Search - The Three Stooges - Three Stooges in History on DVD

GOOD!!!!!!!

Shyblader | 08/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Columbia put a lot of effort on this DVD. All 5 of these shorts look the best I've ever seen. It looks like Columbia has been doing some restoration on these shorts. "Restless Knights" looks very good and I'm shocked because this was a short from the 1930's. So, I encourage you to buy this DVD. You will be amazed by the quality of these shorts."

Costume comedy

Anyechka | Rensselaer, NY United States | 01/20/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Costume comedy isn't for everyone, though it's pretty well-done in these 5 shorts. As they've already been outlined, I won't provide another review with plot synopses, just give my views on each short.

'I'm a Monkey's Uncle' (1948)--Very charming and entertaining, not to mention I've always loved prehistory. There are a lot of good inventive gags and scenarios playing upon this era, such as how the boys have to catch their own food, use butter for hair grease, and the weapons they fight back with in the last scene. However, as original and entertaining as it is, it doesn't have much of a real plot, and it doesn't really go anywhere. However, just because a short doesn't have much of a clearly outlined plot doesn't mean that it's automatically bad. Here it's strong enough to overcome that one quibbling detail.

'Squareheads of the Round Table' (1948)--A clever take-off on the King Arthur/Camelot genre. Naturally there's a lot of great inventive violence and punishment because of all of the Medieval implements lying around. It also stars the beautiful and talented Christine McIntyre as Elaine, and has a solid supporting cast as well. Many people hold this one as a classic, and it's easy to see why.

'Fiddlers Three' (sometimes erroneously referred to as 'Fiddler's Three') (1948)--Another short set in a castle. This has a practically identical plot to 'Squareheads,' but for a different king, princess, and villain. It's also the second of three Stooges shorts in a row taking place in a castle, since Columbia had this castle for the latest screen adaptation of 'Lorna Doone' and apparently wanted to milk it for all it was worth while they still had it. I somewhat prefer this one to the above, though there are a few minor things some people find lacking about it. The "daily laugh" scene does go on a bit too long, which makes it get a little weird, and some people feel the recreation of the nursery rhymes also are a bit awkward. Also, what's the point of calling this short 'Fiddlers Three' if only Larry is playing the violin? Even though he was the only one who knew how to play the instrument in real life, the others at least could have pretended while a record were being played.

'Matri-Phony' (1942)--Not quite a classic, but really entertaining. This one takes place in Roman times, and involves some nice gags involving the implements in the pottery shop the boys run. It's funny and original enough, just not one of their most top-notch classics.

'Restless Knights' (1936)--The sixth short they did at Columbia. It starts out really good, but kinda loses its focus about midway through, and ends kind of unevenly and abruptly. It's just not paced as well as it could have been. The wrestling scene also goes on a bit too long. Another problem with this short is that, this early in their two-reeler career, you can see they haven't quite perfected their screen characters yet. Probably the weakest of the 5 shorts.

All in all, these are pretty good shorts, just that when it boils down they're not really among the boys' most classic and greatly-regarded work."