Teddy Hoosevelt? Thomas Hedison?
27 December 2005
No, you knuckleheads! That's Terry Horgan! He was here! Yes, there's a lot to like in this brilliant short. Where can I begin? Moe cooking pancakes on a steam press? Shemp keeping a pair of trousers in a window shade? How about Shemp reading with his lips as he peruses the Sunday funnies---this, of course, interspersed with fits of convulsive laughter, along with the requisite "hee-bee-bees" thrown in. Then there's Shemp reaching down a trouser leg and snatching a 50 dollar bill from Moe's hand, thinking he's found another fifty, whence follows a bit of comedic brilliance: you know what Moe's going to do (justifiably so), but it kills you nonetheless. How about that set-up to the film's climax: Terry Horgan and his henchmen stroll into the shop in disguise (phony beards) and deliver that immortal line, "We-would-like-our-suits-cleaned-and-pressed-while-we-wait," in a ridiculously overplayed staccato. Even the Stooges' suspicions are aroused by that! And the great Shemp almost gets away by putting on one of the phony beards himself. Then there's Cy Schindling getting the steam press treatment. There's even Vernon Dent, as if the film didn't have enough! Check out Shemp's reaction when Vernon threatens him with "I ought to run you in!" There's Larry wondering if he's hallucinating whether the "Pip Boys'" mannequins are coming to life, before shoving Terry Hargan's trousers in Vernon Dent's face with the imperative, "Smell the ocean!" Oh, brother, I could go on and on . . . The pace is breakneck, the timing sublime. Even time-worn gags, when interjected, come off great, thanks mostly to the Stooges' formidable talents. I can't recommend this Stooges short strongly enough. So I won't. Watch it when you have the chance.
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