Three Little Sew and Sews
Three Little Sew and Sews | |
---|---|
Directed by | Del Lord |
Produced by | Jules White |
Written by | Ewart Adamson |
Starring |
Moe Howard Larry Fine Curly Howard Harry Semels James C. Morton Phyllis Barry Bud Jamison Vernon Dent Lew Davis Ned Glass |
Cinematography | Lucien Ballard |
Edited by | Charles Nelson |
Distributed by | Coca-Cola Telecommunications (1987) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 15:47 |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Three Little Sew and Sews is the 36th short film released by Columbia Pictures in 1939 starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). The comedians released 190 short films for the studio between 1934 and 1959.
Plot
The Stooges are sailors employed in the tailor shop of a naval base. After becoming dissatisfied with their work, they steal three officer's uniforms (including that of Admiral Taylor, the highest-ranking officer on the base) in the hopes of gaining both the respect of other men and the romantic attention of women. While pretending to be the Admiral, Curly and his "aides" (Moe and Larry, calling themselves Captain Presser and Commander Button, respectively) attend a party in the Admiral's place. Unbeknownst to them, the party was planned by enemy spies, who intended to use the get together as a front to gain access to sensitive information from Admiral Taylor. Subsequently, they are tricked into stealing a submarine by a pair of spies, led by Count Alfred Gehrol (Harry Semels). The Stooges eventually capture the spies, partly thanks to dumb luck, but whilst reenacting the capture for the real Admiral, Curly accidentally detonates a torpedo which had been launched in an attempt to sink the submarine. Everyone on board is killed; the short ends with the Stooges, now angels ascending to heaven, being chased by an angry Admiral, who is also now an angel, as Curly warns Moe & Larry to step on it.[1]
Production notes
The title Sew and Sew is a play on "so and so," a softly worded insult for a person one finds unimpressionable.[2]
Three Little Sew and Sews is one of several Stooge shorts in which a sofa spring manages to become attached to someone's backside. This gag was also used in Hoi Polloi, An Ache in Every Stake, Hugs and Mugs and Have Rocket, Will Travel. In addition, footage of war scenes were later used in Boobs in Arms and They Stooge to Conga. The short is also the fifth of sixteen Stooge shorts with the word "three" in the title.
Unlike most Stooge films, Three Little Sew and Sews ends with the trio being killed. This plot device was only used in a handful of their shorts, among them being You Nazty Spy! and Half Shot Shooters.
This film was the last to use the song "Listen to the Mockingbird."
References
- ↑ Garza, Janiss. "Three Little Sew and Sews (1938)". New York Times Movies. The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
- ↑ Solomon, Jon. (2002) The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion, p. 140; Comedy III Productions, Inc., ISBN 0-9711868-0-4