Violent Is the Word for Curly

CONTAINING A WHOLE slew of young starlets, putting the boys on the open road and a usually dependable ploy of putting the Stooges in the middle of an inextricable case of mistaken identity are all excellent reasons to recommend this short.

ADDING TO THESE, we have lively gags and an emphasis on music. Often an overlooked aspect of the Stooges' makeup, carrying a tune and being able to sing a little are definitely potent aspects of their arsenal. With this outing, they are able to display such prowess to good advantage. Their choice of "The Alphabet Song" probably couldn't have been better. Lively interplay with the female student body and the boys' novelty approach to making the music combine to make for the high points of this romp. *

THE EVER PRESENT questions about college athletics, both pro and con, are brought into focus as a sort of sidebar or subplot. As is now the case and was then; after seemingly endless amounts of rhetoric being expended, no one takes any real stand in the opposition to Collegiate Sports, he prosper to this very day. Wy, we'd venture to say that the 'Simon Pure' NCAA sanctioned competitions are stronger than ever! FROM THE BEGINNING to the movie's 2 reel ending, it's Stooges comedy at its very best. For our money, this comedy ranks at the top of the late 1930's output.

NOTE: * When the great 3 Stooges comeback occurred in 1958-59 with the release of their Columbia Shorts to the television market, Moe and Larry, now joined by Joe DeRita (as 'Curly Joe') cut a 33 1/3 LP vinyl record for Coral Records. Titled THE NONSENSE SONGBOOK, the featured fare was a collection of mostly novelty songs from the previous 50 years; with 'The Alphabet Song' being one of those so featured.

We had no idea of the song's history with the 3 Stooges, until about 20 years or so later; when we saw this short at St. Xavier's College in Chicago. We were accompanying our sister, Rose Mary and her boyfriend, Don.

Interestingly, the album is still available on CD or Casette.