The Three Stooges go on a sit down strike in order to persuade the stern father (a brief, but excellent performance by James C. Morton) of three women to let them marry his daughters. After a couple of days the father gives in and the Stooges are married. Moreover, our lovably doltish trio win a prefabricated cottage, but naturally there's a big hitch: the trio of bumbling fools have to build said cottage themselves! Director Del Lord maintains a snappy pace throughout and stages the plentiful zany slapstick with considerable skill and gusto. Gut-busting comic highlights include Larry and Moe constantly running through cement that Curly is smoothing out, Curly being knocked out with a keg of nails and waking up with a literal pair of enormous cement shoes on his feet, and Curly stuck up in a tree. The very ending is likewise hilarious. The boys are in fine form here, displaying a loose and engaging natural rapport that's a joy to watch. Betty Mack as Corabell, Marcia Healy as Dorabell, and June Gittelson as Florabell make for perfect female foils for the Stooges. An enjoyably silly diversion.
12 Reviews
The second half is great fun!
JohnHowardReid30 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Director: DEL LORD. Screenplay: Ewart Adamson. Photography: George Meehan. Film editor: Charles Nelson. RCA Sound System. Associate producer: Jules White.
Copyright 15 November 1937 by Columbia Pictures Corporation of California. U.S. release: 26 November 1937. 2 reels. 16 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: After successfully staging a sit-down strike in order to win a father's consent to the marriage of his three daughters, the Stooges attempt to build a do-it-yourself house.
NOTES: Number 27 of the 190 short subjects the Stooges made for Columbia.
Marcia Healy was Ted Healy's sister. It was Healy who gave the Stooges their break into vaudeville and then into motion pictures. In fact they were billed as "Ted Healy and His Stooges" and similar variants. This is Miss Healy's only movie appearance.
COMMENT: Some crazy visual gags in this one, especially in the second half of the movie as the boys labor to build a kit house, egged on by their nagging wives. Despite the old-hat subject matter, Del Lord's able direction still manages to wring a fair amount of humor out of the situation. As usual, Curly contributes more than his fair share of the fun.
Copyright 15 November 1937 by Columbia Pictures Corporation of California. U.S. release: 26 November 1937. 2 reels. 16 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: After successfully staging a sit-down strike in order to win a father's consent to the marriage of his three daughters, the Stooges attempt to build a do-it-yourself house.
NOTES: Number 27 of the 190 short subjects the Stooges made for Columbia.
Marcia Healy was Ted Healy's sister. It was Healy who gave the Stooges their break into vaudeville and then into motion pictures. In fact they were billed as "Ted Healy and His Stooges" and similar variants. This is Miss Healy's only movie appearance.
COMMENT: Some crazy visual gags in this one, especially in the second half of the movie as the boys labor to build a kit house, egged on by their nagging wives. Despite the old-hat subject matter, Del Lord's able direction still manages to wring a fair amount of humor out of the situation. As usual, Curly contributes more than his fair share of the fun.
Ted Healy's Last Stooges Film He Saw
springfieldrental13 December 2023
In the Three Stooges' November 1937 "The Sitter Downers," the film capitalizes on that period's ongoing work stoppages occurring in several industries, especially General Motors' huge sit-down strike in April. The Three Stooges stage their own personal strike when their (hopefully) future father-in-law (James Morton) refuses his three daughters' hands in their marriage proposal. In a highly publicized protest in the in-law's home, the Stooges finally get him to agree to their marriage, where to boot they receive a donated house-which they have to assemble. The subsequent adventures in constructing their home in the most crazy-quilt fashion imaginable was copied from a similar situation in Buster Keaton's famous 1921 classic "One Week."
One of the Stooges' wives is Dorabell, played by Marcia Healy. She was the sister of Ted Healy, the manager and straight man for the Stooges before they branched out on their own. After the three left him, Healy remained employed with MGM, who loaned him out to other studios on several occasions where he appeared in secondary roles in both dramatic and comedic parts. "The Sitter Downers" was the last Three Stooges' film Healy got to see before his untimely death on December 21, 1937, at 41. The night before he died Healy was celebrating the birth of his son at a nightclub on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles when he purportedly got in a fight with three "college fellows." Later, rumors emerged that actor Wallace Beery and Albert Broccoli, later producer for the James Bond movies, were the participants in the brawl. The L. A. coroner ruled that an inflammation of Healy's kidneys caused by his acute alcoholism was the medical reason for the actor's death. Through his generosity to many down-and-out friends, Healy died broke, leaving his wife and child in poverty. Besides playing a big role in the Stooges' career, Healy served as a mentor and was a major influence for several comedians, including Milton Berle, Bob Hope and Red Skelton.
One of the Stooges' wives is Dorabell, played by Marcia Healy. She was the sister of Ted Healy, the manager and straight man for the Stooges before they branched out on their own. After the three left him, Healy remained employed with MGM, who loaned him out to other studios on several occasions where he appeared in secondary roles in both dramatic and comedic parts. "The Sitter Downers" was the last Three Stooges' film Healy got to see before his untimely death on December 21, 1937, at 41. The night before he died Healy was celebrating the birth of his son at a nightclub on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles when he purportedly got in a fight with three "college fellows." Later, rumors emerged that actor Wallace Beery and Albert Broccoli, later producer for the James Bond movies, were the participants in the brawl. The L. A. coroner ruled that an inflammation of Healy's kidneys caused by his acute alcoholism was the medical reason for the actor's death. Through his generosity to many down-and-out friends, Healy died broke, leaving his wife and child in poverty. Besides playing a big role in the Stooges' career, Healy served as a mentor and was a major influence for several comedians, including Milton Berle, Bob Hope and Red Skelton.
'Ain't Love Grand?' -- Curly
ccthemovieman-11 September 2010
"Corabelle," "Florabell" and and "Dorabell".....where else but in a Three Stooges flick would hear those names? Where else would three guys ask, for the 100th time, "Will you marry us," and get a reply, "Oh, this is so sudden."
Of the girls, the plump "Corabelle" (Betty Mack) is the best. When she hugs you, start counting the broken ribs! She played the "heavy" in a number of Three Stooges shorts and was always funny.
The boys need permission from the girls' father before they will agree to marriage. "Mr.Bell," played by James C. Morton, is adamant in saying "No!" I recognized Morton's gruff voice. He, too, was in a number of Three Stooges shorts including the famous "Disorder In The Court"
This story gets ludicrous fast as the boys go on a sit-down strike until the old man gives in.....and it gets national attention in the newspapers!!! "Persistent Lovers Win Nation's Sympathy As Gifts Pour In" blares one headline. Are you kidding me? It must have been a slow time for news.
Anyway, it gets wilder and wilder as the boys get married (drawing names out of hat) and then try to build a house. There are some classic slapstick scenes in here, such as with Curly and the cement. It's total insanity.....just the way we Three Stooges fans like it.
Of the girls, the plump "Corabelle" (Betty Mack) is the best. When she hugs you, start counting the broken ribs! She played the "heavy" in a number of Three Stooges shorts and was always funny.
The boys need permission from the girls' father before they will agree to marriage. "Mr.Bell," played by James C. Morton, is adamant in saying "No!" I recognized Morton's gruff voice. He, too, was in a number of Three Stooges shorts including the famous "Disorder In The Court"
This story gets ludicrous fast as the boys go on a sit-down strike until the old man gives in.....and it gets national attention in the newspapers!!! "Persistent Lovers Win Nation's Sympathy As Gifts Pour In" blares one headline. Are you kidding me? It must have been a slow time for news.
Anyway, it gets wilder and wilder as the boys get married (drawing names out of hat) and then try to build a house. There are some classic slapstick scenes in here, such as with Curly and the cement. It's total insanity.....just the way we Three Stooges fans like it.
worth watching
movifan178515 August 2002
This isn't there best short but its funny. The stooges get married and go on a honeymoon but first they have to build a house. The funniest part was when Moe was chasing Larry around and Curly was smoothing cement and Moe and Larry kept running through it.
Stooges' Best
kapnkirk16 October 2001
This is, in my humble opinion, the best short the 3 Stooges ever made. The boys go on a strike inside their fiancees' home until their father relents and lets them marry his 3 daughters. Due to all their new found notoriety, a construction company donates a do-it-yourself pre-fabricated home which the boys set out to build after they do get married. Needless to say everything turns out wrong - the bathtub is on the side of the wall and the stairs lead to nowhere. The house collapses when one of the wives unintentionally pulls out a beam. This short was based on a silent by Buster Keaton called One Week. It also contains my all time favorite quote by Moe after Curly's feet get stuck in cement and he decides to use explosives to free him and Curly protests he'll get blown up - "Don't you know that dynamite always blows down?".
Very good Three Stooges short!
Movie Nuttball31 December 2004
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 The Sitter-Downers. In this short are James C. Morton, Bert Young, June Gittelson, Marcia Healy, with Betty Mack and Robert McKenzie. The acting by these actors are good especially by Morton. 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!
One of the most unique Three Stooges shorts is The Sitter-Downers. In this short are James C. Morton, Bert Young, June Gittelson, Marcia Healy, with Betty Mack and Robert McKenzie. The acting by these actors are good especially by Morton. 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!
Buster and the Girls
SnoopyStyle3 April 2020
It's springtime. Larry, Curly, and Moe are suitors asking for the hands of sisters Flora Bell, Dora Bell, and Cora Bell. They ask for their father's permission and he's refusing. The guys go on a sit down strike. After three weeks, it becomes a media circus and the father relents. Before their honeymoon, the girls demand that the boys build them a house.
The stunts are bigger which reminds me of Buster Keaton. The house falling down on them is pure Buster. I love the boys but in this one, I appreciate the girls just as much. These girls are not the usual Amazon beauties and they have good comedic chemistry. June Gittelson would do more Stooges shorts. She's the classic giant brute who could beat up the boys. Betty Mack is probably the best of the three in that she's that giant brute and also pretty enough to be pretty. She's like a taller Amy Schumer. Marcia Healy is the one that can be left behind and being the sister would do that eventually anyways. I like this one short.
The stunts are bigger which reminds me of Buster Keaton. The house falling down on them is pure Buster. I love the boys but in this one, I appreciate the girls just as much. These girls are not the usual Amazon beauties and they have good comedic chemistry. June Gittelson would do more Stooges shorts. She's the classic giant brute who could beat up the boys. Betty Mack is probably the best of the three in that she's that giant brute and also pretty enough to be pretty. She's like a taller Amy Schumer. Marcia Healy is the one that can be left behind and being the sister would do that eventually anyways. I like this one short.
What a way to get married - pulling names out of a hat!
slymusic6 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
"In the Spring three young men's fancies lightly turn to thoughts of - you know." Thus begins "The Sitter Downers," a slightly unusual Three Stooges comedy directed by Del Lord. Oh, it's a good film, but oftentimes in their films the boys find themselves in some bizarre plot situations. In "The Sitter Downers" the Stooges intend to get married, and until their future father-in-law (James C. Morton) consents, the boys stage a sit-down strike in his very house, eventually winning the nation's sympathy and even garnering a ton of fan mail (!). Once this issue has been resolved, the party of six is faced with the challenge of having a house to build.
Highlights: Curly falls from a tree and lands on his wife Dorabell (Marcia Healy, sister of the Stooges' mentor Ted Healy), knocking her out; when he tries to revive her by splashing a bucket of water on her face, he doesn't realize there's a piece of hardened cement in the bucket! To prevent Moe and Larry from repeatedly running into some freshly-laid cement, Curly jumps into the cement himself and then gets knocked out with a keg of nails. The Stooges' "car" is rather interesting. And at the end, Florabell (June Gittelson) removes one post that causes the entire house, which was weird-looking anyway, to collapse.
What's the moral of "The Sitter Downers"? Never trust the Stooges to build a house!
Highlights: Curly falls from a tree and lands on his wife Dorabell (Marcia Healy, sister of the Stooges' mentor Ted Healy), knocking her out; when he tries to revive her by splashing a bucket of water on her face, he doesn't realize there's a piece of hardened cement in the bucket! To prevent Moe and Larry from repeatedly running into some freshly-laid cement, Curly jumps into the cement himself and then gets knocked out with a keg of nails. The Stooges' "car" is rather interesting. And at the end, Florabell (June Gittelson) removes one post that causes the entire house, which was weird-looking anyway, to collapse.
What's the moral of "The Sitter Downers"? Never trust the Stooges to build a house!
One of twelve Stooges' shorts on a collection DVD
pwoods111 May 2004
A long-time friend and fellow Stooges fan (we're in our fifties) and I sat down with a few glasses of 'Cab-Sav' (Cabernet Sauvignon for the uninitiated) and spent some enjoyable hours p***ing-ourselves laughing. Of the twelve classics in this collection, TSD was the last in order on the DVD but paradoxically the first released: 1937.
It is a real hoot but, more than that, surprisingly contemporary and with some insights into the American psyche. Yes, Virginia, there ARE female Stooges! The uncredited trio of actors playing the wives are a feminist's delight: just as stupid as the boys. Now there's equality for you! There are pointed comments about Unionism, the notion of lotteries, and even how the selection of wives is, in itself, a lottery. The final scene with its pre-fab nightmare (the house that 'crack' built) would have made Dali proud! Escher would rise from the dead just to applaud this surreal masterpiece!
What makes TSD different from many of the Stooges' shorts is that it does not fit neatly into their vaudeville act (for surely that is where many of their set-pieces were derived). While it shares the same anarchistic bent, it is at once more pointed in its criticism of the American world-at-large as it is of life-in-general. Put simply, it is a masterpiece of its genre and can stand alone as an indication of just how brilliant Moe, Larry and Curly were. Enjoy!
It is a real hoot but, more than that, surprisingly contemporary and with some insights into the American psyche. Yes, Virginia, there ARE female Stooges! The uncredited trio of actors playing the wives are a feminist's delight: just as stupid as the boys. Now there's equality for you! There are pointed comments about Unionism, the notion of lotteries, and even how the selection of wives is, in itself, a lottery. The final scene with its pre-fab nightmare (the house that 'crack' built) would have made Dali proud! Escher would rise from the dead just to applaud this surreal masterpiece!
What makes TSD different from many of the Stooges' shorts is that it does not fit neatly into their vaudeville act (for surely that is where many of their set-pieces were derived). While it shares the same anarchistic bent, it is at once more pointed in its criticism of the American world-at-large as it is of life-in-general. Put simply, it is a masterpiece of its genre and can stand alone as an indication of just how brilliant Moe, Larry and Curly were. Enjoy!
Keaton
tedg13 December 2005
I saw this with another Stooges short, "Violent is the Word for Curly." By the late 30's they were trying all sorts of forms. "Curly" was based on the Marx brothers form. This is based on a famous Keaton gag.
The three marry sisters (drawing lots), and get a house kit that they assemble incompetently.
There's a Laurel and Hardy precedent and before that the famous Keaton "One Week." That's hilarious and clever. This isn't, except for having stooge women.
Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.
The three marry sisters (drawing lots), and get a house kit that they assemble incompetently.
There's a Laurel and Hardy precedent and before that the famous Keaton "One Week." That's hilarious and clever. This isn't, except for having stooge women.
Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.
Fair Stooges
Michael_Elliott19 June 2009
Sitter Downers, The (1937)
** (out of 4)
The Three Stooges want to marry their loved ones but their father refuses because, well, because they're the Stooges. The boys refuse to leave his house until he gives permission, which eventually makes the national news and soon letters from across the country are coming to them. The father finally gives his okay and the group decide to take one of the letter's offer of a new house. The only catch is that they have to build it themselves. This was an extremely bland short for the trio because of some rather lazy writing, which constantly goes for the routine joke instead of trying anything new or original. The first half of the short works the best as we get a few minor laughs mainly with the girl's father who at one point accidentally gets beat up by the boys. The second half is just rather bland as we get the boys trying to build the house but end up fighting amongst each other more. The reaction to girls have to their fighting is boring and things really don't pick up until the very end when the house is done.
** (out of 4)
The Three Stooges want to marry their loved ones but their father refuses because, well, because they're the Stooges. The boys refuse to leave his house until he gives permission, which eventually makes the national news and soon letters from across the country are coming to them. The father finally gives his okay and the group decide to take one of the letter's offer of a new house. The only catch is that they have to build it themselves. This was an extremely bland short for the trio because of some rather lazy writing, which constantly goes for the routine joke instead of trying anything new or original. The first half of the short works the best as we get a few minor laughs mainly with the girl's father who at one point accidentally gets beat up by the boys. The second half is just rather bland as we get the boys trying to build the house but end up fighting amongst each other more. The reaction to girls have to their fighting is boring and things really don't pick up until the very end when the house is done.
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