Heavenly Daze

Shemp is denied entry into heaven. He is given a chance to enter if he can reform his cousins, Moe and Larry. The two remaining Stooges are hopelessly crooked and clueless. I like the sleazy Shemp in heaven. I like Moe and Larry fighting over the inheritance. I like most of this although I would prefer the Stooges to end this by going to hell.

A very funny stooge short. It's hilarious to see Shemp dish out some punishment to both Moe and Larry without them being able to retaliate. Shemp is very mischievous in this episode as he is in many stooge shorts which is one of the many reasons that he is my favorite stooge of all time. It's very upsetting that TV stations do not have the rights to many other great stooge episodes, IE Scrambled Brains, Dopey Dicks, Mummies Dummies, Three Arabian Nuts, Pardon My Clutch, etc etc. It's a shame that new fans don't get to see the entire collection of Stooge shorts to truly appreciate them. Thankfully, some of these "missing" episodes are available on tape, but there are quite a few that are unattainable. Anyways, long live the stooges. SHEMP RULES!!!

The Three Stooges capitalized on the theme so popular during and immediately after World War Two of souls returning to earth for some mission by releasing September 1948's "Heavenly Gaze," scripted by Zion Myers. Directed by Jules White, this spiritual film sees Shemp's soul sent back after he has died to correct his two partners' wayward habits. Moe and Larry claim to have devised a pen that can write under whipped cream, which was a takeoff of the Reynolds Pen Company's advertising its ballpoint pen has the ability to write under water. They try to con an investor couple into buying their new pens, only to see Shemp's angel gum up the works. During their demonstration, Larry gets pierced by one of the pens in the forehead. The studio's special effects department rigged up a thin wire leading the pen to a tin plate hidden underneath a pile of whipped cream on Larry's face. Director White assured the Stooges the stunt would be safe, but when the camera rolled, the pen hit with such force it went through the thin plate, piercing Larry's skin. Stories have it Moe was so upset he chased White around the studio lot. But several witnesses have debunked such an outburst.

Sam McDaniel stars in "Heavenly Gaze" as Mr. Spiffingham, the butler the Stooges hire to create the facade they are rich. McDaniel gives a bravo performance when Shemp's ghost scares the wits out of the startled man. The actor appeared in over 200 film and TV programs, and is the only African-American to be in a 'I Love Lucy' episode. McDaniel was the brother of Academy Awards winner Hattie McDaniel, whose performance in 1939 "Gone With The Wind" was the first acting Oscar earned by an African-American.

Who's to say what goes on in the mind of a stooge like Shemp Howard. At the pearly gates of heaven, Uncle Mortimer informs Shemp that he can't gain entry until he goes back to earth to reform his mischievous cousins, Moe and Larry.

Of course, the hook here is that Moe and Larry can't see Shemp, which leads to some hilarious setups of Shemp dishing out some abuse on Moe for a change (and Larry). Shemp also finds time to frighten the boys butler--a role I've always enjoyed being played by the great Sam McDaniel, who nearly steals every scene he is in (says which).

But alas, this was all just a dream & Shemp takes a pie to the kisser to end this wonderful short....

HEAVENLY DAZE is my favorite Three Stooges short. I am only 12 years old, but I'm a big fan of the Stooges. In the short, Shemp learns he can't get into heaven until he reforms Moe and Larry. Shemp is my favorite stooge. HEAVENLY DAZE is a great short. You won't be disappointed.

My rating: A