Product Description In this fourth chronological collection of The Three Stooges, we come to the final years of what has become regardedas the high point in their career - their Golden Age. These 21 digitally remastered shorts from the 1943-1945 era contain some of their best work, including the classic MICRO-PHONIES (1943) which Curly turns in a brilliant performance as opera diva Senorita Cucaracha. Also included i .com In "Crash Goes the Hash," Moe, Larry and Curly offend a snooty butler's sensibilities. "Such levity," he sniffs. "You remind me of the Three Stooges." In a huff, Curly replies, "Hey, that's an insult." No, it's the highest compliment. The best of these 21 shorts (and even the worst have at least some redeeming bits of silliness) are essential for every Stooge-phile's library. This chronological collection is book-ended by two key shorts. Violent is the word for "They Stooge to Conga," jaw-dropping slapstick porn that features an excruciating bit wherein Moe's head, ear, and eye are punctured by Curly's spiked shoe. "Micro-Phonies" is arguably the Stooges' very best short, in which Curly is mistaken for an operatic singer. The lip-sync renditions of "Voices of Spring" and the sextet from the opera Lucia di Lammermoor are moments that even Stooge-haters love. Mistaken identity happens a lot to the boys. They are mistaken for doctors in "A Gem of a Jam," reporters in "Crash Goes the Hash," sweepstakes winners in "Three Pets in a Mess," and Japanese soldiers in "No Dough, Boys." In several of these wartime shorts it seems they can't turn around with uncovering a "rat's nest" of Japanese and German spies and saboteurs. Perhaps the stereotypical portrayals of the Axis villains in "They Stooge to Conga," "Back from the Front" and "Higher Than a Kite" can be forgiven today. However, as great a performer as African-American character actor Dudley Dickerson is, his cowardly, put-upon characters in "Conga" and "Gem" are a little more problematic in our more enlightened times. Other notable shorts are "Gents Without Cents," in which the Stooges return to their vaudeville roots with their performance of their signature "Niagara Falls" sketch ("Slowly I turn…."). "Busy Buddies," in which Curly enters a cow-milking contest, is another fan favorite. "Idle Roomers" marks the debut of the versatile Christine McIntyre, one of the great additions to the Stooges stock company. "If a Body Meets a Body" marks the first use of the swing version of the Stooges' "Three Blind Mice" theme. The first short produced following Curly Howard's mild stroke, it also marks the beginning of the end for the Curly era. But this thoughtfully produced collection ensures that the Stooges' legacy is secure. These shorts, to quote Curly in "Crash Goes the Hash," are mostly "colossal, stupendous, terrific…even superlative." --Donald Liebenson.com Stooges fans may experience a sense of the bittersweet mixed with their elation over the arrival of Volume 4 in the digitally remastered Three Stooges Collection; although the new set continues to present the knucklehead's legendary comedy shorts in pristine condition and chronological order, it's also the beginning of the end in regards to the participation of Jerome "Curly" Howard, who arguably remains the most popular member of the trio. By 1943-44, a variety of debilitating health issues robbed Howard of his manic energy, which is more than evident in shorts like "If a Body Meets a Body" and "Micro-Phonies," both from 1945. Unfortunately, brother Moe Howard's requests to halt production was nixed by Columbia, which resulted in a further decline in Curly's health that would eventually lead to the stroke in 1946 that forced his retirement from the team. And while the knowledge of Howard's health issues casts something of a pall over the set, there are still plenty of laughs to be had over the course of the two-disc set. Chief among the highlights is "Dizzy Detectives," which pits the boys against a rampaging ape man; "Spook Louder," (Stooges vs. mad scientist with death ray machine; viewers should note that the short features some World War II-era anti-Japanese sentiment); "Gents Without Cents," which features their version of the "Niagara Falls" routine; and "Dizzy Pilots," which chronicles the Stooges' contributions to the aviation industry (all disastrous, of course). As with the previous Collection releases, seven of the 21 shorts included in the set are making their DVD debuts; the flawless quality of the DVD presentation, as well as the sheer amount of nyuks on hand, make Volume 4 a must-have for every self-respecting Stooge-phile. --Paul Gaita
S**R
Great DVD's
Great videos, knuckleheads!
S**O
Remember: " 'Gritto' spelled sideways is 'ottriguh-guuuhhh'..."
The fourth chronological collection shows Moe, Larry and Curly at their best with the twenty-one shorts from 1943 to 1945. In many ways, the shorts are transitional, as ill-health has begun to take its toll on Curly. Problems with high-blood pressure and other medical issues, including a series of mini-strokes that worsened in 1946 are evident in the later shorts in the collection. Even in the classic, "Micro-Phonies," one of their best shorts, shows Curly at just slightly less manic and physically frantic as those of just a year or two earlier. Still, with a few exceptions, these two- reelers show the comedy team at their slapstick best.Before commenting on the films themselves, it is important to note that Sony has done a fine job in restoring the shorts. Gone are the scratches and out-of-focus scenes, as well as the crudely edited offerings previously shown on TV. Picture and sound are excellent; one can imagine the enjoyment experienced in theaters when these classics first appeared onscreen.Many of these shorts are not seen today on television. During the war years, plots revolved around antics against Nazis and "Japs" in ways now considered to be politically incorrect. In particular, "The Yokes on Me" features the Stooges efforts to capture three Japanese "escapees" from a relocation camp. Although the physical comedy is typical stooge slapstick, the idea that US Citizens were imprisoned in WWII remains repugnant. Still, the short reflects the (unfortunate) prevailing attitude of the times. Other shorts, such as "No Dough Boys" are more innocuous, parodying stereotypes in more cartoonish "over-the-top" ways."They Stooge to Conga" is the first of the 1943 shorts and is considered to be the most violent of the shorts. Even slapstick devotees cringe when Curly impales his telephone pole climbing spike in Moe's eye, ear and skull. I would agree that is over the top, but it is like a car wreck: one feels compelled to watch. Look for Dudley Dickerson, the gifted African-American character actor, whose brilliant comedy antics are sadly seen as too-stereotypical for today's audiences. The Stooges used him in a number of their comedies. Given the nature of the times, his performances are physically inspired pieces of slapstick."Back from the Front", released later in 1943, features Moe's third impersonation of Hitler. The short takes place on the S.S. Schickelgruber and features non-stop mayhem. The stooges look interesting in their full beards."Micro-Phonies" is one of my favorite Stooge shorts. Although Curly's physical mannerisms have been slowed by his medical difficulties, facial expressions and precision mimicking of "The Voice of Spring" are priceless. Together with Moe and Larry, he offers musical interpretations of several classics that makes one wish that the Stooges had done more with song and dance in their comedies.Like all of the shorts, viewers have their preferences. Still, most of those in this volume are entertaining, providing laughs some 60-plus years after their original release.
H**R
The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 4
We have another fantastic collection of The Three Stooges in this set. There are 21 shorts on two discs & the comedic genius of Curly is fully evident. It was a sad day when Curly Howard's career was cut short by health problems but few episodes in this set reveal the problems."They Stooge to Conga" has our three boys taking on spies when they arrive to fix a doorbell."Dizzy Detectives" finds them taking on a gorilla."Spook Louder" has them hired to guard an inventor's spooky house. This is the short that has the mysterious pie thrower."Back From the Front" has the boys at sea & the ship they're on is sunk. They're adrift at sea long enough to grow beards. They board an enemy ship & raise havoc with the Axis powers. Moe does another great imitation of the despised German leader."I Can Hardly Wait" is the famous short where Moe attempts to pull Curly's tooth."Phony Express" is one of their Western spoofs. In this one the boys are misidentified as three famous lawmen."A Gem of a Jam" finds the boys working as janitors but thought to be doctors by three hoodlums."Idle Roomers" has the boys taking on a version of the wolfman.Gents Without Cents" is one of my favorite shorts by the Stooges. This is the one where the boys do the Niagara Falls routine. "Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch..."; Moe & Larry then proceed to rip Curly's clothes to shreds. Listen closely to them on the stage & you'll hear Moe & Larry mess up their lines."No Dough Boys" finds our boys in Japanese uniforms & thought to be escaped prisoners."Idiots Deluxe" is certainly one of the Stooges most violent episodes. Moe is being sued by Larry & Curly because he tried to kill them."If a Body Meets a Body" finds the Stooges involved in a murder-mystery."Micro-Phonies" has Curly posing as Senorita Coocaracha, an opera diva who can't sing. Curly is actually miming to a record & then the real female singer. It's a classic episode.It's a great collection for Stoogephiles that love to yuk it up with the boys. The prints are in pristine condition but there aren't any bonus features, not even subtitles. Thank you, Sony, for giving so much of the proper attention to restoring these prints.
N**K
good
good
R**L
Comedy
Great gift for father’s day especially those who love the three stooges and black and white. The quality of the picture is great.
Trustpilot
1 month ago
4 days ago
