his grip and fell directly on top of Fine, knocking him unconscious. Fine was rushed to the hospital and quickly discharged when deemed fit enough to return to work. [4] It was during Fine's brief hospital stay that he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which he controlled by resisting foods containing sugar for the remainder of his life (Fine died in January 1975). [5]

Reception

Moe Howard expressed his fondness for the film in 1973, stating "Of course Hercules I liked very much. Especially when we were in the slave ship. We had a great special effects team on that." [4]

See also

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. 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 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 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".

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Besser</span> American actor, comedian and musician (1907–1988)

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.

<i>Have Rocket, Will Travel</i> 1959 American film

Have Rocket, Will Travel is a 1959 American science-fiction comedy film released by Columbia Pictures and starring the Three Stooges, consisting of Moe Howard, Larry Fine and new addition Joe DeRita. The film was produced to capitalize on the Three Stooges' late-1950s resurgence in popularity. The supporting cast features Anna-Lisa and Robert Colbert.

<i>Kooks Tour</i> 1970 unreleased U.S. film by Norman Maurer

Kook's Tour is an American comedy television film produced in 1969. It was the final film to star the Three Stooges and was originally intended as the pilot for a television series. However, on January 9, 1970, before filming was completed, Larry Fine suffered a severe stroke, paralyzing the left side of his body. When it became clear that Fine was not expected to recover fully from the stroke, production of the series was cancelled and the Kook's Tour pilot film was shelved.

<i>The Three Stooges in Orbit</i> 1962 film by Edward Bernds

The Three Stooges In Orbit is a 1962 American comedy science fiction film directed by Edward Bernds. It is the fourth 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 and produced by Normandy Productions, The Three Stooges in Orbit was directed by long-time Stooge director Edward Bernds, whom Moe later cited as the team's finest director.

<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>Squareheads of the Round Table</i> 1948 American short film by Edward Bernds

Squareheads of the Round Table is a 1948 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 106th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>A Snitch in Time</i> 1950 film by Edward Bernds

A Snitch in Time is a 1950 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 128th 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>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>Who Done It?</i> (1949 film) 1949 American film

Who Done It? is a 1949 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 114th 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>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>Cuckoo on a Choo Choo</i> 1952 American short film by Jules White

Cuckoo on a Choo Choo is a 1952 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 143rd 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 pilot starring the Three Stooges

Three Stooges Scrapbook is an unaired 1960 television pilot starring The Three Stooges. In the opening title and Hollywood trade ads, the show's title is spelled without "The," including a promotional photograph of the Stooges holding an oversized scrapbook. The pilot featured the slapstick trio getting evicted from a rooming house for cooking in their apartment, looking for a new place to live, finding refuge in the home of a mad inventor, and presenting an animated short called The Spain Mutiny that imagines the funnymen as part of Christopher Columbus’ crew.

References

  1. 1 2 Lenburg, Jeff; Joan Howard Maurer; Greg Lenburg (2012). The Three Stooges Scrapbook, Updated Edition. Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Review Press. pp. 326–327. ISBN   978-1-61374-074-3.
  2. ↑ "Big Rental Pictures of 1962". Variety. 9 Jan 1963. p. 13. Please note these are rentals and not gross figures
  3. ↑ The Three Stooges Meet Hercules at threestooges.net
  4. 1 2 3 4 Cox, Steve; Jim Terry (2005). One Fine Stooge: Larry Fine's Frizzy Life in Pictures. Nashville, Tennessee: Cumberland House. pp. 126–127, 138. ISBN   978-1-58182-363-9.
  5. ↑ Lenburg, Jeff; Joan Howard Maurer; Greg Lenburg (1982). The Three Stooges Scrapbook. Citadel Press.
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.