Studio: Columbia. Runtime: 16 minutes. Production Number: 160. Release Date: Feburary 20, 1935. Director: Charles Lamont. Producer: Jules White. Story and Screenplay: Felix Adler. Cast: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Jerry "Curly" Howard (Themselves), Walter Brennan (Father), Billy Franey (Servant), Geneva Mitchell (Queen Annie of Anesthesia), Christian J. Frank (Royal Announcer), Stanley Blystone (Captain of the Guard), Ernie Young (Boris' henchman), Dorothy King (Brunette trumpeter), Hilda Title (Blonde trumpeter), Jack Duffy (Toothless guard), Corinne Williams, Marie Wells, Eadie Adams, Patty Price (Ladies of the court), James Howard, Bud O'Neill (Wrestlers), Bobby Burns, William J. Irving, Lynton Brent, George Speer (Guards), Charles Dorety, Jack Hill (Firing squad guards), Bert Young, Dutch Hendrian, Al Thompson (Kidnap guards), Ed Brandenburg (Larry's Stunt Double). Cinematographer: Benjamin Kline. Editor: James Sweeney. Music: Louis Silvers. Shooting Days: 4 (12-19-1934 to 12-22-1934).
The Stooges were such absurd characters that they were outsiders in any environment they were placed in. Because of this they fit into period films better than many comedians, who felt very much like a product of their times. Like cartoon characters, you could place the Three Stooges in any time or place and never have it questioned. Because of they could appear in the old west, medieval times, ancient Egypt, the American Civil War or even fantasy worlds.
This short film takes place in the Middle Ages where the Stooges find out that they are of noble blood. After learning this they decide to volunteer to protect the queen. Yet as they put on a demonstration, the queen is kidnapped. The Stooges do their best to find her and save her.
This film is typical of these early Columbia Stooges shorts. There are some strong gags here. Curly's lines are frequently very funny and the opening scene (which features an early screen appearance by the great Walter Brennan) is hilarious. However, the funny moments are undercut by poor pacing and a barren soundtrack. Some scenes drag on well past the point of being funny (the wrestling scene and the finale). There are many moments here where there are no background music or sound effects. So, when characters aren't talking the film is playing in pure silence. This is all wrong for comedy and especially slapstick comedy. There is a reason why silent films had live musical accompaniment, it added a lot to the action. Here the absence of sound just makes slapstick moments that should be funny come off as rather dull.
In this film, Curly states that he would rather be burned at the stake than have his head chopped off because "A hot stake is better than cold chop!" He would make the same pun in The Three Little Pirates (1946). Curly also states that he was in Paris " looking over the Parasites." This pun was later used in Love at First Bite (1950) and Fifi Blows Her Top (1958). Moe says that they can throw an attractive female character to the dogs, which leads to Larry and Curly barking. This joke would later be repeated in Merry Mavericks (1951). At one point Moe states, "One for all," Larry states "All for one," and Curly concludes "I'll take care of myself." This gag would be repeated in Back in the Woods (1937) and Squareheads of the Round Table (1948).
The castle set in this film was built for the horror movie, The Black Room (1935), directed by Roy William Neill and starring Boris Karloff.
For those of you keeping score, there are 20 slaps and 4 eye pokes in this film.
Resources Used
The Three Stooges Scrapbook by Jeff Lenburg, Joan Howard Maurer and Greg Lenburg
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