Movie Maniacs (1936) User Reviews

hilarious second half

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 22 July 2020]

Larry, Curly, and Moe arrive in Hollywood hoping to make it big. They sneak into a movie studio and get mistaken for three expected new executives who are supposed to take over the place.

The first half is standard Stooges with the bad cooking and sneaking past the guard. There's nothing terribly new until they get on set. The kissing is hilarious and one can see the joy in the girls' eyes. They are inches from breaking out laughing. That scene is the best. It's also always fun to get Curly dressed up. All in all, this has some real intriguing laughs in a fun standard Stooges.

A classic film from a classic era

[strife82 · 9/10 · 1 February 2011]

This here "Movie Maniacs" short was filmed in what I would consider the Three Stooges' "anarchistic period", that few years' span in which the boys did just about anything for a laugh. In later years their shorts would start to make a bit more sense and have more in the way of story and plot, and while that was all good as it didn't always get in the way of their slapstick and antics, those mid-to-late-1930s films, in all their nonsensical glory, made for plenty of big laughs on my end. "Movie Maniacs" is one of those fine examples, focusing on the trio's ability to turn all things conventional on their heads in their attempt to make something of themselves, usually resulting in general chaos being unleashed (pretty typical for the Stooges, but we love them for it). I've found many things to humor me throughout, from their arrival at the studio to the eventual madness on the movie set itself, as a result of the group's manic energy that seemed to bubble over on occasion (poor Curly swooning at a starlet's kiss, or his child-like tantrums over Moe's confiscating his many-sized pencils). They don't really show this one as often as others, which is a damn shame if you ask me, and as it stands in this day and age "Movie Maniacs" could be considered a rare treat from the early glory days that makes me chortle every time I see it.

Charlie Chaplin's ex-wife, Mildred Harris, In A Three Stooges Film

[springfieldrental · 8/10 · 12 July 2023]

The Three Stooges released two short films within one month, the first "Ants in the Pantry, the second, February 1936's "Movie Maniacs." Sneaking into a film studio lot, the three aspiring movie stars are mistaken for the newly-arrived studio executives. The trio walk in the middle of a shoot and take over from the frustrated director. The actress playing the 'Leading Lady' was Mildred Harris, who earlier was Charlie Chaplin's first wife. As a child film actress at age 10, Harris began her career in 1912, and attracted the attention of Chaplin, 29, when she was 18. The soon married, only to separate a year later. Harris was proliferate in silents during that era, but failed like many of her peers to make the successful transition into talkies.

"Movie Maniacs" contains one of the more controversial sequences in the Stooges' catalogue. Each Stooge demonstrates his kissing technique to the scantily dressed dancing girls on the set. When the short was shown on television in the late 1950s, the scene was sliced because of its suggestive nature to its young TV audience. "Movie Maniacs" used two lions, named Tanner and Jackie, the Stooges find themselves with in a room. Tanner was used in the MGM opening credits logo, who the more rambunctious Jackie was conscripted if more than one lion was needed in filming.

Family

[cheryla_d · 23 February 2007]

As a child and thru my lifetime I watched this movie several times. We always loved the 3 Stooges, but the real reason was my father's cousin Mildred Harris,the leading lady. She died before I was born, my older sister looks just like her. Her father and my grandmother were sis/brother. I would love to find some pictures and any other information available. I do know that she was divorced. There were no living children. When my grandmother died, seems most of the Harris Family lost contact. Most of her Dad's family is from South Dakota and Indiana. She is also cousin to Bongo Phil Harris, he was the voice from the Jungle Book cartoon and recorded music. All information would be appreciated. Thanks.

Movie Maniacs!

[Movie Nuttball · 10/10 · 8 February 2005]

The Three Stooges has always been some of the many actors that I have loved. I love just about every one of the shorts that they have made. I love all six of the Stooges (Curly, Shemp, Moe, Larry, Joe, and Curly Joe)! All of the shorts are hilarious and also star many other great actors and actresses which a lot of them was in many of the shorts! In My opinion The Three Stooges is some of the greatest actors ever and is the all time funniest comedy team!

One of the most unique Three Stooges shorts is Movie Maniacs. In this short are Bud Jamison, Harry Semels, Mildred Harris, Kenneth Harlan, and Heinie Conklin. The acting by these actors are good especially by Jamison and Semels. There are many funny scenes here that I think most Three Stooges fans will love! In My opinion this one of the most different Three Stooges shorts. I strongly recommend this one!

Living In A Boxcar To Making Movies

[ccthemovieman-1 · 6/10 · 16 August 2008]

The boys go to Hollywood and are mistaken for important New York film executives. Thus, for a few hours they take over a studio, completely wreak havoc during a movie scene and cause the director and two stars to quit in disgust. They then take those spots in the film and, of course, it's horrible. Soon, they are discovered and run for the lives, beginning with a funny scene with two lions.

About the first 60 percent of this Three Stooges short involves the guys getting to Hollywood with the usual breakfast-making and pants-pressing gags. For guys bumming a ride in an empty railroad car, it's pretty amazing how they got all the furniture in here without being detected. (One doesn't try to analyze Three Stooges films!). In this boxcar, they have a big bed, a stove, food, mirrors, chairs, paint, irons, you name it.....even a picture of John Barrymore! Curley's goal is to be the new John Barrymore.

It takes several attempts to try to sneak into the studio, once the boys make it to Hollywood. After a few clichés, Curley said, "If you don't succeed, keep succin' 'til you do succeed."

Once the boys get in, they show the experts how to kiss and how to use hand actions in dramatic scenes. The latter has some funny material, probably the best in this story.

Overall, this is fair. It doesn't have a lot of laugh-out-loud scenes but it has some good subtle stuff, mostly by Curley. By the way, have you noticed how they spelled it Curley at times and Curly - without the "e" - at other times?

MOVIE MANIACS (Del Lord, 1936) **1/2

[Bunuel1976 · 6/10 · 9 February 2008]

This Three Stooges short was a particular disappointment given the Hollywood milieu; in fact, the opening scene aboard the train is more inventive than the ensuing studio silliness! The comic trio are mistaken for movie executives and given the run of the studio (the president's name, Fuller Rath, emerges as the film's best gag): unsurprisingly, they drive the director and leading actors to distraction with their antics and end up by replacing them (with Moe as director, Larry the leading man, and Curley – naturally in drag – takes on the part of the leading lady)! The film is okay in itself, but clearly not in the same league as feature films on the subject starring other contemporary comedians – such as Harold Lloyd's similarly-titled MOVIE CRAZY (1932) and W.C. Fields' NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK (1941).

Film on film featuring the beloved trio

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 15 January 2018]

"Movie Maniacs" is an American 17-minute live action short film in black-and-white and this one came out back in 1936, so it is already over 80 years old. Actually this was the year when the Olympics took place in Nazi Germany, just to show you how old it is. Del Lord and Felix Adler worked on this one and they did on many other Stooges short films. The big names here are the trio of course, but you will also find an ex-wife of Charlie Chaplin and a member of the prestigious Barrymore clan in here. As for the Stooges, it is one of their earlier efforts here and like it could be seen in many cartoons from that period, here we have an example, a pretty old one, of film on film. The Stooges end up being mistaken like so many other times and this time people think they are three high-profile executives, but they actually are just wannabe actors. A big mess ensues as expected as a consequence. All in all, story-wise and comedy-wise I was not too impressed here and definitely think this one's overrated. Then again, I am not the greatest Three Stooges fan and people who like some of their other stuff may end up enjoying this one too. I really wanted to like it more than I did, also because the title certainly applies to me too, by the way not the most typical title for a Three Stooges work. I give it a thumbs-down. Not recommended.

Good Stooges

[Michael_Elliott · 26 February 2008]

Movie Maniacs (1936)

*** (out of 4)

Three Stooges short has the boys going to Hollywood to become stars. They get thrown out of the studio lot but sneak their way back on and are mistaken for movie execs. Now they try their way to make movies. The most laughs come from the start of the film with Curly trying to cook breakfast and Larry trying to press Moe's pants. The stuff in Hollywood has a few clever lines but no big laughs.

This is now available in Columbia's 2-disc collection, which features over 20 shorts from the boys, all digitally remastered.

"Ain't I getting to look more and more like Barrymore?"

[slymusic · 29 August 2009]

"Movie Maniacs" is a very good Three Stooges comedy starring Moe, Curly, and Larry. The boys aspire for a career in the motion picture business, which they soon learn is tough to get into, until the general manager of Carnation Pictures mistakes them for big-time studio executives.

My favorite scenes from "Movie Maniacs": Curly's wheat cake drops down from the ceiling and splats Moe in the face. Curly (in drag) jumps onto Larry's lap, breaking the chair underneath him. Larry and Curly stand behind an on-screen couple and give them puppet arms.

At the beginning of "Movie Maniacs", the Stooges acknowledge they know nothing about making pictures, but they think that their ideas can revolutionize the business. But in the end, when their real identities are discovered, Moe says, "I think our genius ain't appreciated here."