An Ache in Every Stake

An Ache in Every Stake (1941)

*** (out of 4)

Nice short has The Three Stooges working as ice delivery men but they can't seem to get a block up a large flight of stairs so they must come up with a new plan. After finally reaches the top of the steps they end up filling in for a cook at a birthday part and sure enough everything goes wrong. This isn't a classic from the trio but I think there are enough laughs to make it worth viewing. As with many of their shorts, this one here isn't the most original thing out there as many elements were borrowed from Laurel and Hardy's THE MUSIC BOX but these elements are mainly kept to the first half. The impact isn't nearly as good as that film but I think we get some pretty good violence early on and especially the scenes with Curly's head stuck in a block of ice and Moe and Larry have to get it out. The cooking scenes aren't all that original either but the three really sell it and get some nice laughs.

"An Ache in Every Stake" is from 1941 and runs 18 minutes. Starring Moe, Larry, and Curly as Ice Men, Cooks, and Waiters, this delightful romp features 56 year old Vernon Dent as Poindexter Lawrence, Bess Flowers as Mrs Lawrence, Gino Currado as the Cook, Bud Jamison as the Baker, Blanche Payson as the Maid, and Wilson Benge as the Butler. Located in the Silverlake district of Los Angeles, the steps we see The Stooges trying to traverse are located between 2257 and 2258 Fairoak View Terrace, whereas, The Music Box, the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Comedy Short in 1932, was located between 923 and 937 Vendome Street, at the intersection of Vendome and Del Monte Street in the Silverlake area of LA. I won't give away the ending, but if you're a Fan of the Three Stooges, you certainly deserve to watch this classic masterpiece!

This short begins hilariously, and builds to the riotous ending. It contains several well-known scenes, including the "ice-block down the stairs" piece, and Curly shaving the ice with great patter included. These stairs were also used in a wonderful Laurel and Hardy short involving a piano, and, as usual, Vernon Dent is hilarious as a pompous judge.

There are some classic sight gags in this Three Stooges flick, one of better ones the boys did, even though some of jokes were familiar, like the cooking scenes. Nonetheless, who can forget that long line of stairs up to the house where Curly and his mates try to bring a woman a big block of ice? The ice truck scenes, complete with big blocks and tongs to carry them, are really a look at ancient history, as that was the way people obtained ice for their homes.

Vernon Dent is the main "victim" in this Three Stooges a short. He's a poor guy whose just trying to celebrate his birthday but every time he tries to bring home the birthday cake for himself and party guests, the Stooges give him a face full of it.

The boys wind up catering his party - don't ask how - and we get more memorable scenes, such as Curly's having a sofa spring stuck to the seat of his pants.....and what happens every time he tries to dance, or Curly pretending he's a barber shaving a block of ice - and talking to it! It was funny material decades ago, and it's still funny.

Moe and Larry also contribute in their customary entertaining fashion, but this really highlight's Curly in his prime.

This comment should put to rest the controversy of the "Ache in Every Stake" steps and the "Music Box" steps. The hilly area of Silver Lake, where both films were made contains a group of these staircases all around town. All of them are publicly owned, although there are private homes that can only be accessed by the stairs. The "Ache in Every Stake" steps are located between 2257 and 2258 Fair Oak View Terrace. About a mile away on the other side of the hill are the "Music Box" stairs. They are located between 923 and 937 Vendome Street. Both houses in both films are not at the top of each respective staircase. They are both studio sets. In addition, both films have different plots. The Stooge film moves faster, while the L&H is more surreal.