Hoi Polloi (Three Stooges short)

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Hoi Polloi (1935) is the 10th of Columbia Pictures' 190 short subjects starring the comedy team of the Three Stooges. It was directed by Del Lord and written by Felix Adler.

[edit] Plot

In a Stooge adaptation of Pygmalion, a professor, certain that environment and not heredity dictates social behavior, bets ten thousand dollars that he can turn three boors into gentlemen through environment and proper training. Naturally, the Stooges are discovered and made the subjects of the wager. After many attempts to teach them proper etiquette, the Stooges will decide the wager by their behavior at a fancy society party.

[edit] Notes

• In the Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special, hosted by Woody Harrelson, the dancing scene at the 6:00 mark of this short was voted by the fans as their favorite Stooge moment of all time.
• This is the first of several Stooge shorts in which Curly manages to get a spring attached to his backside. Another includes An Ache in Every Stake (1941).
• Half-Wits Holiday (1946), the remake of this short, was the last starring Curly, who suffered a stroke during filming.

[edit] Quotes

• • Moe: "Listen, mister, I can explain the whole thing."
  • Curly: "Soitenly!"
  • Moe: "You stay out of this!"
  • [Moe slaps Curly]
  • Moe (to Larry): "And you too!"
  • [Moe slaps Larry]
  • Larry: "I didn't say nuttin'!"
  • Moe: "Well, that was in case you do."

• • Moe (reading): "Oh, see the deer. Has the deer a little doe?"
  • Curly: "Why soitenly! Two bucks!"

• • Larry (reading): "Oh, see the cat. Does the mouse see the cat? (turns to Moe) Yea, the dirty rat!"
  • Moe: "Who?" (hits Larry)

• • Man (to Curly): "Can you spell cat?"
  • Curly: "Soitenly!"
  • Man: "Spell it!"
  • Curly (glancing at book): "Cat. K-I-T-T-Y, pussy."

• • Dance instructor (dancing): "One, two, three, dip; one, two, three, dip. Now can you do it?"
  • Curly: "It ain't the dippin', it's the countin' that's got me."

• • Moe (to Larry and Curly): "Now then, gentlemen, remember your etiquette."
  • [Moe slaps Larry and Curly]
  • Larry: "What's that for?"
  • Curly: "We didn't do nothin'!"
  • Moe: "That's in case you do and I'm not around."

• • Woman: "Your dancing is atrocious."
  • Larry: "Oh, thank you. I couldn't dance a step last year."

• • Moe (to Larry and Curly, disgusted by the other guests' behavior): "My dear fellows, this is our punishment for associating with the hoi polloi."