Restless Knights

Restless Knights
Directed by Charles Lamont
Produced by Jules White
Written by Felix Adler
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Curly Howard
Geneva Mitchell
Walter Brennan
Stanley Blystone
Cinematography Benjamin H. Kline
Edited by William Lyon
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release dates
 February 20, 1935
Running time
 16' 11"
Country United States
Language English

Restless Knights is the sixth 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.

Plot

Set in the 17th century, the father of the Stooges calls them out to tell them something shocking: they learn they are of royal blood.

Now dubbed as the Duke of Durham (Larry), the Count of Fife (Moe), and Baron of Grey Manor (Curly), their father entrusts them to take up arms and protect the young queen of their old kingdom of Anesthesia, as word had spread that the present prime minister, Prince Boris, may attempt to seize the throne. The Stooges accept and make their way to Anesthesia, where, as the "Duke of Mixture," the "Fife of Drum," and "Baron (or 'Barren') of Brains," they become the queen's royal guards. The prince begins to enact his plan to abduct the queen as a royal wrestling match starts. Disgusted by the result of the match, Moe and Curly take it upon themselves to wrestle in their place with Larry acting as the referee. After an unforgettable match, the queen ends up missing with the Stooges blamed for being lax. A sword fight ensues, and the Stooges are taken away to be executed.

The Stooges are sentenced to be shot by crossbows but before the arrows are shot the archers spot a woman undressing at a window. Enchanted, they watch her, giving the Stooges a chance to escape. As they hide out from the guards someone drops a jug on Curly's head, containing a note stating that the queen is hidden in the wine cellar. The Stooges head to the cellar, spotting a few of the men who had taken the queen and enact a plan; Curly lures them out one by one, and Moe and Larry knock them out. However, one guard trips while chasing Curly and Moe and Larry inadvertently knock themselves out. Curly takes off with the guard hot on his trail, until Curly sneaks up behind him and knocks him out. Curly then runs back to the alcove, where Moe and Larry come to and hear his footsteps. Thinking them to be of the guard they missed they swing their clubs and knock Curly out instead. The queen, tied up and hidden away, is able to loosen the gag on her mouth and call for help. The Stooges rush over to her rescue, but a few more guards show up to search the wine cellar for them. Moe instructs Curly to do the same tactic he did before, but as he and Larry take position and Curly dashes past the doorway, the queen follows him, unaware of their plan, and is accidentally knocked out. Once they realize what they did, all three Stooges hit themselves on the head, knocking each other out.

Production notes

The title Restless Knights is a pun on "restless nights," or chronic insomnia.[1]

The title Baron of Grey Matter is a pun relating to the condition, Anencephaly. This Greek term means in English "no brain"; that is, it is a condition in which the patient is barren (baron) of grey matter

Quotes

References

  1. ↑ Solomon, Jon. (2002) The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion, p. 59; Comedy III Productions, Inc., ISBN 0-9711868-0-4

External links