A Pain in the Pullman

This is another classic Stooge short from '36: 

(Short # 16 in Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk: The Columbia Shorts of The Three Stooges)

The longest short the trio did at Columbia-a hair under 20 minutes… and perhaps one of their funniest. The “Pullman” in question is a reference to travel by train. Their characters here are a comedy duo known as The Three Stooges but in this universe, they are struggling artists who are happy to accept a job, even if it means riding to the destination on a train w/ other performers, including a haughty actor w/ a toupee known as Paul Pain.

Oh, and as part of their act, they have a capuchin monkey. You know, like in the first Pirates of the Caribbean film.

There are laughs in their apartment even before getting on the train-that complex is owned by a “Mrs. Hammond Eggerly,” an astounding name- but once they’re on board, it’s hysterical. Many memorable moments occur, from Bud Jamison’s Johnson being part of a tremendous running gag involving his noggin, to Curly the flirt gone wrong, to their ignorance of crab as a food, to the point that they argue if it’s a spider or turtle. Presumably, in the 30’s that delicacy wasn’t as ubiquitous as it is now. They even have difficulty entering their bunk.

The other person in that crab scene: Hilda Title. She was a bit player who only appeared in a few entries then vanished. Oddly, practically all those bit players have some biographical information known about them, but not her aside from day and location of birth/death. She didn’t always have a speaking part but this was the biggest role for that cute, petite young lady. A shame her career was so brief.

Anyhow, there were plenty of talented performers who worked with the Stooges through the years, no matter how long or brief their filmography with the trio was. In general, I can’t complain about those that were in front or behind the camera in these shorts. It all came together rather well for A Pain in the Pullman.