Three Stooges Meet Hercules
Martin Nike
Amazon, I finally managed to see it courtesy of an old TV capable
of inputting Quasi-Pal and a Video capable of Reading NTSC.
It was fairly amusing, although the end did seem to drag on a little
bit. Larry & Moe were excellent, but Curly Joe seemed to be
underwritten, and delivered his lines without much, erm, "oomph". He
seemed to be acting more as Larry & Moe's Stooge. Still, he looked
the part and managed to get a few laughs. Shame Curly wasn't alive
when these were made, or even Shemp.
Any of the other features worth seeing? I'd rate this one about 6/10.
--
Martin Nike
"Nothing, like something, happens anywhere."
D. Kirkpatrick
<sil...@clara.net> wrote:
> Any of the other features worth seeing? I'd rate this one about 6/10.
I personally liked "3 Stooges Go Around The World in a Daze".
They repeat, if only for the sake of review, many of their old skits such
as the "3-Maharajas" from "3 Little Pirates".
Also because I think I discovered an inside joke in the film.
The plot surrounds Emil Sitka playing an eccentric inventor who lives in a
medieval castle in the middle of the city and has a lot of stuff operating
on remote control.
This appears to be a poke at then RCA corp. board member John Hays Hammond.
Hammond was a similar eccentric inventor and considered the "father of
remote control" who held the second highest number of US Patents next to
Thomas Edison. He is essentially obscure because most of his work was
contributed to the WWII effort, therefore top secret, in the area of radio
remote control, sonar, radar, and later early Hi-Fi and TV.
He also invented aerosol shaving cream (remember the white face gag
necessary for filming in the movie?), and push-button radio as found in
most automobiles from the 40s-50s forward.
"Hammond Castle" still stands in Gloucester, MA repleat with pipe organ
(also in movie) and is open as a museum.
FWIW, Hammond was a world traveler and often entertained heads of state in
his castle and after the war was a favorite of the Hollywood and radio/tv
set so he was well known. Burgess Meredith (the crusty boxing coach from
the Rocky movie) was a frequent visitor.
What you'd need to do is read up on Hammond and visit the museum and then
watch the movie and draw the parellels. I don't live all that far from
the museum (just under 2 hours) and in my opinion the parallels are
uncanny.
I have asked Saxon Sitka (Emil's son) by e-mail if he was aware of such an
insider joke but was unable to come up with anything.
Dmk
in Boston, MA
Saxon Emil Sitka
You must be referring to "The Three Stooges In Orbit" as my father had only a
very small role in "Around the World in a Daze" (Anyone ever notice what that
role was???) and it was not as an inventor. I am sorry I don't have any
information about whether Professor Danforth from "Orbit" was modelled after
Hammond. I suppose an inquiry to the Maurers would be more appropriate than to
me, as the story credit goes to Norman Maurer (screenplay was by Ellwood
Ullman) and I was only six or seven when the film was made. I had hoped to ask
Joan Maurer on your behalf at last years Stooges Convention but was
inexplicably never able to get near her. Your comparisons make a compelling
case though, and it would be interesting to know the true story. BTW, Emil's
small role in "Hercules" was one which brought him many compliments and he felt
very good about how he enacted it. Although a "bit" part, it was exactly the
kind of character he could sink his teeth into and make the most of.
-Saxon Emil Sitka, "Hold hands, you lovebirds!"
THarri3779
>small role in "Hercules" was one which brought him many compliments and he
>felt
>very good about how he enacted it. Although a "bit" part, it was exactly the
>kind of character he could sink his teeth into and make the most of.
I agree, Saxon. It's one of the highlights of the movie, and Sitka is perfect.
The part personifies the "daffy" humor of your Dad, an area in which he is
unsurpassed.
MSFAN80
I really like "The Outlaws is Coming". Some good gags. The stooges last
feature with Adam "Batman" West
"Outside a dog, a man's best friend is a book. Inside a dog, it's too dark to
read" Groucho Marx
D. Kirkpatrick
> You must be referring to "The Three Stooges In Orbit"
Hi Saxon -
Yes, I meant "Orbit".
I was going over many messages that day and lost track.
I may be interested in writing someone with a more detailed comparison if
you have an address to offer either in the newsgroup or by direct e-mail.
Might be interesting to find out.
Warm Regards and Happy New Year!
Dennis Kirkpatrick
Boston, MA.