Ants in the Pantry

This is the start of 1936 shorts for the Stooges: 

(Short # 12 in Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk: The Columbia Shorts of The Three Stooges)

This was another short viewed often due to it being on one of the three VHS tapes of Stooge material that my parents purchased for me as a kid. That will not factor into my rating; Ants in the Pantry will forever be amusing.

The trio are exterminators; their employer (A. Mouser) is rankled that business is down. He tells them to plant pests in a house so that the owners would hire them. They happened to choose a mansion hosting a soiree at the time. After planting mice, moths, & ants, Beulah Burlap indeed hires them; despite her plea to not be conspicuous, Howard, Fine, & Howard are indeed that, culminating in a disastrous incident at a piano where a sack full of cats are hidden.

The expected mayhem from them is great; so is the one-liners such as this classic bit: Larry is poked in the eyes, he yells, “I can’t see! I can’t see!” The other two respond in unison, “What’s the matter?” w/ the reply, “I got my eyes closed” resulting in another eye poke. The final scene is a fox hunt which has little to do with the rest; still, no complaints. One Stooge rides a bicycle on this hunt, another a donkey. As the final gag has always made me chortle, Ants in the Pantry is a short I’ll always dig.

As sometimes occurred, this story was remade for a Shemp short; in this case, 1951’s Pest Man Wins… which allegedly is even better than this but I don’t have any memories of ever watching it. I’ll find out in a few months.

Moment by Moment

Moment by Moment (1978)

Runtime: 105 sleep-inducing minutes

Directed by: Jane Wagner

Starring: Mainly, it’s Lily Tomlin and John Travolta

From: Universal

“A dreary romantic drama where Lily Tomlin romances a younger John Travolta” is as ill-fated an idea as you’d expect. Would you believe I saw this once-years ago-because it was reviewed on an old bad movie site? Moment by Moment is so odd it does deserve a review—even though it’s a putrid film. In 2025, it is common knowledge that Tomlin has been an out lesbian for years (in fact, her partner for the past half-century, Jane Wagner, wrote and directed the film) and there’s been rumors about Travolta’s sexuality… no matter their romantic tastes, their chemistry here was iceberg-cold. All That Heaven Allows, this is not!

A huge and obvious issue which the film can’t overcome: if it’s never been noticed before, the fact that Tomlin and Travolta resemble each other is apparent only a few minutes in! That made their “romance” disturbing & unsettling. They look like siblings & their rapport comes across as mother and son; she notices he’s catching a cold so Lily makes him a healthy drink & gave him a sweater! Tomlin is a socialite who has a philandering husband and John is a drifter named STRIP who is an annoying putz so I’ve always been confused as to why she fell for him despite her loneliness, or he fell for a grouchy pill-popping rich dame. Tomlin played the part as if she was constantly buzzed on Seconal.

As an aside, there are many shots of Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, from Beverly Hills to the beaches. My heart goes out to those in that area having to deal with those wildfires; I know someone online who has lived out there for a little while and undoubtedly a few reading this are also in SoCal. That said, no one should view this monotonous, tedious slog just to view what a scenic, iconic region looked like almost a half-century ago.

It is clear why Tomlin, Travolta, and Wagner have never been known for the romantic genre. Even while filming, allegedly everyone knew the production was getting away from them and this likely would be a cinematic turkey. The soft rock soundtrack and score wasn’t bad and the film does have a perverse quality. However, it doesn’t possess the subtle wit (or much of any wit, really) from Lily & Jane and there unfortunately are many bad John films, some of which are FAR more entertaining instead of this picture that’s missing much of a plot and to use a tired cliché, probably serves best as a cure for insomnia.

A Pair of Classic Three Stooges Shorts

Both are from 1935:

Hoi Polloi: 

(Short # 10 in Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk: The Columbia Shorts of The Three Stooges)

To clarify, “hoi polloi” is Ancient Greek, a pejorative term for “the common masses.” This short is a gem; rather wild is that this was the first version of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, before the late 30’s movie, before 1964’s My Fair Lady, and the inspiration for films like She’s All That. Even wilder is that Moe Howard’s wife Helen had the idea to spoof Pygmalion for a short; instead of receiving credit, she received an undisclosed amount of money.

Two professors argue whether it is environment or hereditary factors that determine behavior. A bet is made, and it was easy for them to select the Stooges for the project after being a spectator to their bumbling ways as garbagemen. That professor’s attempt to civilize them is as disastrous as expected, including a famed scene in Stooge lore: Geneva Mitchell teaching the trio to dance, only for a bee to go down the back of her dress, leading to a hysterical moment.

Once Howard, Fine, & Howard attend a soiree of rich, distinguished folk, it is lunacy as there’s plenty of classic one-liners, Moe slaps, pratfalls, and the well-heeled crowd experiencing a culture clash like no other from seeing (& feeling) their mayhem. The number of laughs in this short-along w/ the classic moments-is why the rating is so high.

As an aside, I should say a few words about such supporting players like Geneva Mitchell and Phyllis Crane, who appeared in more than one early Stooge short but rather soon wouldn’t appear in that world again. They were at their best here; as the girl that Moe attempts to know better at the party, not only did she utter some memorable dialogue, she had an unexpected pratfall & slammed head-first on the ground. Hopefully she was alright.

Hoi Polloi even ends w/ an unforgettable final 30 seconds. It is one of the best in the early run of The Three Stooges.

Three Little Beers: 

(Short # 11 in Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk: The Columbia Shorts of The Three Stooges)

Those that aren’t fans of golf will have extra reason to enjoy this short.

Three Little Beers is another classic in my eyes. The title is such as the boys are just hired as delivery drivers for Panther Brewing Co., ran by A. Panther. They discover the company is holding an annual golf tournament, featuring either cash prices or a keg of beer as the reward. A delivery stop happens to be the real-life Rancho Golf Course, in Beverly Hills. 

Much of the short is shot outdoors, broadening the stage for the Stooges. As all are ignorant to the sport’s rules, they each cause havoc in different ways on different parts of the course. They annoy the golfers, wreck a putting green, put dozens of divots into a fairway, chop down a tree to retrieve a ball… this doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities for two or all three of them to meet again for a bit for an extended, complex slapstick bit. 

Lest you believe the brewery gimmick is ignored after the first few minutes, oh no; it is brought back for the finale which uses the streets of Los Angeles (the Silver Lake area, in fact) to great effect. Even if you love golf, you may appreciate the Stooges poking fun at the sport. In any case, the short is a hole-in-one due to all the laughs it’s always given me. In addition, it was the first appearance for two performers who became stalwarts w/ the trio: John Tyrrell & Eddie Laughton.

 

Jailhouse Rock

Jailhouse Rock (1957)

Runtime: 96 minutes

Directed by: Richard Thorpe

Starring: Elvis, Judy Tyler, Mickey Shaughnessy, Vaughn Taylor, Dean Jones

From: MGM

I had to tip my cap to what would have been the 90th birthday of Elvis. I have a list of his movies and I’ve enjoyed his music since I was a kid. This does not excuse the most unsavory aspects of his life, from the drugs to his behavior to what I’ll call “the questionable start” of his relationship w/ Priscilla. The King was in many corny movies which at least usually made me chuckle due to silliness. Thankfully, he once was in serious films, such as Jailhouse Rock, played last night on TCM.

Vince Edwards is sentenced to prison for manslaughter after attempting to protect a girl from her cruel drunk beau, then killing the SOB w/ several punches. While in the slammer, his cellmate is a former country singer. Much to my amusement, even back then the currency in jail is cigarettes and the movie stressed that point. Once he served his time, there were many bumps on the road to potential stardom.

Edwards is not always a likable protagonist. That made the journey more compelling as his behavior never became a turn-off. Of course it’s a serious film and it had a quality soundtrack, especially the title tune and especially the musical number done when Jailhouse Rock is played. One asset is that music promoter/love interest Judy Tyler was always an easy character to sympathize with. What a shame that only a few days after production completed, Tyler and her husband were killed in a car wreck. Presley was so crushed by the news, he allegedly never watched the film. She was only 24, her husband only 19, so what a tragedy.

It's a nice 50’s musical drama, albeit one where it helps if you like The King and can accept him playing a more atypical role than usual compared to his typical lightweight nonsense on the silver screen.

 

Lady for a Day

Lady for a Day (1933)

Runtime: 96 minutes

Directed by: Frank Capra

Starring: Warren William, May Robson, Guy Kibbee, Glenda Farrell, Ned Sparks, Jean Parker

From: Columbia

I give praise to Glenda Farrell. I never use such weird modern nomenclature like “give them their flowers” but that is what I’m doing here. Recently, someone on Letterboxd I follow lamented how most on Letterboxd know her best for her rather unexciting role in the gangster classic Little Caesar rather than the bold parts she portrayed where she was fun, delivering smart, whip-smart dialogue. I have viewed her in pictures like Mystery of the Wax Museum and Heat Lightning yet shamefully I’ve never specifically given her praise. Well, I will a little later for her supporting turn here.

I selected this film as it was from Frank Capra and was nominated for Best Picture that year. That isn’t always a sign of quality; Emilia Perez will receive a nomination in that category soon and besides knowing of its polarizing reception on Letterboxd, it was only last night that I saw any footage from the picture. A 15 second musical number was posted on Twitter… and it was a baffling clip concerning sex-change operations where I can’t believe it’s not a parody due to the lyrics and Autotune BS attached to every “singing” voice! As it’s a film set in Mexico yet Mexicans are horrified for a number of reasons concerning the film itself… don’t ever expect a review of that from me.

Where was I again… oh, yes, a movie undoubtedly much better than that arthouse trifle. The plot of Lady for a Day will seem familiar to those that have seen Capra’s A Pocketful of Miracles; it’s a remake of Lady. The movie’s a farce where a collection of wacky characters come together to pull off one heck of a con. An earthy, poor lady known as Apple Annie cosplays in letters to her long-unseen daughter in Barcelona that she’s a rich society dame. Well, daughter is coming to New York City to introduce her fiancé, the son of a Count. Those characters (fellow beggars and hoodlums together) help Annie out, because… DAVE THE DUDE-Warren William-believes that she gives him good luck.

Like I proclaimed, this is a farce. It’s a film I enjoyed due to my amusement concerning the plot. It helped that the wide variety of characters were charming; I know some will like hearing that both Guy Kibbee and Nat Pendleton play plum roles. Farrell’s part wasn’t as large as I anticipated-at least not until the final act-yet was delightful as Missouri Martin, nightclub owner and sassy lady. At least there were times she received a starring role, such as Smart Blonde, where she played plucky newspaper reporter Torchy Blane.

Not everyone enjoys this nonsense; understandable. Even as it escalated and the con became more & more elaborate, I was still amused. Through the years in the future, I’ll once in a blue moon check out more directed by Capra and more featuring Glenda Farrell.

 

Witchhammer

Witchhammer (Kladivo Na Carodejnice) (1970)

Runtime: 107 minutes

Directed by: Otakar Vavra

Starring: Elo Romancik, Vladimir Smeral, Sona Valentova, Josef Kemr, Lola Skrbkova

From: Filmove Studio Barrandov

Well, that was grim.

As the film’s available on the Criterion Channel, Czech cinema has barely been explored by me (or cinema behind the Iron Curtain aside from the Soviet Union) and something different was desired, I selected Witchhammer.

In the latter half of the 17th century, the Northern Moravia Witch Trials occur; sadly, this was based on real-life events. The proceedings were as expected for an inquisition. Women were accused of engaging in witchcraft, they were tortured until falsely confessing that others were witches, and it spread like a virus.

This was exactly as grim as you’d expect a 1970 movie behind the Iron Curtain to be, especially when it’s a thinly-veiled attack on Communism and phony trials where the guilt of the accused was predetermined before the trial. In fact, the movie was banned over there for almost two decades. Miserable moments happening to the fairer sex, the fate of those who dare start questioning this witch hunt and oppressive atmosphere aside, it was still a compelling journey due to the direction, the script, the performances and the score.

It's not the easiest journey to take; women are tortured, after all, and several characters are rather loathsome, looking to acquire power & that supersedes all other concerns. However, at least once in awhile I should view serious, sobering cinema such as Witchhammer. It’s far more staid & sobering than Vincent Price’s Witchfinder General, to make the obvious comparison.

Pardon My Scotch

This was a rather hysterical 1935 Three Stooges short: 

(Short # 9 in Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk: The Columbia Shorts of The Three Stooges)

A Wellington boot is how I shake all my alcoholic drinks.

This short wasn’t lacking for excitement. The opening few minutes featured the Stooges as carpenters, causing havoc while attempting to install a door in a speakeasy about to become a legitimate joint, as it’s 1933 in the film’s universe… meaning Prohibition will end tomorrow and alcohol will become legal for public consumption again. Footage from that opening was reused for 1943’s Dizzy Detectives. It will be many weeks down the road but eventually there’s a time late in the Stooge run where not only were shorts remade, footage from the past would be used again. Anyhow, great gags occur, including the appearance of Moe almost having his face sawed off by an electric saw.

The owner of the drugstore/speakeasy is required to leave so the Stooges are there alone. A customer walks in and demands booze, so their solution was to mix random caustic chemicals in a boot and call it “scotch.” The customer loves the powerful concoction and has connections, so the trio attend a society party. Great Depression audiences likely loved Moe, Larry, & Curly thumbing their noses (or, poking the eyes) of the rich folk, and their next several shorts would exploit this. There are homages to both Harpo Marx and Chaplin.

There were plenty of laughs, creative moments, and the trio dressed as Scottish men, doing a “Highland dance.” It was a treat viewing the uncouth leads in such a “proper” setting, horrifying the prim individuals and offending the baritone singer attempting his act. A fancy dinner is absolutely wrecked, resulting in a memorable finale. Heck, Moe suffered broken ribs after a pratfall, yet was able to finish the scene before being rushed to the hospital. Pros, they always were.