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'''''Cuckoo on a Choo Choo''''' is the 143rd short subject starring American [[slapstick]] comedy team the [[Three Stooges]]. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for [[Columbia Pictures]] between [[1934 in film|1934]] and [[1959 in film|1959]]. |
'''''Cuckoo on a Choo Choo''''' is the 143rd short subject starring American [[slapstick]] comedy team the [[Three Stooges]]. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for [[Columbia Pictures]] between [[1934 in film|1934]] and [[1959 in film|1959]]. |
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==Plot== |
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Larry and Shemp are hiding out in a stolen railroad car called "Schmow." Larry wants to marry his girlfriend Lenore ([[Patricia Wright (actress)|Patricia Wright]]), but she refuses to consent until Shemp marries her sister Roberta ([[Victoria Horne]]). The problem is that Shemp is rarely sober, and madly in love with an imaginary giant canary named Carrie. |
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A private investigator from the railroad (Moe) finds the missing train, and is trying to get a sense of how the car was stolen from a moving train. As fate would have it, Moe had a previous relationship with Roberta, and has not seen her for years. He is ecstatic to find her after many years of disconnect, and tries his best to rekindle the long dormant love affair. |
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Moe then decides to abandon his responsibilities and stay with the group, trying to marry Roberta. In the end, Shemp winds up with both women, but still prefers his imaginary bird. |
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==Reception== |
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*Over the past 50+ years since its release, ''Cuckoo on a Choo Choo'' has been dubbed one of the most original and unique shorts in the Stooge canon.<ref name="Solomon">{{cite book |
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| last = Solomon |
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| first = Jon |
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| authorlink = Jon Solomon |
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| coauthors = |
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| title = ''The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion'' |
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| publisher = Comedy III Productions, Inc |
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| date = [[2002]] |
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| location = |
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| pages = 316, 376 |
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| url = http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Three-Stooges-Filmography-Companion/dp/0971186804/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201570359&sr=1-1 |
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| doi = |
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| id = |
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| isbn = 0971186804}}</ref> It also holds the uneviable distinction of being considered by many fans and critics ''the'' worst Stooge comedy as well.<ref>Lenburg, Jeff; Howard Maurer, Joan; Lenburg, Greg; (1982). ''The Three Stooges Scrapbook'', p. 259, Citadel Press. ISBN 0806509465 </ref> |
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==Notes== |
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*Over the course of their 24 years at Columbia Pictures, the Stooges would occasionally be cast as separate characters. This course of action always worked against the team; author Jon Solomon concluded "when the writing divides them, they lose their comic dynamic."<ref name="Solomon">. In addition this split occuring in ''Cuckoo on a Choo Choo'', the trio was played separate characters in ''[[Rockin' in the Rockies]]'', ''[[He Cooked His Goose]]'' (and its remake ''[[Triple Croosed]]'', and ''[[Gypped in the Penthouse]]''. |
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*The plot device of ''Cuckoo on a Choo Choo'' is borrowed from two popular films of the period. The idea of a stolen [[railroad]] car is a parody of ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire (film)|A Streetcar Named Desire]]'', while the imaginary animal friend parodies the film ''[[Harvey (film)|Harvey]]''.<ref name="Solomon"> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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*''Moe Howard and the Three Stooges''; by Moe Howard [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0806507233], (Citadel Press, 1977). |
*''Moe Howard and the Three Stooges''; by Moe Howard [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0806507233], (Citadel Press, 1977). |
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*''The Three Stooges Scrapbook''; by Jeff Lenburg, Joan Howard Maurer, Greg Lenburg [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0806509465] (Citadel Press, 1994). |
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*''The Three Stooges: An Illustrated History, From Amalgamated Morons to American Icons''; by Michael Fleming [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0767905563](Broadway Publishing, 2002). |
*''The Three Stooges: An Illustrated History, From Amalgamated Morons to American Icons''; by Michael Fleming [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0767905563](Broadway Publishing, 2002). |
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*''One Fine Stooge: A Frizzy Life in Pictures''; by Steve Cox and Jim Terry [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581823630], (Cumberland House Publishing, 2006). |
*''One Fine Stooge: A Frizzy Life in Pictures''; by Steve Cox and Jim Terry [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581823630], (Cumberland House Publishing, 2006). |
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Revision as of 15:35, 19 June 2008
| Cuckoo on a Choo Choo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Jules White |
| Written by | Felix Adler |
| Produced by | Jules White |
| Starring | Moe Howard Larry Fine Shemp Howard Patricia Wright Victoria Horne |
| Cinematography | Henry Freulich |
| Edited by | Edwin H. Bryant |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release dates |  December 4, 1952 |
Running time | 15' 28" |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
Cuckoo on a Choo Choo is the 143rd short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.
Plot
Larry and Shemp are hiding out in a stolen railroad car called "Schmow." Larry wants to marry his girlfriend Lenore (Patricia Wright), but she refuses to consent until Shemp marries her sister Roberta (Victoria Horne). The problem is that Shemp is rarely sober, and madly in love with an imaginary giant canary named Carrie.
A private investigator from the railroad (Moe) finds the missing train, and is trying to get a sense of how the car was stolen from a moving train. As fate would have it, Moe had a previous relationship with Roberta, and has not seen her for years. He is ecstatic to find her after many years of disconnect, and tries his best to rekindle the long dormant love affair.
Moe then decides to abandon his responsibilities and stay with the group, trying to marry Roberta. In the end, Shemp winds up with both women, but still prefers his imaginary bird.
Reception
- Over the past 50+ years since its release, Cuckoo on a Choo Choo has been dubbed one of the most original and unique shorts in the Stooge canon.[1] It also holds the uneviable distinction of being considered by many fans and critics the worst Stooge comedy as well.[2]
Notes
- Over the course of their 24 years at Columbia Pictures, the Stooges would occasionally be cast as separate characters. This course of action always worked against the team; author Jon Solomon concluded "when the writing divides them, they lose their comic dynamic."<ref name="Solomon">. In addition this split occuring in Cuckoo on a Choo Choo, the trio was played separate characters in Rockin' in the Rockies, He Cooked His Goose (and its remake Triple Croosed, and Gypped in the Penthouse.
- The plot device of Cuckoo on a Choo Choo is borrowed from two popular films of the period. The idea of a stolen railroad car is a parody of A Streetcar Named Desire, while the imaginary animal friend parodies the film Harvey.<ref name="Solomon">
References
- ^ Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Comedy III Productions, Inc. pp. 316, 376. ISBN 0971186804.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Lenburg, Jeff; Howard Maurer, Joan; Lenburg, Greg; (1982). The Three Stooges Scrapbook, p. 259, Citadel Press. ISBN 0806509465
Further reading
- Moe Howard and the Three Stooges; by Moe Howard [1], (Citadel Press, 1977).
- The Three Stooges: An Illustrated History, From Amalgamated Morons to American Icons; by Michael Fleming [2](Broadway Publishing, 2002).
- One Fine Stooge: A Frizzy Life in Pictures; by Steve Cox and Jim Terry [3], (Cumberland House Publishing, 2006).
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