Pardon My Terror

Pardon My Terror
Directed by Edward Bernds
Produced by Hugh McCollum
Written by Edward Bernds
Starring Richard Lane
Gus Schilling
Christine McIntyre
Lynne Lyons
Philip Van Zandt
Kenneth McDonald
Dick Wessel
Vernon Dent
Emil Sitka
Dudley Dickerson
Edited by Paul Borofsky
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • September 12, 1946 (1946-09-12) (U.S.)
Running time
 17' 17"
Country United States
Language English

Pardon My Terror is a 1946 short film starring Richard Lane and Gus Schilling. The supporting cast also includes Christine McIntyre, Lynne Lyons, Philip Van Zandt, Kenneth McDonald, Dick Wessel, Vernon Dent, Emil Sitka and Dudley Dickerson.

Plot

Private detectives Dick and Gus are asked to investigate the disappearance and possible murder of her wealthy grandfather Jonas Morton. The duo encounter houseguest Mr. Grooch and his two assistants, who are behind the goings-on, and plotting to steal the Morton fortune. Creepy butler Jarvis also seems to have an ulterior motive. Dick and Gus' presence is not appreciated, and they find themselves the targets of poison, gunfire, and an electrifying death trap.

Production

Pardon My Terror was originally meant to star The Three Stooges. Director Edward Bernds had completed the script in 1946 and was ready to shoot the film after the Stooges' Half-Wits Holiday, Curly Howard's last starring film with the Stooges. Howard's untimely stroke rendered him unable to continue with the act, so Bernds jettisoned his original script and hastily rewrote it for Schilling & Lane. Schilling's part was written as a combined Curly/Larry Fine role, while Lane's was as Moe Howard.[1]

Bernds later admitted that the rewritten script was not a good fit for Schilling & Lane and he was determined to have the Stooges film their version of Pardon My Terror. As such, he reverted to his original script, adhered Curly's previous lines for Shemp Howard (who had replaced his brother in 1946), and retitled the film Who Done It?. Who Done It? would become one of the finest comedies the team ever produced. Stooge expert Jon Solomon, author of The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion commented that "this well-balanced mixture of physical abuse, verbal banter, and emotional surprise is particularly vibrant even for a Stooge film."[2]

Coincidentally, Columbia Pictures actors Emil Sitka, Dudley Dickerson and Christine McIntyre appeared in both films.[2]

According to The Columbia Shorts Department Pardon My Terror is a remake of a Walter Catlett Short entitled "You're Next". It was remade with actor Harry Langdon as "To Heir as Human".[3]

References

  1. ↑ Okuda, Ted; Watz, Edward (1986). The Columbia Comedy Shorts. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 0-89950-181-8.
  2. 1 2 Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Comedy III Productions, Inc. pp. 346–347. ISBN 0-9711868-0-4.
  3. ↑ "Walter Catlett". The Columbia Shorts Department. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
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