Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk!
Okay, this is only comic related in the fact that the Three Stooges had a few comic series over the years. Really, I’m just thrilled that Sony has finally decided to give Three Stooges fans the DVD collection they’ve been waiting for. (I told you, I like things from before my time.) For years the only way to get all 190 Three Stooges shorts was to pay hundreds of dollars for a poor quality bootleg set on eBay (I made my own when I got tired of waiting). That’s still the only way to get all 190 right away, but at long last Sony is releasing beautifully remastered, chronological (and affordable) DVD sets. A welcome change from the over-priced, unrestored ‘themed’ DVDs they’ve given us for years. Eventually they plan to release all 190 shorts (and all 5 Columbia features), but this is a new venture. Vol. 1 came out last year, Vol. 2 came out last month, Vol. 3 is scheduled for August. This is the best the Stooges have ever looked. Here’s what you’ll find on Volumes 1 & 2:
The Three Stooges Collection Vol. 1 (1934-1936) - WOMAN HATERS; PUNCH DRUNKS; MEN IN BLACK; THREE LITTLE PIGSKINS; HORSES’ COLLARS; RESTLESS KNIGHTS; POP GOES THE EASEL; UNCIVIL WARRIORS; PARDON MY SCOTCH; HOI POLLOI; THREE LITTLE BEERS; ANTS IN THE PANTRY; MOVIE MANIACS; HALF-SHOT SHOOTERS; DISORDER IN THE COURT; A PAIN IN THE PULLMAN; FALSE ALARMS; WHOOPS, I’M AN INDIAN!; SLIPPERY SILKS
The Three Stooges Collection Vol. 2 (1937-1939) - GRIPS, GRUNTS, AND GROANS; DIZZY DOCTORS; 3 DUMB CLUCKS; BACK TO THE WOODS; GOOFS AND SADDLES; CASH AND CARRY; PLAYING THE PONIES; THE SITTER-DOWNERS; TERMITES OF 1938; WEE WEE MONSIUER; TASSELS IN THE AIR; HEALTHY, WEALTHY, AND DUMB; VIOLENT IS THE WORD FOR CURLY; THREE MISSING LINKS; MUTTS TO YOU; FLAT FOOT STOOGES; THREE LITTLE SEW AND SEWS; WE WANT OUR MUMMY; A DUCKING THEY DID GO; YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA; SAVED BY THE BELLE; CALLING ALL CURS; OILY TO BED, OILY TO RISE; THREE SAPPY PEOPLE
Tons of classics in here. Some of my favorites: Punch Drunks, Men in Black (“Calling Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard”), Three Little Beers, Disorder in the Court (“He’s asking you if you swear-” “No, but I know all the woids!”), Grips, Grunts & Groans (Stooges meet pro wrestling!), and We Want Our Mummy. They are all great eye-poking fun with Larry, Moe and Curly. Highly recommended for fans of the trio or classic comedy in general.
I think The Stooges are on some Digital Cable channels. Which volume do you think is the best? There are so many Stooges DVD’s available on amazon.
Yeah, there are a ton of Stooges DVDs out there. Most contain “The Four,” meaning the four shorts that are in public domain – Disorder in the Court, Brideless Groom, Sing a Song of Six Pants, and Malice in the Palace. Also, Sony/Columbia released a bunch of ‘themed’ DVDs using mostly unrestored prints. Now that they are finally remastering the series, I would avoid all of those. I would recommend picking up the 1934-1936 set first. Some of their non-Columbia features and shorts are out there, too. I’ll save those for another discussion.