Back to the Woods (1937)

Director:

Jack White

Writers:

Andrew Bennison (screenplay)
Searle Kramer (story)

Release Date:

14 May 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Comedy | Western

Plot:

A 17th Century English judge orders three miscreants to defend the new British colonies in New England against the Indians.

Plot Keywords:

17th Century | Native American | Skunk | Swing Music | The Three Stooges

Cast

Curly Howard	...	Curly (as Curly)
Larry Fine	...	Larry (as Larry)
Moe Howard	...	Moe (as Moe)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vernon Dent	...	Governor (uncredited)
Charles Dorety	...	Indian (uncredited)
Bud Jamison	...	Prosecutor (uncredited)
Ethelreda Leopold	...	Hope (uncredited)
Theodore Lorch	...	Chief Rain in the Puss (uncredited)
Cy Schindell	...	Indian (uncredited)
Blackie Whiteford	...	Indian (uncredited)
Harley Wood	...	Faith (uncredited)
Bert Young	...	Indian (uncredited)

Directed by
Jack White		(as Preston Black)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Andrew Bennison		screenplay
Searle Kramer		story

Produced by
Jules White	....	associate producer

Cinematography by
George Meehan

Film Editing by
Charles Nelson

Music Department
Louis Silvers	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1937) (USA) (theatrical)
• Screen Gems (1958) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (2000) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)

Runtime:

19 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor High Fidelity Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: (At 13:00) Moe says "'Tis a hornets nest" when he puts the hornets nest on the branch, but his lips do not move when he says it.

Quotes:

Moe: Fire at will!
Curly: Which one is Will?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Girl 27 (2007)

'Corned Beef And Savages'

We are back in "Merrie Old England" and the boys say they are related to the Three Musketeers but the court says they are criminals who tried to attack His Majesty's guards. They are sentenced to New Cape Prison for 55 years. The prosecutor, played by Stooges regular and favorite Bud Jamieson, however, recommends the court save money and send these "knaves to the new colonies in America to fight the redskin savages." That sounds good to Curly. "I just love corned beef and savages," he says.

Soon we see three beautiful pilgrims who open the door to let in the Stooges. The boys are impressed. Who wouldn't be with these gorgeous governor's daughters: "Faith," "Hope," and "Charity?" Poor Charity is third pick of the lot. Larry says he doesn't charity because he's already on the WPA (Willing Pilgrims Association.). Yup, comedy was really corny back in the 1930s.

It gets cornier as it goes on, with a prolonged dance scene, a horse racing skit, a funny speech by a Chief who is labeled "an Indian giver," and then some more corny antics by the Stooges as they go out "a-hunting-we-will go" to get food for their new sweethearts.

The second half features the hunting scenes and The Boys various encounters with the Indians. Yes, it's pretty crude stuff, but it generally funny material.