Movie Maniacs

Movie Maniacs is a 1936 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 13th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Movie Maniacs
Directed byDel Lord
Produced byJules White
Written byFelix Adler
StarringMoe Howard
Larry Fine
Curly Howard
Mildred Harris
Kenneth Harlan
Bud Jamison
Harry Semels
Heinie Conklin
CinematographyBenjamin H. Kline
Edited byWilliam Lyon
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • February 20, 1936 (1936-02-20) (U.S.)
Running time
17:13
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

The Stooges are stowaways on a boxcar carrying a furniture consignment to Hollywood. Fully expecting for no good reason to get a job and become movie stars, and dressed for the occasion, the Stooges sneak into a movie studio—where they are mistaken for three new executives who are due to take over the facility. Given the authority, they promptly abuse it and take over the production of a movie set in hopes of shooting a blockbuster movie. Curly gets off on the wrong foot when, unable to light his match for a smoke, spots an actress receiving a pedicure (silent star Mildred Harris). He then strikes the match on the sole of her bare foot, startling her. Angered, she is about to storm off the set until the trio convince her to stay. The trio then act out the love scene as they want it filmed, leading its stars to abandon the set.

Another telegram arrives with the news that three actual executives were delayed by a storm. Angered at the deception, the studio boss and the film's crew go after the Stooges, who flee the scene. After the trio is able to hide from their pursuers, they soon find themselves in a lion's den. The three quickly get into a nearby car, but the lion catches up and attacks them, leaving the car to go out of control down a nearby street.

Cast

Credited

Uncredited

  • Heinie Conklin, Blackie Whiteford as studio guards
  • Jack Kenney as Fuller Rath's assistant
  • Charlie Phillips as surveyor
  • Elaine Waters as "Marie," maid actress
  • Hilda Title as script girl
  • Lois Lindsey as Moe's kissing partner
  • Althea Henley as Larry's kissing partner
  • Eve Reynolds as Curly's kissing instructor
  • Eddie Laughton as grip
  • Antrim Short as cameraman
  • Charlie Phillips as assistant cameraman
  • Harry Tenbrook as lighting technician
  • Lew Davis as boom operator
  • George Gray, Harry Keatan, Bert Young, Charles Dorety as studio crewman
  • John Barrymore as Himself (photograph)[1]

Production notes

Movie Maniacs was released on February 20, 1936, only two weeks after the previous release, Ants in the Pantry. It was filmed, though, in October 1935, two months before Ants in the Pantry.[2][3]

The scene with the Stooges demonstrating kissing techniques was deleted when originally released to television in 1958 by Columbia Studio's television distribution subsidiary Screen Gems, as it was deemed too risqué for children's programming. Home video versions present the completed film with the scene intact.[4]

The original ending involved the Stooges setting fire to the movie set and fleeing the site.[3]

Quotes

Curly: "If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking 'til you DO succeed!"

References
  1. "Movie Maniacs (1936)". https://threestooges.net/. Retrieved May 20, 2020. External link in |website= (help)
  2. Pauley, Jim (2012). The Three Stooges Hollywood Filming Locations. Solana Beach, California: Santa Monica Press, LLC. p. 160. ISBN 9781595800701.
  3. Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Glendale, California: Comedy III Productions, Inc. p. 80. ISBN 0-9711868-0-4.
  4. Movie Maniacs at threestooges.net
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