The Three Stooges - Cops and Robbers
by Charley Chase, Edward Bernds, Jack White, Jules White
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DVD details
Actor: Alice Belcher, Curly Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Nick BaskovitchDirector: Charley Chase, Edward Bernds, Jack White, Jules White
Brand: Sony
Writer: Charley Chase
Writer: Edward Bernds
Writer: Elwood Ullman
Writer: Felix Adler
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 101 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-08-27
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Reviews of The Three Stooges - Cops and Robbers
DVD Review: Enjoyable but not consistently great
Summary: 4 Stars
As others have mentioned, the picture quality on this disc isn't always the greatest. We know that there are better prints available; it isn't like these are the best surviving prints and there could only be so much digital restoration done on them. They're far from unwatchable, but it is annoying to see these grainy prints when better ones are out there. And once again, not all of the chosen shorts have much, or even anything, to do with the theme of 'Cops and Robbers.' The shorts included are:
'Disorder in the Court' (1936), which is one of their all-time best and a bona-fide classic. This is also widely considered to be Bud Jamison's best work with the boys. It seems like this short is in many fans' Top 10 of their personal favorites. However, since it is one of the 4 shorts that accidentally fell into the public domain (probably due to a clerical oversight), there are numerous releases of it already. It would seem wrong for it not to have been released on DVD, since it's such a classic, but it could have been included on another disc so that a lesser-seen short relevant to the topic could have been put here in its place.
'Flat Foot Stooges' (1938) is above average, though not really a classic or one of their most memorable shorts. I personally like 'False Alarms' better when it comes to their firefighter-themed shorts. However, it is very solid and enjoyable. This short was directed by the great Charley Chase, and though most of the shorts he did with the boys are more plot-centered as opposed to focusing on the slapstick and violence, this one has more of both in it than usually. I also enjoyed seeing veteran character actor Chester Conklin as Chief Kelly.
'Calling All Curs' (1939) is also above average, though not one I would consider one of their very greatest or most classic. It also doesn't really relate to the theme of the disc, apart from the title and the fact that there are a couple of dognappers featured. It would actually have been better-suited for inclusion on the 'Dizzy Doctors' disc, since the boys are playing veterinarians here. Again, a solid funny short, just not anything extremely memorable or classic.
'Dizzy Detectives' (1943) is another very good short, even though I personally wouldn't consider it a classic or one of their most memorable. It's also stupid how the opening scene is stock footage from 'Pardon My Scotch' (1935); someone who sits down to watch this short might even initially think it were mislabelled and that it's really 'Pardon My Scotch,' since both have the exact same opening scene. (Although that scene, it should be mentioned, caused a real-life injury when Moe fell off of the table that was sawed in half. It really demonstrates what a professional he was that he was able to stand up, deliver his next lines, and slap the other two even though he'd just broken a few of his ribs and collapsed immediately afterwards. Most actors today, comedians or serious actors, would probably never even finish the scene after suffering such a serious injury.) This short is a little slow in spots, and usually it comes off as lame and unbelievable (to a modern audience at least) to see a person in a gorilla suit being passed off as an actual gorilla. There's also a surprising moment in the scene where Curly is coming to Larry's rescue, when we hear an unmistakable sound that obviously wasn't done on purpose. You'll know what kind of a sound it is if you've watched it.
'Crime on Their Hands' (1948) is a great short. As of this date I've only seen about half of the Shemp shorts, but so far this one is my favorite. It's a great spoof of film noir, and it boasts one of Kenneth MacDonald's best roles with the boys. They did a lot of shorts of this nature during the Shemp era (acting as detectives), but this is one of their best ones. Eeverything is so great about this, flowing so perfectly from beginning to end, with a great plot, great slapstick, that great ad-lib from Shemp when he pretends to be a reporter talking back to the boss like they do in the movies, and a really cute funny ending.
'Who Done It?' (1949) is considered by many to be one of the best Shemp shorts, though I think it may be perhaps somewhat overrated (perhaps because they did so many detective-themed shorts during this era, and that premise kind of gets boring, or at least predictable, after awhile). However, he is just great in it, in every single scene, from photographing the fingerprints on the table (while continually wandering over to Christine McIntyre), to his over-the-top reaction after she tries to poison him, to the fight where the lights keep going on and off (his call, "Here I am, Moe!" is just hysterical!). And as usual, there's a great performance by Emil Sitka. The only really bad moment was when Moe was acting like Curly when the paintings were attacking him. It's kind of embarrassing to watch him doing these mannerisms that really can only ever belong to one comedian ever, because he made them his own and no one else's. It just doesn't work on anyone else.
Perhaps not the greatest disc in this series, though even in spite of having a few shorts that are only above-average instead of really GREAT, they are all very solid and funny, and it's not as though there are any below-average or outright horrible shorts included here.
Description of The Three Stooges - Cops and Robbers
Six two-reel shorts, including:
Calling All Curs (1939) Veterinarians Moe, Larry and Curly have gone to the dogs, but when they attempt to replace a priceless pooch that's been dognapped while under their care, they really wind up in the doghouse. They're barking up the wrong tree if they think they can get away with this scheme!
Disorder in the Court (1936) When a sexy nightclub dancer is put on trial for murder, her only hope is three star witnesses: Moe, Larry and Curly. The Stooges are only too happy to help, but when they show up in court to testify, their antics disrupt the proceedings, and the defense never rests.
Dizzy Detectives (1943) Rookie gumshoes Moe, Larry and Curly kick off their new careers with a case that proves to be way over their heads. It seems a gorilla is committing a series of burglaries, and they may be the only ones to catch him. Can they crack the case before the big ape really goes bananas?
Flat Foot Stooges (1938) A crooked fire truck salesman finds himself in hot water when he sabotages one of Fire Chief Kelly's trucks. While Larry, Moe and Curly pamper Chief Kelly's fire truck-pulling horses, a blaze engulfs the firehouse and puts the firefighting Stooges to the ultimate test.
Crime on Their Hands (1948) Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but they're not Shemp's. When he mistakes the Punjab Diamond for a breath mint, Shemp faces the end of an unsterilized knife in the hands of Dapper Dan, who stole the diamond and wants it back ? and he's not waiting until it passes naturally.
Who Done it? (1949) When The Phantom Gang strikes again, millionaire Old Man Goodrich calls the Alert Detective Agency and hires the Stooges to protect him. But Moe, Larry and Shemp arrive just after Goodrich is kidnapped, and are thwarted by a seductress who administers a near-lethal dose of distraction.
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