Soup to Nuts (1930)

 

Studio: Fox. Runtime: 71 minutes. Production Number 33. Release Date: September 28, 1930. Director: Benjamin Stoloff. Story: Rube Goldberg. Screenplay: Rube Goldberg and Howard J. Green. Cinematographer: Joseph Valentine. Editor: Clyde Carruth. Sound: Alfred Bruzlin. Cast: Ted Healy, Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Fred Sanborn (Themselves), Frances McCoy (Queenie), Stanley Smith (Carlsor), Lucille Brown (Louise) Charles Winninger (Schmidt), Hallam Cooley (Throckmorton), George Bickel (Klein), Wm. Tooker (Ferguson). Associate Producer: Al Rockett. Settings: Lewis H. Creber. Lyrics and Music: Cliff Friend, James V. Monaco. Continuity: Howard J. Green. Costumes: Sophie Wachner. Presenter: William Fox. Shooting Days: 24 Days (7-14-1930 to 8-9-1930)

Soup to Nuts marked the Stooges' screen debut. However, it was hardly the start of their career. Moe, Larry and Shemp already had success working on stage. Moe Howard (born June 19, 1897, in Bensonhurst, New York) was an extremely intelligent child, who had been a voracious reader since an early age. His brother Jack would later recall, "I had many Horatio Alger books, and it was Moe's greatest pleasure to read them. They started his imaginative mind working and gave him ideas by the dozen. I think they were instrumental in putting thoughts in his head - to become a person of good character and to become successful." Moe also had an interest in show business from a young age. In school he acted in, dramatized and directed a play of The Story of Nathan Hale. He soon began playing hooky from school to see the melodramas being performed at theaters. This caused a once studious student to go from getting high grades to getting worse grades to never completing his high school education. Moe would later state "I used to stand outside the theatre knowing the truant officer was looking for me. I would stand there 'til someone came along and then ask them to buy my ticket. It was necessary for an adult to accompany a juvenile into the theatre. When I succeeded, I'd give him my ten cents - that's all it cost - and I'd go up to the top of the balcony where I'd put my chin on the rail and watch, spellbound, from the first act to the last. I would usually select the actor I liked the most and follow his performance throughout the play." In 1909 he got a job at a movie studio. He became an errand boy for the Vitagraph Studios in Brooklyn. He soon began appearing in bit roles in their films. In 1913 Moe and his older brother Shemp (born March 17, 1895, in Brooklyn, New York) started performing as singers in a quartet with bass singer Babe Tuttle and tenor Willie O'Connor. Moe was the baritone and Shemp was the lead. They performed at Sullivan's Saloon until their dad put a stop to it. Later Moe and Shemp were performing a blackface act when in 1922 one of Moe's old friends, Ted Healy (Born October 1, 1896, in Kaufman, Texas) called Moe to have him and Shemp join his act. In 1925, Larry Fine (Born October 5, 1902, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) joined the act and Ted Healy had three stooges in his act. 

Ted Healy, Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard all performed in a show called A Night in Venice. The show opened in the Shubert Theatre in New York City on May 21, 1929. The show was a revue show, a variety type show that consisted of comedic sketches and musical numbers with no plot connecting them. The revue was directed and choregraphed by none other than Busby Berkley, who would go on to stage elaborate musical numbers for such musical movies as 42nd Street (1933), Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) and Footlight Parade (1933). He would also later direct such films as Babes in Arms (1939), Strike Up the Band (1940) and For Me and My Gal (1942). Though the show got good reviews, it did not last very long running only 175 performances. This was mostly likely due to the Great Depression. Still this show gave the Stooges a newfound popularity. When they were performing at the Palace Theatre in New York in 1930 (which they did from February 22nd to March 7th), Hollywood talent scouts showed up. One of these scouts was from Fox and after seeing the performance, he immediately signed the comedians to star in Soup to Nuts. 

In this movie, Ted Healy plays a salesman for the Schmidt Costume Shop. When not working Ted likes to spend his time at the firehouse, where Moe, Larry, Shemp and Fred Sandborn work. Otto Schmidt (Charles Winninger), the head of the Schmidt Costume Shop tends to spend more time creating elaborate devices than actually running his shop. This is perhaps why the business is going bankrupt. His creditors send a young man named Richard Carlson (Stanley Smith) to take over. Carlson falls for Otto's niece, Louise (Lucile Browne), who wants nothing to do with him because she is angry about why he was sent there. Otto turns out to be a decent guy and Ted attempts to help him get together with Louise. 

Though this movie may not be on the same level as the Stooges' best films, it is an enjoyable little movie in its own right. Though Ted Healy and Charles Winninger are the main stars of this film, it is really the Stooges that steal the show. This may not be their best material but like always the Stooges' energy and likable personalities make it work. For Stooge fans, this movie is a must see for the scene where the Stooges and Ted perform at a party. This is probably the closest we will ever get to seeing what their stage act looked like, making this film an important historical document for classic comedy fans. The scene may not be as funny as the latter Three Stooges films but for Stooges fans, this peak into a forgotten part of their history is just as much fun to watch. Interestingly with the exception of a few slaps, the Stooges' humor here is mostly dialogue based with very little physical comedy. However, the boys prove themselves to be just as adept at this verbal humor as at slapstick. Their bit of business in the diner always puts a smile on my face. There are even a few really good gags in this movie that don't involve the Stooges. One involves an "army" visiting the costume shop and the others all revolve around Otto's wacky inventions. The climatic fire scene is actually laugh out loud funny. The jokes can be very hit and miss throughout this film and quite a few of them fall flat. However, when the movie is funny, it is honestly quite funny. There aren't many song numbers here but the few that are here are a lot of fun. Charles Winninger is also very likable here and he helps give this film a lot of charm. 

Unfortunately, the storyline is very simple and even at 71 minutes, it can feel stretched out and longer than it needs to be. This can make the story meander at times and often leave too long of a break between laughs. The romances are also bland and there is no real chemistry between the lovers here. 

The director of this film was Benjamin Stoloff. Though forgotten today, Stoloff got his start in the silent era directing comedy shorts for Fox. These short comedies starred the likes of Heinie Conklin (who would later appear in a number of Stooges short films), Oliver Hardy (before teaming with Stan Laurel), James Parrott (brother to comedian and future Stooge director Charley Chase) and Bobby Clark. During the talkie era, he would become a director of B-Westerns, directing such western stars as Tom Mix and Buck Jones. He also directed multiple short films starring baseball legend Babe Ruth. His association with baseball did not end there as he would later direct multiple episodes of the TV series, Home Run Derby. This series would run from 1959 to 1961 that consisted of filmed home run contests between baseball stars. His other work included such movies as The Girl from Havana (1929), Night of Terror (1933), Palooka (1934) and It's a Joke Son (1947). This was his only time directing the stooges.   

Better known is this film's main writer, Rube Goldberg. This famous cartoonist is best known for his cartoons featuring elaborate inventions that are created to accomplish simple tasks. At the time of this movie, his cartoon strips were appearing in Collier's Weekly. His famous elaborate inventions (known as Rube Goldberg machines) appear regularly throughout this movie as the inventions that the character of Otto Schimdt creates. Rube even has a brief cameo in this film. 

A 1931 Rube Goldberg cartoon

Goldberg's co-writer was Lou Breslow. Fans of classic comedy might be familiar with him. He was a writer on the Laurel and Hardy movies, Great Guns (1941) and A Haunting We Will Go (1942), the Bob Hope film, My Favorite Spy (1951), Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood (1945), The Ritz Brothers movie, Pack Up Your Troubles (1939), the Red Skelton picture, Merton of the Movies (1947) and an entry in the Blondie B-movie series (one of my favorite B-movie series), Blondie Goes to College (1942). He was also a writer on the Babe Ruth shorts that Benjamin Stoloff directed. Breslow would later direct the Stooge short film, Punch Drunks (1934). 

Charles Winninger (who played Otto Schimdt) was a very accomplished character actor, who often appeared in films as a kindly old man (similar to his role here). His filmography includes such beloved movies as Three Smart Girls (1936), Nothing Sacred (1937), Babes in Arms (1939), Destry Rides Again (1939), Ziegfield Girl (1941), State Fair (1945) and Father Was a Bachelor (1950). He also appeared in the underrated Christmas movie, Beyond Tomorrow (1940). When making Soup to Nuts, he was just starting his movie career, though he had been performing in vaudeville since the age of eight. Born on May 26, 1884, he was a veteran entertainer by this time. 

The leading lady here is Frances McCoy. McCoy did not appear in many films, though other than Soup to Nuts, she also appeared in a few musical shorts. Little biographical information is available about her. Even information about her birthdate and place differs depending on which source you look at. The Los Angeles Times on October 27, 1930, mentioned her having a nervous breakdown and returning home to New York. The address she would return to is 2390 Davidson Avenue, an address also given to her in the 1933 City Directory. This nervous breakdown seems a likely reason why her movie career was cut so short. 

Fred Sanborn's role in this film is almost as a fourth stooge. He is a very wacky character and shares most of his screentime with Moe, Larry and Shemp. Though this is the only film in which he worked with the Stooges, it was not the only time he filled this role as a fourth Stooge. He appeared with them in A Night in Venice as well as some of their other early-stage appearances. In 1930 (the year this film was released), Sanborn performed as part of Ted Healy's act (along with Moe, Larry and Shemp) on January 1-4 at the Majestic Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, January 5-11 at the Subert Detroit Theatre in Detroit, Michigan, January 12-18 at the Shubert Theatre in Cincinnati, Ohio, February 1-7 at the Palace Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio, February 8-14 at the Palace Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, February 22 - March 7 at the Palace Theatre in New York City, March 22-28 at Loews State Theatre in New York City, March 29- April 4 at the Metropolitan Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, May 23-25 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angles, California, May 29- June 4 at Loew's State Theatre in Los Angles, California, June 5-11 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California. After his time with Ted Healy, Sanborn would become a solo artist on stage. Sanborn would spend most of his career on stage and appear in very few movies. One of the very few movies he appeared in though were the Olson and Johnson film, Crazy House (1943), which also features Shemp in its cast. 

 

1929 Night in Venice Postcard featuring Ted Healy, the Stooges and Fred Sanborn

The cinematographer for this movie was Joseph Valentine, who would have a very accomplished career. His filmography includes such films as 7th Heaven (1927), Three Smart Girls (1936), the W.C. Feilds and Mae West picture My Little Chickadee (1940), Abbott and Costello's One Night in the Tropics (1940) and Keep 'Em Flying (1941), The Wolf Man (1941), Tomorrow Is Forever (1946) and Possessed (1947). He would also be the cinematographer on three Alfred Hitchcock movies, Saboteur (1942), Shadow of a Doubt (1943) and Rope (1948). He would win an Academy Award for his cinematography in Joan of Arc (1948). He would work on one more film with the Stooges, Myrt and Marge (1933). 

The Film Daily, 1930

Ted Healy gets a song number in this film. The song is called You Can Only Wear One Pair of Pants at a Time. The music for this song was written by James V. Monaco, who wrote the song You Made Me Love You (I Didn’t Want to Do It), originally a hit for Al Jolson in 1913, this song would later be sung by Judy Garland (with new lyrics by Roger Edens) in the movie, Broadway Melody of 1938 (1938). Judy would later perform the song in concert and on her TV show. Country singer Patsy Cline would also have a hit off of You Made Me Love You (I Didn’t Want to Do It). The lyricist was Cliff Friend, who co-wrote (with Dave Franklin) the song The Merry Go Round Broke Down (later the theme music for Looney Tunes). He also co-wrote (with Irving Mills) the song Lovesick Blues, which would later become the signature song for country music legend Hank Williams. The Varsity Eight made a recording of You Can Only Wear One Pair of Pants at a Time on November 3, 1930 (not long after the movie's release). The record advertised this song as being "From 'Soup to Nuts.'"

Exhibitors Daily Review and Motion Pictures Today, 1930

When he is asked how much gas is left in the firetruck, Shemp responds, "The needle is pointing halfway. I don't know if it's half-empty or half-full". This same gag would reappear in later Stooge films including, False Alarms (1936), Dizzy Pilots (1943) and The Three Stooges in Orbit (1962). The coin toss gag here was later reused in the Stooges short, Restless Knights (1936). At one part in this film, the Stooges sing, "You'll never know, just what tears are..." They would sing the same song in Beer in Pretzels (1933), Dancing Lady (1933), Fugitive Lovers (1934), Horses Collars (1935), Hald Shot Shooters (1936) and A Ducking They Did Go (1939). The Stooges repeated the sandbag gag was repeated on a 1950 episode of Ed Wynn's TV show with Wynn taking the place of Healy. The Stooges are Firefighters in this movie, they would later play firemen again in False Alarms and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963). 

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)

The money Ted Healy received from making this film amounted to $1250 a week. While a third less than his vaudeville salary, it was still a good amount of money for the time. Out of this money Ted paid each of his Stooges $150 a week. 

Fox was less than impressed with the movie itself but were very impressed with the talents of Moe, Larry and Shemp. The executives offered the Stooges a seven-year contract to star in a series of feature length comedies. When Healy found out about this, he was furious. He stormed into the office of Winnie Sheehan, Fox's studio head, told him the contract was not valid without his approval and proceeded to physically tear up the contract. The Stooges found out about this and briefly left their old boss. They formed an act called Howard, Fine and Howard and would sometimes bill themselves as "Three Lost Souls." The comics performed at first on the west coast. Their first performance as a trio was at the Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles, California on August 28, 1930. In 1931, the trio teamed with performer Jack Walsh as a straight man that was very much a stand in for Ted Healy. The first performed with Walsh at the RKO Boston Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts on July 11, 1931. They would reunite with Healy in 1932. Their first performance back with Healy would be at the Memorial, Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts on August 7, 1932. It wouldn't be long until Shemp would leave the act and be replaced by his younger brother Curly (Jermone) Howard. Their first performance with Curly would at the Palace Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio on August 27, 1932. This all happened before the Stooges made another film. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Resources Used

The Three Stooges Scrapbook by Jeff Lenburg, Joan Howard Maurer and Greg Lenburg
A Tour De Farce: The Complete History of the Three Stooges on the Road by Gary Lassin
https://billcappello.blogspot.com/2008/06/in-search-offrances-mccoy.html
https://mediahistoryproject.org/
https://www.imdb.com/
https://threestooges.net/filmography/view/198





  

Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics: Athens, Greece and the Ozarks (1977)

 

Note: This post originally appeared on my Movies With Michael blog. Because Joe Besser voiced Babu the genie, I am posting it here as well.

More cartoon fun. 

As a Hanna-Barbera fan, I admit that there is always something warm and cozy about seeing Hanna-Barbera characters from different series appearing together. Because of this Laff-A-Lympics holds a special place in my heart. This series featured three teams of Hanna-Barbera characters competing against each other in Olympic type events. These three teams were the Yogi Yahooeys, the Scooby Doobies and the Really Rottens. The Yogi Yahooeys consisted of many of the studio's earlier funny talking animal characters. The Scooby Doobies consisted of characters from the studio's mystery solving and crime fighting cartoons. The Really Rottens were the villains of the show and the only team where many of the members were created for this show. Snagglepuss and Mildew Wolf served as our hosts and the judges. 

In Athens the teams compete in a pole-vaulting contest and a discus throw. In the Ozarks they compete in a rail cart race and a keel-boat race.  

This is simply a lot of cartoon fun. The slapstick throughout here is delightful. The great slapstick humor begins with the very first event. Yogi Bear's pole vault going out of control and the way Mumbly misses the bar are both hilarious. Another great gag in this episode comes before the slapstick even starts. Tiny little Yakky Doodle competing in the discus throw, when the discus is larger than him is funny in and of itself. The punchline itself is delightfully clever. This episode also is delightful because of great settings. Both the Ozarks and Athens prove to be prefect settings for Laff-A-Lympics events. They both have a good sense of atmosphere, and the background art is wonderful here. The background art is always a treat in Hanna-Barbera cartoons of this time but the artwork in the Ozarks scenes is especially lovely looking.  

This is a wonderful bit of cartoon silliness that is a pure delight to watch. 

Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics: The Swiss Alps and Tokyo, Japan (1977)

 

Note: This post originally appeared on my Movies With Michael blog. Because Joe Besser voiced Babu the genie, I am posting it here as well. 

A strong start to a fun series. 

As a Hanna-Barbera fan, I admit that there is always something warm and cozy about seeing Hanna-Barbera characters from different series appearing together. Because of this Laff-A-Lympics holds a special place in my heart. This series featured three teams of Hanna-Barbera characters competing against each other in Olympic type events. These three teams were the Yogi Yahooeys, the Scooby Doobies and the Really Rottens. The Yogi Yahooeys consisted of many of the studio's earlier funny talking animal characters. The Scooby Doobies consisted of characters from the studio's mystery solving and crime fighting cartoons. The Really Rottens were the villains of the show and the only team where many of the members were created for this show. Snagglepuss and Mildew Wolf served as our hosts and the judges. 

In this first episode, the team competes in the Swiss Alps in such events as Downhill Skiing Contest, Free Style Figure Ice Skating, and 4-man Bobsleigh Race, as well as in Tokyo in Sumo Wrestling, Tennis and Baseball.

This is a truly delightful episode. Watching all these characters interact with each other is always a lot of fun. With this series' focus on cartoony slapstick, there are a lot of gags throughout and most of them are a lot of fun. The wrestling match with the giant Grape Ape playing for the Yogis is tons of fun. Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels' sled coming apart and Dynomutt's use of his robotic legs during a tennis match add to fun. I also love Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble with their delightful cameo as they help coach Scooby-Dum in baseball. This episode is also full of delightfully corny puns. While I wouldn't say these puns made me laugh out loud, they made me smile because of how they embraced the corniness. Yet my favorite comedic moment comes from the appearance of Mumbley's mom. 

This is a delightful start to a really fun show. 

Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics: Egypt and Sherwood Forest (1977)

 

Note: This post originally appeared on my Movies With Michael blog. Because Joe Besser voiced Babu the genie, I am posting it here as well. 


A pure delight for Hanna-Barbera fans



As a Hanna-Barbera fan, I admit that there is always something warm and cozy about seeing Hanna-Barbera characters from different series appearing together. Because of this Laff-A-Lympics holds a special place in my heart. This series featured three teams of Hanna-Barbera characters competing against each other in Olympic type events. These three teams were the Yogi Yahooeys, the Scooby Doobies and the Really Rottens. The Yogi Yahooeys consisted of many of the studio's earlier funny talking animal characters. The Scooby Doobies consisted of characters from the studio's mystery solving and crime fighting cartoons. The Really Rottens were the villains of the show and the only team where many of the members were created for this show. Snagglepuss and Mildew Wolf served as our hosts and the judges. 

In this episode the teams compete in a "touch the tip of the pyramid" race and a camel race in Egypt as well as an armored foot race and a race to save the princess. 

There is a lot to enjoy about this episode. The highlight is the two events in the Sherwood Forest. The Really Rottens having to be courteous and gentlemanly (both of which are taken into account for the events) is a wonderfully clever idea. Not only this but good use is made out of it. The contest to rescue the princess includes some of the greatest slapstick of the episode. Doggy Daddy's plan to reach the princess is downright hilarious. Having Daisy Mayhem be the fair delicate princess is a great gag in and of itself. Both of the environments that the teams compete in allow for some especially wonderful background art. 

This is just a lot of fun. 

Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics: Acapulco and England (1977)

 

Note: This post originally appeared on my Movies With Michael blog. Because Joe Besser voiced Babu the genie, I am posting it here as well.

Another very fun episode. 

As a Hanna-Barbera fan, I admit that there is always something warm and cozy about seeing Hanna-Barbera characters from different series appearing together. Because of this Laff-A-Lympics holds a special place in my heart. This series featured three teams of Hanna-Barbera characters competing against each other in Olympic type events. These three teams were the Yogi Yahooeys, the Scooby Doobies and the Really Rottens. The Yogi Yahooeys consisted of many of the studio's earlier funny talking animal characters. The Scooby Doobies consisted of characters from the studio's mystery solving and crime fighting cartoons. The Really Rottens were the villains of the show and the only team where many of the members were created for this show. Snagglepuss and Mildew Wolf served as our hosts and the judges. 

In Acapulco, the teams compete in a diving contest, an underwater relay race and a speedboat race. In England the teams climb Big Ben, hunt a fox and have a polo contest. 

Again this episode is full of the silly corny fun that I love about these 70's Hanna-Barbera cartoons. There are delightfully silly slapstick gags. This is especially true in the fix hunt scene which is a classic cartoon chase at its best. The speedboat race also has some great slapstick with Pixie, Dixie and Mr. Jinx as well as in the Big Ben scene with Shaggy using the anchor to reach the top and finding himself sein a Harold Lloyd type of situation. The episode is also full of delightfully corny puns. These puns might not be laugh out loud funny, but their sheer corniness makes me smile. Also delightful is Jabberjaw's cameo. I also really like that the scores between the three teams stay pretty close to each other making the games more exciting. This episode also benefits from some great background art during the Acapulco scenes.  

This is just simply a lot of cartoony fun.    

Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics: The Sahara Desert and Scotland (1977)

 

Note: This post originally appeared on my Movies With Michael blog. Because Joe Besser voiced Babu the genie, I am posting it here as well 

Another very fun episode. 

As a Hanna-Barbera fan, I admit that there is always something warm and cozy about seeing Hanna-Barbera characters from different series appearing together. Because of this Laff-A-Lympics holds a special place in my heart. This series featured three teams of Hanna-Barbera characters competing against each other in Olympic type events. These three teams were the Yogi Yahooeys, the Scooby Doobies and the Really Rottens. The Yogi Yahooeys consisted of many of the studio's earlier funny talking animal characters. The Scooby Doobies consisted of characters from the studio's mystery solving and crime fighting cartoons. The Really Rottens were the villains of the show and the only team where many of the members were created for this show. Snagglepuss and Mildew Wolf served as our hosts and the judges. 

In the Sahara Desert the teams compete in a drag race and try to fill up an empty oasis. In Scotland the teams compete to capture a picture of the Loc Ness Monster and in a three-legged kilt race. 

This episode is full of just the type of corny fun that we have come to expect from this series. There is plenty of delightfully silly slapstick and corny puns throughout. The highlight is the teams looking for the Lockness monster. This bit is filled with all the Hanna-Barbera slapstick one could hope for. This is especially true as because when you involve monsters, you get to see Scooby and Shaggy doing what they do best. Wally Gator and Snooper being underwater also adds to the slapstick fun of the event. The ending of that event is perfect slapstick. The three-legged kilt race is also a highlight. The idea of having the giant Grape Ape and the tiny Yakky Doodle being tied together is a delightful clever idea. The magic that Babu uses to get him and Scooby-Dum to help them in the races also leads to some good slapstick. I also like that this episode does a great job of keeping you guessing who is going to win and actually has some surprises in that department. 

A delightful episode. 

Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics: Florida and China (1977)

 

Note: This post originally appeared on my Movies With Michael blog. Because Joe Besser voiced Babu the genie, I am posting it here as well 

A pure delight for Hanna-Barbera fans.

As a Hanna-Barbera fan, I admit that there is always something warm and cozy about seeing Hanna-Barbera characters from different series appearing together. Because of this Laff-A-Lympics holds a special place in my heart. This series featured three teams of Hanna-Barbera characters competing against each other in Olympic type events. These three teams were the Yogi Yahooeys, the Scooby Doobies and the Really Rottens. The Yogi Yahooeys consisted of many of the studio's earlier funny talking animal characters. The Scooby Doobies consisted of characters from the studio's mystery solving and crime fighting cartoons. The Really Rottens were the villains of the show and the only team where many of the members were created for this show. Snagglepuss and Mildew Wolf served as our hosts and the judges. 

In this episode the teams compete in a motor scooter race and a canal boat race in Italy as well as hang gliding, skydiving, and a hot air balloon race in Kitty Hawk. 

This episode is simply a lot of fun. There is some great slapstick and clever gags here. I love how Mr. Jinx uses meece power to power his scooter. There is also some delightfully corny dialogue that I love. I especially love Doggy Daddy's line about all roads leading to Rome. The Kitty Hawk events though feature the best bits of slapstick here. Mildew Wolf being along for Daisy Mayhem's glide as well as Yogi's problems with the hang glider are wonderful slapstick gags. Sometimes the lead up to the slapstick gags are just as much fun. Once again, the teaming of the tiny Yakky Doodle and the giant Grape Ape is funny before anything even happens. Even with this the punchline to the gag is even funnier. There is even some good (though limited) character animation here and the facial expressions on Yakky cracked me up. Scooby-Dum always makes me smile and I loved his little bit in the parachuting scene, which makes a decent gag delightful. This episode also has a delightful closing gag. 

This is pure cartoon fun.  

Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics: France and Australia (1977)

 

Note: This post originally appeared on my Movies With Michael blog. Because Joe Besser voiced Babu the genie, I am posting it here as well 

A delightfully fun episode. 

As a Hanna-Barbera fan, I admit that there is always something warm and cozy about seeing Hanna-Barbera characters from different series appearing together. Because of this Laff-A-Lympics holds a special place in my heart. This series featured three teams of Hanna-Barbera characters competing against each other in Olympic type events. These three teams were the Yogi Yahooeys, the Scooby Doobies and the Really Rottens. The Yogi Yahooeys consisted of many of the studio's earlier funny talking animal characters. The Scooby Doobies consisted of characters from the studio's mystery solving and crime fighting cartoons. The Really Rottens were the villains of the show and the only team where many of the members were created for this show. Snagglepuss and Mildew Wolf served as our hosts and the judges. 

In this episode the constants compete in a bicycle race and "capture the flag at the top of the Eiffel Tower" in France, as well as a boomerang throw and a kangaroo race in Australia. 

This episode is tons of fun. The slapstick gags here are simply wonderful. Quick Draw McGraw's bicycle ride and Grape Ape's way of capturing the flag at the top of the tower are great highlights here. The way the Blue Falcon wins the boomerang throw is very clever as well. There is also some delightful character animation with the dancing kangaroo that Scooby-Dum is riding. The settings in this episode (especially during the kangaroo race in Australia) allow for some of the wonderful background art that populates Hanna-Barbera cartoons of this time period. This episode also does a good job keeping a sense of excitement with keeping the scores very close all the way through. 

This is delightful cartoon-y fun.   

Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics: Florida and China (1977)

 

Note: This post originally appeared on my Movies With Michael blog. Because Joe Besser voiced Babu the genie, I am posting it here as well 

A fun little episode. 

As a Hanna-Barbera fan, I admit that there is always something warm and cozy about seeing Hanna-Barbera characters from different series appearing together. Because of this Laff-A-Lympics holds a special place in my heart. This series featured three teams of Hanna-Barbera characters competing against each other in Olympic type events. These three teams were the Yogi Yahooeys, the Scooby Doobies and the Really Rottens. The Yogi Yahooeys consisted of many of the studio's earlier funny talking animal characters. The Scooby Doobies consisted of characters from the studio's mystery solving and crime fighting cartoons. The Really Rottens were the villains of the show and the only team where many of the members were created for this show. Snagglepuss and Mildew Wolf served as our hosts and the judges.

In Florida the team competes in boat racing, water skiing and in China they compete in a rickshaw race, a ping pong tournament and gymnastics. 

Once again, this episode provides all the corny fun that you expect from this series. There is plenty of good slapstick throughout. Probably the highlight is the rickshaw race which is full of delightful slapstick gags. I especially love how the Scooby snacks are used to entice Scooby to go faster and the great slapstick gags involving Yogi and Boo-Boo. The gymnastics event is another delightfully clever slapstick moment. The gag with the Grape Ape is especially fun, as is the Really Rottens' various attempts at cheating. This episode also features a lot of delightfully corny dialogue. I really like the interview with Wally Gator as well as many of the silly corny puns. 

Another really fun episode.  

Pi Day

 I hope you all had a wonderful PI Day. 

Hold That Ghost (1941)

Note: This post has previously appeared on my Movies with Michael blog but because the movie features Shemp in a supporting role, I am including it here as well.  

 Hold That Ghost was Abbott and Costello's fourth appearance in a feature film and the third one in which they were the stars. It was supposed to be their third film overall and was the third completed. However, after Buck Privates (1941) became such a smash hit, it was decided to make the next movie another service comedy. So, the release of this film was delayed as the boy's made In The Navy (1941). This plan worked out well as In the Navy was the highest earning film of 1941. Hold That Ghost was originally going to be titled, Oh, Charlie! after a scene where Lou is looking to find a man (who has been killed) named Charlie. Lou as he looks around keeps saying "Oh Charlie." Hold That Ghost was again another giant hit for the boys and is my personal favorite Abbott and Costello film.

This movie was the first Abbott and Costello movie written by Robert Lees and Fredric I. Rinaldo. This writing team would prove to be perfect for the boys' scare comedies as they would also write Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) and Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951). In my opinion these are the three best of the boys' scare comedies. This is one of the five Abbott and Costello pictures directed by Arthur Lubin. His other four being Buck Privates, In the Navy, Keep 'Em Flying (1941) and Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942).

Like many of Abbott and Costello's early pictures, this movie features musical numbers as well as comedy. The film originally was not going to have any musical numbers. However, when shown an early version of the movie, a preview audience asked where The Andrew Sisters were (they had been in the Bud and Lou's previous two films). Additional scenes were then added with The Andrews Sisters performing two song numbers, Sleepy Serenade and Aurora. As an Andrews Sisters fan, I am very happy for these additions, especially since both of them are such great songs. Aurora is especially one of my favorite Andrew Sisters songs. Sleepy Serenade was written by Lou Singer and Mort Greene and The Andrew Sisters released it on record shortly before its use in this film with the words on the record stating "From New Universal Picture 'Oh Charlie!" Aurora was written by Mario Lago and Roberto Roberti, with new English lyrics by Harold Adamson. The Andrews Sisters would later again record this song for their 1957 album, The Andrew Sisters in Hi-Fi for Capitol Records. Also performing a couple songs in this movie is Ted Lewis and his orchestra. One of these songs was When My Baby Smiles at Me. This song was written by Bill Murno, Andrew B. Sterling and Lewis himself. Lewis had originally recorded and released the song in 1920, and it became one of his biggest hits. He also performed in this movie Me and My Shadow, written by Al Jolson, Billy Rose and Dave Dreyer. This song had been an important part of Lewis' live performances since it was written in 1927. Both of these are again excellent songs, but unfortunately, we only hear parts of them unlike The Andrews Sisters songs which get a full treatment here. Still, what we hear of these two songs is completely delightful. Maybe it is because I am a fan of music from this era, but I actually find the song numbers in these early Abbott and Costello movies to add to my enjoyment instead of detracting like it does for so many others today. Whatever the reason I love the musical numbers in these movies and this movie is no exception. 

Production was set back because of the scenes where Bud and Lou work at a gas station. The studio had a hard time finding an appropriate gas station. Eventually the studio up making a gas station set themselves. This set would be reused for the Abbott and Costello movie Pardon My Sarong (1942).     

One joke in the script did not make it past the censors. When working at the gas station Bud would explain why Ethel costs more stating "You can go further with Ethel." Not surprisingly this was cut out of the film. However, a shockingly risqué joke would actually be in the finished movie. Lou accidently breaks his bed, and Camille (Joan Davis) says they will have to share a bed. Lou then does his trademark whistle.

Some gag sequences would be reused in later Abbott and Costello films. One of them would be a comic ballet between Lou Costello and Joan Davis. Lou would later do a similar (though not as funny) bit with Dorothy Ford in Jack in the Beanstalk. A sequence of a moving candle would be reworked into Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. That moving candle routine was actually where the idea to make Hold That Ghost came from. They had performed this routine on burlesque and also for their original audition for Universal. One joke written for this movie, but that didn't make it into the film was actually used in the later Abbott and Costello film, Ride 'Em Cowboy. In this joke Bud mentions a herd of cows to which Lou responds, "Of course I've heard of cows."

Because Lou's scared act went over so well with audiences, a scene with Lou scared would be put into the next Abbott and Costello movie, Keep 'Em Flying.

Shemp has a small role as a soda jerk in this film. While he may not have much to do here, he does truly leave an impression and gets the most out of this small role as he possibly could.  

There is so much to recommend about this movie. It has some of the funniest scenes the team ever did. These include the amazing comic ballet, the changing rooms and Lou's failed attempt at being a waiter. Many individual jokes here are also very funny. I love when Lou states that he is scared to go into the dark with no one to talk to. Bud asks him why he doesn't just talk to himself. Lou responds, "I get too many stupid answers." Also adding to the comedy here is an amazing comedic performance by Joan Davis. Her comedic chemistry with the boys is perfect and she adds so many great laughs to this movie. Watching her and Lou do the comic ballet is a wonder to behold. The musical numbers are again great here. Filled with energy and excitement these songs are just a joy. As many of you know at this time, Universal excelled at making horror films, and the same care and attention seems to be on this movie. The look of this movie, from the lighting to the cinematography is incredible. It gives an amazing sense of atmosphere that is absent from most slapstick comedies. Due to this the movie gives much of the same amazement that is seen in the best of those Universal horror films and the images as well as the jokes and the songs stay in one's mind after the movie is over. Beyond all this though the movie is just tremendously entertaining. There is not one dull spot and the whole film just puts a smile on my face each time I watch it. No wonder this is my favorite Abbott and Costello movie. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Resources Used


The Abbott and Costello Story by Stephen Cox and John Lofflin

https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/78178/hold-that-ghost#overview

DVD Audio Commentary by Film Historian Jeff Miller. 

Buck Privates (1941)

 

Note: This post was originally on my Movies With Michael blog but because it features Shemp in a supporting role, I am including it on this blog as well. 

Everyone who like me is an old movie addict, has a movie that started their addiction. For me that film was Buck Privates. As a kid I quickly fell in love with this movie. I thought Abbott and Costello were the funniest thing I had ever seen and the songs by The Andrew Sisters' song numbers were so much fun. Since I was a kid, I wasn't too critical about the romantic subplot either. This was pure entertainment of a type I was unfamiliar with before and it didn't take long for me to fall in love with classic films.

Buck Privates marked the first starring feature film for Abbott and Costello. Though they had both appeared in One Night in the Tropics before, that movie had them strictly as part of the supporting cast. Anyone who has seen One Night in the Tropics would completely understand why Abbott and Costello quickly became movie stars. That film featured Abbott and Costello at the top of their game performing some of their best skits and clearly stealing the show from the people who were meant to be the stars. Still even though Buck Privates featured Abbott and Costello as the stars, the two hardly move the plot forward. Their entire arc in the film involves the boys being drafted into the army and having to put up with having a sergeant that already has a grudge against the two. The real story of involves a spoiled rich man (Lee Bowman) who as soon as he gets drafted into the army has only one thought, how to get out. However there is one thing he likes about the army and that is a beautiful hostess played by Jane Frazee. However his former valet (Alan Curtis) has a crush on her as well leading to a love triangle.

Even this plot is somewhat slight though as the main appeal of the movie is meant to be Abbott and Costello's comedy skits. Sure enough Bud and Lou are given some of their best material in this film. This material was provided heavily by John Grant. Grant had already worked with Abbott and Costello on burlesque and radio before the duo ever entered movies. A former burlesque comedian himself, John Grant had a near perfect knowledge of all the old vaudeville and burlesque routines, which proved to be perfect for Bud and Lou. Grant would continue to work with the duo until the end of their screen career. Here like in many other films he received the credit "Special material for Abbott and Costello Provided by..." Bud and Lou here are also at the top of their game full of youthful energy and pure comedic expertise. Though the boys would perform some of these skits in later films they rarely did it as well as they did here. In fact multiple takes needed to be made of the marching scene because director Arthur Lubin (the main director of Abbott and Costello's early movies and their second best director behind Charles Barton) kept cracking up. Bud and Lou had been performing these skits on stage for years and with this movie the skits reached comedic perfection.




It was common place in this era for musical numbers to be inserted into the feature films of comedy teams. Though this practice has gotten a lot of flack from old movie fans, when the music is as good as it is in Buck Privates who am I to complain. Just like Bud and Lou, The Andrew Sisters are at the top of their game. This movie quickly made me a fan of their music and why not. These songs (Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Bounce Me Brother With a Solid Four, I'll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time) are all fantastic. This certainly left an impression on audiences of the time, and The Andrew Sisters would appear in the next two Abbott and Costello movies (In the Navy (1941), Hold That Ghost (1941)). Even Jane Frazee receives a delightful song number (I Wish You Were Here). The music would lead this film to receiving its only two Academy Award nominations, for best musical score (Charles Previn) and best song (Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B).

For this film former writer Alex Gottlieb (tell me that name doesn't make any of my fellow movie fans automatically think of A Night at the Opera (1935)) was promoted to a producer. He was not the first chosen to produce this film. In fact Universal executive Milton Field told him he was "the twenty-seventh writer I've talked to. Everyone else turned it down. They all want to be producers, too. But they all said that these are a couple of cheap burlesque comics who will never get anywhere." The reason Gottlieb agreed was that he had seen Bud and Lou preform in person and was very impressed by the effect the had on audiences. Gottlieb would tell Field, "I will be the star producer on your lot, I will make Universal rich, and I will make stars out of Abbott and Costello."

The film was a huge hit out grossing very prestigious movies of the same year such as Citizen Kane, How Green is My Valley, Sargent York and Here Comes Mr. Jordon. Just as Alex Gottlieb predicted Abbott and Costello were now movie stars of the highest order. Many films would copy Buck Privates trying to repeat the success, but none were able to. One of these movies would even star the legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy (Great Guns (1941)).

This also marked the first Abbott and Costello film to feature Shemp Howard (of Three Stooges fame) in a supporting role. He also appeared in the Abbott and Costello movies, Hold That Ghost (1941), In the Navy (1941) and Africa Screams (1949). 

The following is from an issue of Screenland Magazine, "It's another one of those cases of long standing years of admiration which finally lead to a happy and unbelievable climax. You're seeing the once idolized Jack Mulhall in 'Buck Privates' today because he once was a movie hero to a stage struck high school boy back in Patterson, New Jersey. Jack Mulhall hailed from near Passiac and young Lou Costello felt that that made a particularly logical tie between them, and Lou got the movie bug very, very badly although he had never met Mulhall. In all the years of his struggle to gain recognition as an entertainer he never met the actor he admired above all others. It wasn't until a very few days before 'Buck Privates' was to go into production that he was introduced to Mulhall amid the bustle and rush of an executive's office at his studio. Lou let his bosses know that it had always been a boyhood dream to appear in a picture with Jack. That is the reason you're seeing this one time idol as the doctor in 'Buck Privates.'"  

This following page from The Exhibitor has a very special story about what happened during one showing of this movie. If you have any trouble reading click on the page and use your touch screen to zoom in.

     

Again I love the way theaters advertised movies back in the day and you can see a fine example of that on the following page from The Motion Picture Herald.











-Michael J. Ruhland

Resources Used

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/69830/Buck-Privates/articles.html

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033436/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt