Idle Roomers (1944 film)

Idle Roomers
Directed by Del Lord
Produced by Hugh McCollum
Written by Del Lord
Elwood Ullman
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Curly Howard
Christine McIntyre
Vernon Dent
Duke York
Eddie Laughton
Cinematography Glen Gano
Edited by Henry Batista
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • July 15, 1944 (1944-07-15) (U.S.)
Running time
 16:49[1]
Country United States
Language English

Idle Roomers is the 80th short film released by Columbia Pictures in 1944 starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). The comedians released 190 short films for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

The Stooges are bellhops at Hotel Snazzy Plaza, and pound each other in order to get some face time with an attractive woman (the lovely Christine McIntyre, in her debut appearance with the team). Unfortunately, she has an evil mean-tempered husband (Vernon Dent) who happens to excel in knife throwing. The husband is also secretly importing Lupe the Wolf Man (Duke York) who goes berserk when he hears music. Later on, when Curly is cleaning their room, he snaps on the radio, and the wolf man goes on the rampage. The stooges head for the elevator back to the lobby which contains the Wolf Man inside who is playing with the elevator switch which cause to crash through the roof and sends the trio and the Wolf Man high into the sky.

Production notes

Filmed on November 17-20, 1943, the title Idle Roomers is a pun on "idle rumors."[1] The plot device of bellhops pursuing the affections of an attractive female hotel guest would be used in the 1953 Woody Woodpecker cartoon Belle Boys.[2]

Idle Roomers marked the first appearance of regular Stooge co-star Christine McIntyre who would predominantly work with the team during the Shemp Howard era.[1]

Curly Howard fades

Curly Howard's voice begins to deepen with this film. Since his 1940 divorce from Elaine Ackerman, Curly had lived a wild life, making merry on a regular basis, and drinking until the wee hours of the morning. Columbia cinematographer Henry Freulich stated in a 1984 interview that it was not unusual to see Curly stumbling into work looking like "he had himself a heluva time!"[3] By 1944, the effects of Curly's lifestyle began to have an effect on his performances. Idle Roomers marks the first time his acting seems a little slower. The deeper voice confirms this assessment.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Comedy III Productions, Inc. p. 246. ISBN 0-9711868-0-4.
  2. ↑ Woody Woodpecker.com
  3. ↑ The Making of the Stooges VHS Documentary, narrated by Steve Allen (1984)
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