| Malice in the Palace | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jules White |
| Produced by | Jules White |
| Written by | Felix Adler |
| Starring | Moe Howard Larry Fine Shemp Howard Vernon Dent George J. Lewis Frank Lackteen Everett Brown Johnny Kascier Joe Palma |
| Cinematography | Vincent J. Farrar |
| Editing by | Edwin H. Bryant |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) | September 1, 1949 |
| Running time | 15' 42" |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Malice in the Palace is the 117th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.
Contents |
The Stooges, while running the Cafe Casbah Bah (a Middle Eastern restaurant) and attempting to prepare a meal for customers Hassan Ben Sober (Vernon Dent) and Ginna Rumma (George J. Lewis), discover a plan that their hungry customers are hatching. These two thieves are attempting to rob the tomb of King Rootintootin, which contains a priceless diamond, but they discover that the emir of Schmow (Johnny Kascier) has already gotten his hands on the diamond. The two plotters start wailing and are thrown out of the restaurant. The Stooges then attempt to retrieve the diamond themselves, as there is a $50,000 reward at stake.
The Stooges arrive at the emir's palace, all three dressed as Santa Claus. They then manage to acquire the diamond and make a quick exit, but not before dealing with a burly guard.
According to The Three Stooges Journal, a part was written for Curly — a lobby card photo shot for this film features a slim and mustachioed Curly as an angry chef. However, his scenes were cut and ultimately Larry assumed the role as the chef. Had Curly been able to appear, this would have been the second short — after Hold That Lion! — in which all four of the original Stooges appear in the same film. Curly would not work after this, as his health declined until his death in 1952.