Three Little Beers

Last updated
Three Little Beers
3littlebeers35.jpg
Directed by Del Lord
Written by Clyde Bruckman
Produced by Jules White
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Curly Howard
Bud Jamison
Jack "Tiny" Lipson
Harry Semels
Lew Davis
Althea Henley
Cinematography Benjamin H. Kline
Edited by William Lyon
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • November 28, 1935 (1935-11-28)(U.S.)
Running time
16:32
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Three Little Beers is a 1935 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 11th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Contents

Plot

Gainfully employed in the delivery department of the Panther Pilsner Beer company (a reference to the derogatory slang term, characterizing poor quality beer as "panther piss"), [1] the Stooges go through several mishaps while loading the back of their truck with a six-barrel tall stack of beer barrels. After learning of a golf tournament their company is sponsoring, in which cash prizes will be awarded, the boys quickly drive off to the Rancho Golf Club to improve their golfing skills. To gain access, they impersonate reporters by using knobs torn from bathroom fixtures as press badges. The ruse barely succeeds—Moe's and Larry's are marked "press", but Curly's reads "pull". Once inside, the Stooges unknowingly steal some golfers' clothes, and split up to practice—although they know absolutely nothing about golf. Especially when they given a lot of golfers trouble.

Curly gets his golf ball stuck in the tree and decides the only way to retrieve it is by chopping the tree down, Moe finds an open area to practice, but the only thing that he hits is the ground, which is soon pockmarked with hundreds of divots, And Larry practices putting, but a root gets in his way, and he tears up the putting green in his efforts to extract the seemingly endless root. All of this destruction is noticed by the two outraged and angry Italian groundskeepers, to one of whom Moe's explanation of the field of divots was, was that "The Pieces are getting Smaller" - this drives the groundskeepers to complain to the golf course's management personnel, who respond by sending the police in pursuit of the trio.

The Stooges manage to escape in their beer truck and they never even unloaded the beer. As they drive up a steep hill, two barrels fall off the truck and roll away. Parking the truck, the Stooges give chase but to no avail. It gets worse when the parked truck's brake loosens and the truck rolls into a curb, knocking the rest of the barrels loose, which roll downhill as well — directly toward the Stooges, who are eventually pushed into a freshly laid sidewalk of wet cement.

Cast

Credited

Uncredited cast

  • Jack "Tiny" Lipson - Jones
  • Eddie Laughton - relief desk clerk
  • Jack Kenney - additional desk clerk
  • Monte Carter - first groundskeeper
  • Harry Semels - second groundskeeper
  • William Irving - cement layer
  • Stanley Mack - first Press entrant
  • Larry Wheat - second Press entrant
  • Frank Terry - short man in locker room who shoots perfect 78
  • Marvin Loback - bald man in locker room
  • John Tyrrell - golfer who shot birdie
  • Charles Dorety - annoyed golfer on 18th hole
  • Arthur Thalasso - golfer on 18th hole
  • Lew Davis - golfer on 18th hole
  • George Gray - apologizing caddy on 18th hole
  • Chet Brandenburg - second golfer yelling "fore"
  • George Ovey - golfer with three girls
  • Althea Henley - girl on golf course
  • Eve Reynolds - girl on golf course
  • Ninette Crawford - girl on golf course
  • Frank Mills - golfer with lost ball
  • Harry Keatan - golfer who advises Curly his ball is in a tree
  • Sam Lufkin - first policeman at golf course
  • George Magrill - policeman directing traffic [2]

Production notes

Three Little Beers was filmed on location in Los Angeles, California on October 9–12, 1935; it features more outdoor locations than any other Stooges film. [2] The golf course featured was Rancho Golf Course, on Pico Boulevard and Patricia Avenue in Cheviot Hills, located across the street from 20th Century Fox studios. The scene featuring rolling beer barrels chasing the Stooges down a hilly street was filmed off of Echo Park Avenue in Los Angeles. This is the second of sixteen Stooge shorts with the word "three" in the title. [3]

This short also marks the first appearances of two Stooge regulars, Eddie Laughton and John Tyrrell.

The leaflet the boys read announcing the Panther Brewing Company’s Sixth Annual Golf Tournament states the event will be held at the Public Golf Course “Sunday, Dec. 19, 1935”, however, December 19 fell on a Thursday that year.

Two slapstick routines from Three Little Beers were reworked in the Farrelly brothers 2012 Three Stooges film:

Related Research Articles

<i>Punch Drunks</i> 1934 film by Lou Breslow

Punch Drunks is a 1934 short subject directed by Lou Breslow starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the second entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 short subjects for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curly Howard</span> American comedian and actor (1903–1952)

Jerome Lester Horwitz, known professionally as Curly Howard, was an American comedian and actor. He was best known as a member of the American comedy team the Three Stooges, which also featured his elder brothers Moe and Shemp Howard and 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>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>Three Little Pigskins</i> 1934 film by Ray McCarey

Three Little Pigskins is a 1934 short subject directed by Raymond McCarey and starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the fourth entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 short films for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Beer and Pretzels</i> 1933 American short film by Jack Cummings

Beer and Pretzels is the second of five short films starring Ted Healy and His Stooges released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on August 26, 1933. A musical-comedy film, the film also featured Bonnie Bonnell, Healy's girlfriend at the time.

<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>Ants in the Pantry</i> 1936 film by Preston Black

Ants in the Pantry is a 1936 short subject directed by Preston Black starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 12th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Half Shot Shooters</i> 1936 American short film by Preston Black

Half Shot Shooters is a 1936 short subject directed by Preston Black starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 14th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>False Alarms</i> (film) 1936 American short film by Del Lord

False Alarms is a 1936 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 17th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Goofs and Saddles</i> 1937 American short film by Del Lord

Goofs and Saddles is a 1937 American Western short subject film directed by Del Lord and starring the slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 24th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Dizzy Detectives</i> 1943 film by Jules White

Dizzy Detectives is a 1943 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 68th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Beer Barrel Polecats</i> 1946 film by Jules White

Beer Barrel Polecats is a 1946 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 88th 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 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>So Long Mr. Chumps</i> 1941 film by Jules White

So Long Mr. Chumps is a 1941 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 53rd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>In the Sweet Pie and Pie</i> 1941 film by Jules White

In the Sweet Pie and Pie is a 1941 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 58th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>The Yokes on Me</i> 1944 film by Jules White

The Yoke's on Me is a 1944 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 79th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who appeared in 190 shorts at 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 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.

References

  1. Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Glendale, California: Comedy III Productions, Inc. p. 73. ISBN   0-9711868-0-4.
  2. 1 2 3 Three Little Beers at threestooges.net
  3. Pauley, Jim (2012). The Three Stooges Hollywood Filming Locations. Solana Beach, California: Santa Monica Press, LLC. pp. 261–269. ISBN   9781595800701.