A Gem of a Jam

Last updated
A Gem of a Jam
GemofaJamTITLE.jpg
Directed by Del Lord
Written byDel Lord
Produced by Hugh McCollum
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Curly Howard
Dudley Dickerson
Al Hill
Fred Kelsey
John Tyrrell
Frank O'Connor
Al Thompson
Cinematography John Stumar
Edited by Paul Borofsky
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • December 30, 1943 (1943-12-30)(U.S.)
Running time
16:27
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

A Gem of a Jam is a 1943 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 76th 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 janitors employed at a medical facility during the nocturnal hours. The narrative unfolds through a series of comedic mishaps, commencing with Moe's inadvertent electric shock incident, resulting in an impromptu performance resembling a Cossack dance. Subsequently, Curly becomes ensnared with his head trapped inside a fishbowl, prompting a sequence wherein Moe and Larry endeavor to dislodge the vessel, eventually succeeding but inadvertently evoking sensations of internal tickling within Curly.

Following an attempted escape after a robbery, a fugitive criminal sustains a gunshot wound to his arm and seeks refuge. Mistaking the doctor's office for a functional medical facility, the criminals bring their injured comrade to the Stooges. The Stooges, assuming the roles of physicians, administer unconventional anesthesia with a rubber mallet. The Stooges, inadvertently distracted with their backs turned, inadvertently dislodge the criminal from the gurney, causing him to descend through a nearby window and land directly in a waiting police vehicle stationed below. Subsequently, witnessing the ensuing chaos, the remaining criminals hastily flee but are eventually apprehended by law enforcement authorities.

Seeking refuge from the ensuing pandemonium, the Stooges retreat to a foreboding storage area, encountering a jittery night watchman and an array of eerie artifacts, including a sizable jack-in-the-box. Amidst the chaos, Curly inadvertently becomes encased in rapidly drying plaster, rendering him immobile and assuming a ghostly appearance. Consequently, his unintentional frightful presence ends up scaring all involved.

Production notes

A Gem of a Jam was filmed on June 12–16, 1943. [1] The Stooges released more short subjects in 1943 than any other year at Columbia Pictures, A Gem of a Jam being the tenth entry. [2]

The gag of Curly stepping out of a trough appearing as a ghost first appeared in the 1934 Laurel and Hardy film The Live Ghost . [2] When the night watchman (Dudley Dickerson) backs into the mannequin, he shouts, "I'm losing my mind!" This line, however, has been muted for television broadcasts and home video releases. [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>I Can Hardly Wait</i> 1943 film by Jules White

"I Can Hardly Wait" is a 1943 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 73rd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Uncivil Warriors</i> 1935 American short film by Del Lord

Uncivil Warriors is a 1935 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the eighth entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Grips, Grunts and Groans</i> 1937 American short film by Preston Black

Grips, Grunts and Groans is a 1937 short subject directed by Preston Black starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 20th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who appeared in 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Booty and the Beast</i> 1953 film by Jules White

Booty and the Beast is a 1953 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 145th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Restless Knights</i> 1935 American short film by Charles Lamont

Restless Knights is a 1935 short subject directed by Charles Lamont starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the sixth 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>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>Dizzy Doctors</i> 1937 American short film by Del Lord

Dizzy Doctors is a 1937 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 21st 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 American short 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>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>Micro-Phonies</i> 1945 film by Edward Bernds

Micro-Phonies is a 1945 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. 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.

<i>Three Missing Links</i> 1938 American short film by Jules White

Three Missing Links is a 1938 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 33rd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who appearing in 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Cactus Makes Perfect</i> 1942 American short film by Del Lord

Cactus Makes Perfect is a 1942 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 61st entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>All the Worlds a Stooge</i> 1941 film by Del Lord

All the World's a Stooge is a 1941 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 55th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>No Census, No Feeling</i> 1940 American short film by Del Lord

No Census, No Feeling is a 1940 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 50th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Sappy Bull Fighters</i> 1959 American short film by Jules White

Sappy Bull Fighters is a 1959 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 190th and final entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Higher Than a Kite</i> 1943 film by Del Lord

Higher Than a Kite is a 1943 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 72nd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

<i>Three Pests in a Mess</i> 1945 film by Del Lord

Three Pests in a Mess is a 1945 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the 83rd 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.

References

  1. A Gem of a Jam at threestooges.net
  2. 1 2 3 Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Comedy III Productions, Inc. p. 239. ISBN   0-9711868-0-4.