Calling All Curs
| Calling All Curs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Jules White |
| Produced by | Jules White |
| Written by |
Thea Goodman Searle Kramer Elwood Ullman |
| Starring |
Moe Howard Larry Fine Curly Howard Lynton Brent Cy Schindell Isabelle LaMal Beatrice Curtis Libby Taylor |
| Edited by | Charles Nelson |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release dates | August 25, 1939 |
Running time | 17' 19"[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Calling All Curs is the 41st short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges, first released on August 25, 1939. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.
Plot
The Stooges are skilled veterinarians at a pet hospital who are the proud surgeons of Garçon, a prized poodle of socialite Mrs. Bedford (Isabelle LaMal). They successfully remove a thorn from his paw. Dognappers posing as reporters (Lynton Brent, Cy Schindell) dognap Garçon.
Not knowing who they are, the Stooges give the "reporters" a short tour of their hospital. Patients include a lap dog (a Saint Bernard that lapped up two cases of beer), a cat prone to singing opera on back fences, a small dog with G.C.M. (garbage can moocher), and a dog who had bit himself while chasing his tail.
Before the kidnapping crime is discovered, the trio attempts to enjoy a dinner of bones and dog biscuits at a long table with all the other dogs who are patients at the hospital. It's during the meal that a nurse discovers Garçon is missing. The boys frantically try to trick Mrs. Bedford by disguising a mutt as Garçon. However, when Mrs. Bedford's maid (Libby Taylor), who is frightened of dogs, accidentally vacuums a clump of glued-on fur off the mutt's shaggy coat, Mrs. Bedford threatens to throw the Stooges in jail. Desperate, the trio use the mutt as a bloodhound to track down the crooks. When they discover the enemies' hideout, a big fight ensues. Larry and Moe get knocked out, but then Curly defeats both crooks. The boys hear Garçon quietly barking from inside a closet, only to discover that the prized poodle has had a litter of pups.
A side-gag in this short involves Moe and Curly. In the hallway, Moe calls Curly over the intercom and orders him to wash a dog. When Curly refuses, Moe's fist flies out of the intercom, breaking the speaker, and hitting Curly in the nose. Moe's face appears in the hole where the intercom used to be and repeats his order. Curly is about to leave only to laugh when Moe announces that he's stuck.
Production notes
Filmed on December 27-30, 1938,[2] the title Calling All Curs is a pun on the phrase "Calling all cars!"[1] A colorized version of this film was released in 2006 as part of the DVD collection entitled "Stooges on the Run."[3]
This marks one of the few times the Stooges have respectable, professional careers as opposed to working as blue-collar laborers.[1]
This was one of Curly Howard's favorite shorts as he was a well-known dog lover.[1]
Quotes
- Moe (to the Garçon in disguise): "Listen, bloodhound! If you got any 'blood' in you, you'd better start pointing and point out those dognappers! Get the point?!"
- Curly: "Hmmm, n'yuk, n'yuk n'yuk. He must be a Pointsetter." (referring to the poinsettia flower)
- Moe: "Quiet, you hot air-dale!" (referring to an Airedale Terrier and making a pun on the phrase "hot air" as in "empty talk intended to impress")[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Solomon, Jon. (2002) The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion, p. 105; Comedy III Productions, Inc., ISBN 0-9711868-0-4
- ↑ Pauley, Jim (2012). The Three Stooges Hollywood Filming Locations. Solana Beach, California: Santa Monica Press, LLC. p. 70. ISBN 9781595800701.
- ↑ Stooges on the Run
External links
- Calling All Curs at the Internet Movie Database
- Calling All Curs at AllMovie
- Calling All Curs at threestooges.net
