The Three Stooges (2000) (TV)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

James Frawley

Writers (WGA):

Michael Fleming (book)
Janet Roach (television story)

Release Date:

24 April 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A biography of the Three Stooges, in which their careers and rise to fame is shown throughout the eyes of their leader, Moe.

Plot Keywords:

Slapstick | Vaudeville | Comedy Team | Stroke | Comedian

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Paul Ben-Victor	...	Moe Howard
Evan Handler	...	Larry Fine
John Kassir	...	Shemp Howard
Michael Chiklis	...	Jerome 'Curly' Howard
Rachael Blake	...	Helen Howard
Anna Lise Phillips	...	Mabel Fine (as Anna-Lise Phillips)
Jeanette Cronin	...	Gertrude Howard
Joel Edgerton	...	Tom Cosgrove
Marton Csokas	...	Ted Healy
Linal Haft	...	Harry Cohn
Brandon Burke	...	Harry Romm
Lewis Fitz-Gerald	...	Jules White (as Lewis Fitzgerald)
Peter Callan	...	Joe DeRita
Laurence Coy	...	Joe Besser
Phillip Hinton	...	Judge

Runtime:

88 min | Germany:84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Comedy III Productions Inc.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The film implied that Curly was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. In truth, he did recover to a point from his career ending stroke, and even married (again) and had a daughter. He can be seen making an unbilled cameo appearance as a train passenger in _Hold That Lion (1947)_. He is noticeably thinner and had a full head of hair. His health did deteriorate after 1949, and he died in 1952.

Quotes:

Moe Howard: Is there anything you won't bet on?
Larry Fine: Yeah, a winner.

Movie Connections:

References They Stooge to Conga (1943)

Behind the antics were professionals.

A fairly decent made for TV movie, which depicts the beginnings and rise to fame of The Three Stooges. The film concentrates mainly on the behind the scene part of the Stooges lives and career. From their early days with Ted Healy who is portrayed as a somewhat tyrannical figure. The discovery of Larry Fine, the departure of Shemp and the addition of Moes younger brother Curly to the act. Their signing with Columbia Pictures to make the now classic shorts. The sad loss of Curly which led to the return of Shemp to the trio. The lean years before a return to a new generation of fans. The film covers several years and is compressed well for a two-hour movie.

It also shows that behind the zany antics the Stooges were known for it wasn't nearly all fun and games. They were entertainers who paid their dues, encountered ruthless studio bosses and even at times the general public who could confuse what they saw on the screen with reality. After seeing this made for TV picture you'll still laugh when you watch the old Columbia shorts and films the Stooges appeared in. You may however find yourself having a greater appreciation for these entertainers whose profession was comedy and took as much pride in what they did as any other professional in the world of show business.