*****************************************************
NOTE: THESE REPLIES ARE FROM THE LUNKHEAD'S ZONE EZBOARD
*****************************************************
Thomas Hedison
Nitwit
Posts: 89
(4/22/05 7:23 am)
Reply | Edit | Del #10 Hoi Polloi (1935)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This tale would be remade twice as HALF-WITS' HOLIDAY (1947) and PIE AND GUYS (1958 ), but this was soitenly the best version.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
True. It's mind-blowing to imagine if this short was never filmed and "Half-Wit's Holiday" was the only version Curly filmed, or to imagine how Columbia would decide to wrap up "Hoi Polloi" if it was filmed in 1946 ('47 might be the release date) and "Half-Wit's Holiday" was never filmed. I barely remember Joe Besser's version, "Pies and Guys", but it would be interesting to see how he would play Curly's part in "Half-Wit's".
Anyway, the storytelling is good here, and I don't think any other comedy team could've done this short, period. It was made for the Stooges. The other teams either seem too "gentlemanly" or there's some other reason that it wouldn't seem right for them. I don't know if you could call the Marx Brothers "gentlemen", but I can't picture them doing this kind of story. There was also no better third Stooge for it than Curly. Besser's atttempt was okay, but nothing to rave about. Shemp wasn't wild like Curly, so I couldn't really picture him doing it.
That fat lady always cracks me up... first during her dance with Curly and their slap fight, then towards the end when she tries to imitate Curly's running-in-place thing and his woo-woo!
Watch when Moe dances with actress Phyliss Crane (pictured above in the black dress). When they fall, it looks like Crane goes face-first into the floor! The camera went off quickly when that happened.
I love when Larry meets Professsor Nichol's 2 daughters... "Brother, can you spare a Nichol?"
Overall, a great short, and the Curly era wouldn't be the same without either of it's versions of this tale, IMO.
Edited by: Thomas Hedison at: 4/22/05 7:33 am
Megaloman
Lamebrain
Posts: 453
(4/22/05 7:38 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del
#10 Hoi Polloi (1935)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i concur with the analyses above.
David
http://megaloman.proboards24.com/index.cgi
DangerkittyToTheRescue
Nitwit
Posts: 88
(4/26/05 8:48 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: #10 Hoi Polloi (1935)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man,,,,”Permit me to transfer you into gentlemen.”
Curly,,,,What happened? You’re all canned up!”
Moe,,,,”You’re all buttoned up!” Smack
Moe,,,,”See the little deer? Does the little deer have a little doe?”
Curly,,,,”Why certainly, two bucks!”
Curly,,,,”Care to dance?”
Homely Lady,,,,”Why certainly.”
Curly,,,,”I changed my mind, we’ll sit this one out.”
....later....
Curly,,,,”Thanks for the dance, now go cut yourself a slice of throat.”
Lady,,,,”Someday you will find the eternal flame.”
Moe,,,,”Lady, I’ve found it.”
Moe,,,,”What are you going to do with it?”
Moe,,,,”Get rid of it!”
And the spring sticks to Curly’s pants during the dance scene, Curly “springing" off the floor and sliding backwards into people. Love to know how many takes that took to film.
stoogefan65
Wiseguy
Posts: 269
(4/29/05 3:06 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: #10 Hoi Polloi (1935)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A funny short. It is probably on many fans lists of favorite shorts.
DangerkittyToTheRescue
Nitwit
Posts: 91
(4/30/05 8:38 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: #10 Hoi Polloi (1935)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spike TV just played this short on their Stooge Slap Happy Hour! I still laugh out loud at the Curly "spring into action" sofa spring on the rear gag. If it was me that was dancing with the big lady then I'd have the spring on the front!
Nyuk nyuk nyuk, oh I'm a wise guy!