Two More Stooge Shorts

Fling in the Ring: 

(Short # 159 in Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk: The Columbia Shorts of The Three Stooges) 

In my first of two Stooge reviews today, despite most of Fling being stock footage from Shemp’s first short (Fright Night), this new version is disappointing. The big issue: Night had Harold Brauner as the villain; despite still being alive, they had someone else-Frank Sully-as the villain, who doesn’t compare w/ the original. Furthermore, Brauner is still present here-but they tried to make him appear to be another henchman. Bizarre.

Might as well copy & paste of what I wrote about Fright Night:

“In this short that isn’t horror-related despite the title, the trio are boxing trainers of pugilist Chopper Kane; whether in the ring in a sparring fight or simply dealing with the boxing version of a tackling dummy, the boys are sidesplitting with routines, one-liners, puns, and slapstick. Shemp had his own style of humor that didn’t replicate his baby brother. Gangsters want to-and this is stunning behavior for the sport-have Kane take a dive in his upcoming bout w/ Gorilla Watkins.

Despite their best efforts, that idea goes awry so the heels take our heroes to… a warehouse. Wacky, but this is the first of three Shemp efforts that end in a room full of wooden crates & boxes, a fact I discovered during a livestream on the official Three Stooges YouTube channel earlier in the year. This lead to more laughs as they chase each other then attempt to KO each other out-more than once, one Stooge accidentally bonked another.

One unique twist from director Edward Bernds: on several occasions, an overhead shot is used to show the Stooges and the villains chasing each other. A shot from that angle was never done before in this universe.”

Due to editing of a bad sort, new footage that was clearly inferior, and an ending where my using the term “abrupt” understates how the final moment did NOT feel like a proper denouement meant that I can’t give this better than a mediocre rating.

Of Cash and Hash: 

(Short # 160 in Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk: The Columbia Shorts of The Three Stooges)

This is an installment during the remake era that Stooge fans like more than most. This remade 1948’s Shivering Sherlocks (some don’t like that due to various plot hole issues) and Hash eliminated those plot hole moments. Furthermore, they used less footage from Sherlocks than usual. To copy and paste part of my review:

“In this installment, the trio are accused of robbing an armored car; they didn't help their case by randomly hiding in a garbage can! A 1940's lie detector is shown-at least presumably this was what one looked like back then. Shemp concocts a random alibi that they work at the Elite Cafe. Thankfully for them, proprietor Christine McIntyre covers for them and they start working at the establishment. Wouldn't you know who won the pony... the people who are hiding out in the family estate owned by McIntyre are the actual armored car robbers. This includes a subhuman hunchbacked hulking brute named Angel! Yes, a lot happens…”

As the replacement footage was good, I can’t carp too much or loudly about Of Cash and Hash. Furthermore, this is the last time I’ll see several actors in new scenes: Lebanese actor Frank Lankteen (who only appeared a few times, but is in fan favorite Malice in the Palace), Stanley Blystone and Christine McIntyre. They all played key supporting roles-whether once or on many occasions-so each will be missed.