This is one of the more significant Stooges shorts, due to the hilarious and famous unique dance sequence, primarily focusing on Curly and the gorgeous former model, Barbara Slater. The sequence involves an extremely silly Rhumba number, which is comical in and of itself. During the takes, Barbara Slater looks like she's going to crack up at Curly's antics, so many of the shots appear to have been cut early (I'm assuming she did). This was a common problem for Curly's female co-stars, most notably, Christine McIntyre. The rest of the short is typical Clyde Bruckman fare, with a great cameo played by Bud Jameson. Ironically, there were very few Stooges shorts to feature dance numbers. This one was one of the best.
7 Reviews
Observations While Watching These 'Saps'
ccthemovieman-123 May 2007
The Stooges are excited because in five minutes they are going to be married. Upon entering the house of the three ladies, who must all be sisters, they find the girls weeping. They have to call off the wedding because they just found out their father was framed and put in jail. He used to be the warden but the tables, unfairly, were turned. Their plan is to get arrested so they get inside the jail and rescue the ladies' father, or at least get evidence of the corruption.
This really wasn't a very funny Stooges short, but there were a few good lines and so I'll quote two from Curly and make a few other observations.
"We're not ordinary people; we're morons." "My, you are a most unusual dancer. Thank you. I come from a family of dancers. My father died dancing....on the end of a rope."
I did enjoy Moe's pronunciation of "fiancee;" the baseball-type pennants on the dance hall wall that say "Joliet," "Alcatraz," "Sing Sing" and "Leavenworth," Moe calling a guy in a tuxedo "pelican."
I never realized how short all three of these guys were until they were on the dance floor. Even all the women were taller than them!
This really wasn't a very funny Stooges short, but there were a few good lines and so I'll quote two from Curly and make a few other observations.
"We're not ordinary people; we're morons." "My, you are a most unusual dancer. Thank you. I come from a family of dancers. My father died dancing....on the end of a rope."
I did enjoy Moe's pronunciation of "fiancee;" the baseball-type pennants on the dance hall wall that say "Joliet," "Alcatraz," "Sing Sing" and "Leavenworth," Moe calling a guy in a tuxedo "pelican."
I never realized how short all three of these guys were until they were on the dance floor. Even all the women were taller than them!
Good Three Stooges short!
Movie Nuttball21 March 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 different Three Stooges shorts is Three Smart Saps. In this short are Vernon Dent, Bud Jamison, John Tyrrell, Eddie Laughton, and Victor Travers. The acting by these actors are good especially by Dent and Jamison. 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 recommend this one to all!
One of the most different Three Stooges shorts is Three Smart Saps. In this short are Vernon Dent, Bud Jamison, John Tyrrell, Eddie Laughton, and Victor Travers. The acting by these actors are good especially by Dent and Jamison. 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 recommend this one to all!
"Maybe he's in solitary refinement."
slymusic5 June 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Directed by Jules White, "Three Smart Saps" is an excellent Three Stooges comedy starring Curly, Larry, and Moe. In order for the boys to get married, they must first break into jail and rescue their fiancées' father, a prison warden who has been framed and locked up. How the Stooges go about this difficult task is an adventure in itself!
THE comic highlight of "Three Smart Saps" is the extended dance sequence at the jail, during which the delightful Curly displays some wonderful moves! His tuxedo rips apart, forcing him to dance toward a drape, behind which Larry hides with a sewing kit.
With a supporting cast that includes John Tyrrell, Bud Jamison, Barbara Slater, and Vernon Dent, "Three Smart Saps" is a fine Three Stooges short. My only criticism is the excessive shoe-throwing gag at the end. I love Curly's line "We're not ordinary people. Ha ha! We're morons." That remark just about sums up the Stooges!
THE comic highlight of "Three Smart Saps" is the extended dance sequence at the jail, during which the delightful Curly displays some wonderful moves! His tuxedo rips apart, forcing him to dance toward a drape, behind which Larry hides with a sewing kit.
With a supporting cast that includes John Tyrrell, Bud Jamison, Barbara Slater, and Vernon Dent, "Three Smart Saps" is a fine Three Stooges short. My only criticism is the excessive shoe-throwing gag at the end. I love Curly's line "We're not ordinary people. Ha ha! We're morons." That remark just about sums up the Stooges!
Dancing fun
tforbes-221 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I myself found this short to be truly funny.
And you can thank Curly Howard for this!
His dance steps are the highlight of the hijinks in this short. His incredibly footwork was incredibly amusing, as well as his facial expressions.
But don't count out Moe Howard, though! His line to Curly, "I'll Venus de Milo you!!!" is absolutely priceless! And the very tail end is also amusing.
While the plot line may be a little thin, Bud Jamieson's appearance helps. But it is the dance sequence that makes this short really shine!
And you can thank Curly Howard for this!
His dance steps are the highlight of the hijinks in this short. His incredibly footwork was incredibly amusing, as well as his facial expressions.
But don't count out Moe Howard, though! His line to Curly, "I'll Venus de Milo you!!!" is absolutely priceless! And the very tail end is also amusing.
While the plot line may be a little thin, Bud Jamieson's appearance helps. But it is the dance sequence that makes this short really shine!
Three smart saps aren't enough to make this a smart movie
Horst_In_Translation25 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Three Smart Saps" is an American 17-minute short film from 1942, so it is the 75th anniversary this year. The names Bruckman and (especially) White maybe make obvious to you already that this is another of the really really many Three Stooges short films and as such, it is of course in black-and-white with sound. Curly is still on board here and despite the time when this was made, it is one of their unpolitical works. Instead, it is about an unlucky prison warden, who gets thrown in jail by a bunch of gangsters and the ones who have to get him out are the Three Stooges because (now it gets really unlucky for him!) they are also engaged to the warden's three daughters. But they are probably doing a surprisingly fine job this time. Most of the action takes place on the dance floor here (for Curly and Moe), but these scenes I never really found funny. Several of these scenes, especially the way the woman realizes it's her dress that is loose, really look like they are taken right out of a cartoon, but for a live action film it is not working. This is one of the more known Stooges shorts still and I believe that if you like their other works, then you will maybe enjoy this one too as honestly in terms of the comedic approach, all these films look extremely similar. I myself really only somewhat enjoyed the occasional play on words, like Moe's draft reference. The rest was extremely forgettable. I may be a bit biased though as I am certainly not the biggest Stooges fan.
You've Got TB
Michael_Elliott21 February 2015
Three Smart Saps (1942)
*** (out of 4)
Moe, Larry and Curly arrive at the home of three daughters who they plan to marry but they learn the wedding has been called off because their warden father is now behind bars like a criminal. In order to marry them the boys must break into prison and try to get the girl's father out of trouble.
If you're a fan of the Stooges then there's no question that you're going to find enough good laughs here to stay entertained. The film has a lot of quality moments with the majority of them coming in the first half as the boys try to get themselves arrested. The certain highlight of the movie comes when Larry and Curly try to throw some large rocks through a window not knowing that it's actually unbreakable. Of course Moe has to pay for it. The second half of the film has the Stooges inside the prison where there's a funny dance going on and of course all sorts of slap-happy violence follows.
*** (out of 4)
Moe, Larry and Curly arrive at the home of three daughters who they plan to marry but they learn the wedding has been called off because their warden father is now behind bars like a criminal. In order to marry them the boys must break into prison and try to get the girl's father out of trouble.
If you're a fan of the Stooges then there's no question that you're going to find enough good laughs here to stay entertained. The film has a lot of quality moments with the majority of them coming in the first half as the boys try to get themselves arrested. The certain highlight of the movie comes when Larry and Curly try to throw some large rocks through a window not knowing that it's actually unbreakable. Of course Moe has to pay for it. The second half of the film has the Stooges inside the prison where there's a funny dance going on and of course all sorts of slap-happy violence follows.
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