After a few days, I finally returned to the world of the Stooges:
(Short # 90 in Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk: The Columbia Shorts of The Three Stooges)
The one short that features them in blackface. Explanation is needed and I’ll explain why the rating is “fine” despite how poorly that element has aged. The trio enlist in the Army at the start of the Civil War, only there’s confusion over whether they should join the Union or the Confederacy. This results in confusion, the boys dressing in uniforms from both sides, and being chased by both Union and Confederate soldiers.
I enjoyed the various gags, routines, pratfalls, and lines throughout. Union soldiers think that Curly was captured by Moe and Larry, so they order him to be locked up by his compadres in the smokehouse. A minute later, Confederate soldiers arrive and the opposite occurs. Sure, you can complain that part of the short appears to take place in a backyard set and there’s an odd editing moment or two.
That said, there’s plenty of running around and gags revolving around fire ants, pitchforks and guns loaded w/ blanks, so I can’t complain too hard. The blackface moment occurs in a house where they’re attempting to evade capture by Union troops. It’s a silly moment as they put on a minstrel show and sing a catchy song. Yeah, that’s an unfortunate artifact from the past but it didn’t ruin my enjoyment as a dumb white guy. I know, I have the luxury of privilege and all…
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