Bedlam in Paradise
| Bedlam In Paradise | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Jules White |
| Produced by | Jules White |
| Written by |
Zion Myers Felix Adler |
| Starring |
Moe Howard Larry Fine Shemp Howard Philip Van Zandt Sylvia Lewis Vernon Dent Victor Travers Symona Boniface |
| Cinematography |
Ray Cory Allen Siegler |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release dates | April 14, 1955 |
| Running time | 15' 51" |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Bedlam in Paradise is the 162nd short subject starring the American slapstick comedy team Three Stooges who made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.
Plot
On his deathbed, Shemp warns Moe and Larry to behave themselves or he will come back and haunt them. After Shemp's arrival to heaven, his Uncle Mortimer (Moe) contemplates whether Shemp will remain or go to Hell. Then the Devil (Philip Van Zandt) appears in a burst of flame to tempt Shemp with a sultry dancer, Hellen Blazes. Uncle Mortimer intervenes, promising Shemp eternity in Heaven if he returns to Earth unseen and unheard and reforms Moe and Larry.
Meanwhile, one "Mr. Heller" (the Devil) is giving Moe and Larry some "devillishy good ideas," such as conning a wealthy couple into financing the production of fountain pens that write under whipped cream. Shemp sabotages their demonstration but accidentally starts a fire. The scene fades back to Shemp's bedroom. It has all been a dream, but Shemp is on fire because he fell asleep smoking in bed. When he tells Moe and Larry about their fountain pen writing under whipped cream, Moe hits him with a cream pie- and Larry gives him a pen, telling Shemp to write himself a letter ("Dear Uncle Mortimer...").
Production notes
Bedlam in Paradise is a remake of Heavenly Daze, using ample stock footage. The new footage was filmed on July 9, 1954.[1] Coincidentally, as the musical Carousel was a hit in Broadway at the time of the making of Heavenly Daze, the film version of Carousel was in production when Bedlam in Paradise was made.
A gag in the film's script called for a fountain pen to be thrown into the middle of Larry's forehead. The pen was to be thrown on a wire and into a small hole in a tin plate fastened to Larry's head. However, due to a miscalculation on the part of the special effects department, the sharp pen point punctured Larry's skin, leaving a gash in his forehead. Moe later chased director Jules White around the set because White had promised that the gag would be harmless.[2]
References
- ↑ Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Comedy III Productions, Inc. p. 454. ISBN 0-9711868-0-4.
- ↑ Maurer, Joan Howard; Jeff Lenburg, Greg Lenburg (1982, rev. 2012). The Three Stooges Scrapbook. Citadel Press. p. 253. ISBN 0-8065-0946-5.
External links
- Bedlam in Paradise at the Internet Movie Database
- Bedlam in Paradise at allmovie
- Bedlam in Paradise at threestooges.net
