Idiots Deluxe (1945) User Reviews

Oh, Woe Is Moe!

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 29 March 2008]

This was the film in which we first see Moe on trial for trying to murder Curly and Larry. The rest of the film, except for the ending, is a flashback and what led to Moe losing control and trying to murder his buddies.

It's fairly famous for that, and for the scenes with a bear out in the woods, who licks honey from Moe's glass and eventually drives away in their car while signaling for a left turn!! Who can ever forget that? No matter how many times I view those scenes, I laugh out loud. Those bear scenes are true Three Stooges classic moments.

This is one of the top 20 short films, in my opinion, of all time regarding The Three Stooges. It's full of classic slapstick scenes.

more bear

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 9 March 2021]

Moe is on trial for assaulting his roommates Larry and Curly. Moe testifies in court. He needed peace and quiet. The guys took him into the woods and found themselves facing a bear.

At first, I'm concerned with Moe becoming quiet from his condition. Instead, he just got meaner and that's a good thing for comedic effect. There is one thing I wish they would do for the ending. The bear needs to come into the courtroom and chase the boys around. Moe chasing Larry and Curly takes it to a second level. If the bear shows up at that moment, it would take it to a next level situation.

It's funny

[Jim-500 · 7/10 · 2 November 2009]

Not the greatest stooge short, but it still has plenty of laughs. The boys are roommates and Moe has decided to sue the other two because they're literally driving him crazy. The story is told in flashbacks about how Larry and Curly try to soothe Moe's illness while only making it worse.

My favorite bit is when they're in the woods and Larry is giving Curly some rocks to wall up a bear's den, and he decides to play football center and hikes a huge rock to Curly through his legs without looking to see where it goes (it hits Moe in the head, of course). You just can't make people any dumber.

This is the first short where Curly is clearly not himself (he suffered a mild stroke after this short was made). He has a fair amount of energy but his voice rarely gets up into his classic falsetto, and his speech is slightly slurred. Even so, it's easy to enjoy this short as it's another fine example of the stooges doing what they do best.

"I'm a sick man, a very sick man"

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 9 July 2014]

Idiots Deluxe has the 3 Stooges coming apart as it were. Larry and Curly have finally brought charges against Moe for assaulting them. As this short subject opens Moe is taking the witness stand and telling his story in flashback to Stooge regular Vernon Dent playing the judge.

This judge hears how Moe has put up with all kinds of stupidity over the years and certainly recorded in many short subjects. It would be enough to drive anyone over the edge and the doctors tell Moe his nerves are shot and he needs peace and quiet. So why Moe would go on a vacation with the source of his anxiety is to me reason enough to question his sanity.

So at a nice cabin in the woods, Larry and Curly together with a bear drive Moe to commit more than the usual amount of mayhem upon their persons.

Very funny short, all Stooge fans should see this.

Funny Stooges Short

[Michael_Elliott · 9 April 2017]

Idiots Deluxe (1945)

*** (out of 4)

Moe is on trial for assaulting Larry and Curly but he pleads with the judge to allow him to tell what actually happened. We learn that Moe was being treated for a nervous condition so Larry and Curly took him into the woods where they ended up running into a bear.

IDIOTS DELUXE is a very funny short for The Three Stooges so fans of them will certainly enjoy it. I'd also argue that if you're unfamiliar with their work then this would be a good place to begin because there are some really funny gags along the way. There are several very funny moments scattered throughout the short but the highlight has to be the sequence with the bear being "dead" and in the back seat of the car. The joke that happens is rather obvious but it's still a lot of fun.

The Stooges at their funniest!

[Raine-8 · 10/10 · 10 October 2001]

This is easily one of the BEST Stooges shorts ever. The premise: Curly and Larry take Moe on a hunting vacation for his nerves but a wandering bear makes things difficult for them. It is unique in that it moves at a slower pace than many of their other films (at least, from my POV) but it's still quite hilarious! Some of their best gags come from this little gem such as Curly and Larry performing as the "Original 2-Man Quartet" (with an out-of-control trombone slide), the boys trying to seal a menacing bear inside a cave by blocking the entrance with rocks (inevitably leading to both Moe and the bear being knocked cold by decidedly misthrown boulders), and Curly asking Larry if hunting is allowed. Larry replies, "Sure. I just saw a sign: Fine for Hunting" (a great verbal gag). This short also shows some of Moe's best acting abilities. One practically sympathizes with him as he unsuccessfully tries to soothe his "jangled nerves". I highly recommend this to any Stooges fan. Give it a try; you'll not be sorry you did. And watch out for that car driving bear!

Funny, though inconsistent, Stooge outing

[jimtinder · 6/10 · 17 June 2003]

Woe is Moe. He's being sued by Larry and Curly for assault. Moe tells the judge (Vernon Dent) he can't help himself, that he is a sick man and a nervous wreck. The film flashbacks to the boys on a hunting trip; Moe gets irate when he thinks Larry and Curly have eaten his food; in reality a bear has devoured the tasty morsels! Will the boys defeat the bear and will Moe get some much needed rest?

"Idiots Deluxe" is a decent Stooge outing, but somewhat inconsistent. Many film buffs and historians cite a later 1945 release, "If a Body Meets a Body," as evidence that Curly had suffered a stroke. I think that "Idiots Deluxe" shows that Curly Howard was already a sick man. Physically, he's still able to do many things, including running into the side of a cabin and getting knocked down by a rock. But listen to his voice; it ebbs and flows between his "Curly" falsetto and Jerome "Curly" Howard's natural voice. This inconsistency does not allow the viewer to fully relax with the film. You know there's something wrong when a bear and not the Stooges get most of the laughs.

Funny, but not outstanding. 6 out of 10.

Great Three Stooges short!

[Movie Nuttball · 10/10 · 5 August 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!

This is a really a classic Three Stooges short. Vernon Dent is very good as the Judge. Paul Kruger, Eddie Laughton, and Al Thompson are in this one. I like the great acting by the Stooges especially by Moe. When Curly and Larry are in the car the communication between the two was really good. I recommend this one!

Moe Needs Rest And Quiet

[StrictlyConfidential · 6/10 · 4 July 2021]

"Idiots Deluxe" was originally released back in 1945.

Anyway - As the story goes - While out in the country to rest his nerves, Moe cooks up a delicious breakfast that gets devoured by a bear. But believing Larry and Curly ate it pushes him over the edge.

A good Stooge short

[slymusic · 11 October 2006]

Directed by Jules White, "Idiots DeLuxe" is a good Three Stooges film starring Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard. Curly and Larry take Moe to court and accuse him of assaulting them with intent to commit mayhem. The reason for the assault: Curly and Larry were only trying to be helpful in taking Moe on a rather miserable camping trip to soothe his frazzled nerves.

Highlights: Larry and Curly appear as "The Original Two-Man Quartet," with Larry on clarinet & drums and Curly on trombone, suspended gong (whacked with his head), & bass drum (struck with a mallet attached to his rear end). While the Stooges are having lunch in their cabin, a bear wanders by and secretly eats Moe's food, after which Moe blames Larry and Curly for the misdeed. While hunting for the bear, Larry accidentally shoots Moe in the posterior! The boys have trouble throwing rocks into a cave to trap the bear because they wind up beaning themselves with the rocks. After the bear causes Moe to jump out the rear of the Stooges' car, Larry and Curly feel a few slaps on the head and start to accuse each other, until they look behind them! During the final courtroom scene, Moe tells Larry and Curly that he has a surprise for them; when they ask for it, he nearly clobbers them with his axe and chases them out of the courtroom.

"Idiots DeLuxe" may not be the greatest Stooge film ever made, but it's still worth watching and enjoying. The judge in this film is portrayed by a very familiar Three Stooges foil, the man who appeared in more Stooge films than any other supporting actor: Vernon Dent.

An Elwood Ullman masterpiece

[finki · 4 March 1999]

IDIOTS DELUXE (1945) is the last good Three Stooges short directed by Jules White before falling down into mediocrity. Considering the poor quality of all of White Stooges shorts after this one the credit for this one belongs to writer Elwood Ullman whose script is excellent. With no "poke in the eyes" jokes the two-reeler is effectively structured in flashback and features a lot of inspired gags and jokes. For once, Jules White does not milk the screenplay with protracted and unfunny gags. The version I have seen so far, in Argentina, is in Spanish; however, not even the poor dubbing can undermine the film qualities.