Shep-4

This has to be one of the best of the Three Stooges shorts that aren't overplayed repeatedly. By 1953, many of their short films were remakes and contained reused footage from earlier shorts. But like a breath of fresh air, this short contains all new footage. The Stooges get maximum laughs out of simple sets and household items. Comic genius ensues when they "only" have things like buckets and dutch doors to use as props. The feather duster gag is the visual highlight of the film! They are trying to set up a new TV and install an antenna on the roof for a friend. With friends like the Stooges, you sure don't need enemies, but you might need a new house!! Enjoy this high point of the Shemp era.

I've been watching the Three Stooges collection in order of production, and this entry, in their 14th year, is the first one that felt like it was made for kids. Even the talented Vernon Dent couldn't add anything significant to the one-dimensional role of King Cole. The "nursery rhymes" section is cutesy filler (although the boys do get to show off their harmonizing). The chase scene is infantile. Finally we get some laughs when the boys hide in the magician's box. Unfortunately, the plot is all too reminiscent of the episode right before, "Squareheads of the Round Table". You should see every Three Stooges short ever made, but feel free to close one eye during this one!

This 4th re-incarnation of the Frankenstein franchise comes off as pretty tired. The plot borders on incomprehensible, stitched together almost as poorly as the Monster himself. Lon Chaney, Jr.'s talents are wasted. And his Monster makeup wreaks of "blue light special". Lugosi as Ygor, on the other hand, is the film's highlight. But the scenes where Chaney's lips move and we hear Lugosi's voice from the Monster are unintentionally hysterical. If you want to see all the Universal Frankenstein films, you've got to sit through this one. Just remember "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man" is next, and you'll survive it !