Loose Loot

"Loose Loot" is one of the first Stooges remakes of an earlier short. In this case, it is a remake of their 1947 effort "Hold That Lion." Beginning in 1952, producer Jules White began to remake earlier Stooge shorts and include existing footage in the remakes to save money and production time. In addition, motion picture houses were becoming increasingly reluctant to show short subjects; there was also the competition from television.

Some of the remakes lifted much footage from earlier shorts; more than 3/4 of each release after 1952 included footage from the earlier shorts.

"Loose Loot" includes footage from "Hold That Lion," most notably in the first five minutes. However, most of the remaining footage was shot in 1952. Happily, "Loose Loot" succeeds because of the new footage. This part of the plot takes place at a theatre where the Stooges are tracing the executor of their late uncle's will. Many funny slapstick moments occur in the new footage, which includes veteran actors Kenneth MacDonald and Tom Kennedy (Edgar Kennedy's brother.) Among the funnier moments are the Stooges throwing fruit at MacDonald and the surreal moment when the stooges enter a picture frame.

"Loose Loot" is not to be missed by Shemp fans and Stooges fans in general. Although based on a earlier short and including old footage, "Loose Loot" is funny and interesting in its own way. Stooge fans who tend to stay away from their 1950s remakes should catch this one.

The only Shemp rehash from this period that's worth watching. Nearly as good as the original "Hold That Lion" which it borrows opening footage from. Great moments include the wild chase down the hallway as the slimey villian I. Slipp(Kenneth McDonald) along with henchmen Tom Kennedy pursue our boys. Then there is Shemp's hilarious carnival barker routine as the boys throw fruit at Slipp who's head has been jammed in a door with a chair. The rest of the remakes from this time period sucked but this is one definitely worth seeing.

Ah yes, the old "Stooge Decline," where the new fangled television sets are killing off the 2-reeler business (if it wasn't dead already) and Jules White has to go "stock footage" crazy.

All that being said, there are a few of these recycled dogs that are average or above that; hell a few might improve on the original. "Loose Loot" comes close to being as classic as "Hold that Lion." It certainly is the best one coming from these waning years of the Shemp trio...

Unfortunately due to cut coats Columbia remakes some shorts using stock footage from previous shorts, so this episode was mixing, ours friends had received from their Uncle's will, but the regular guest Kenneth MacDonald as the crook Icabod Slipp who pretend to be a lawman tries deceives the Stooges, they realize the manoeuvre and start chase him, one fabulous sequence when they stuck his head on the door, as target they throw many fruits in his Slipp's face, also a slow down sword fight ending up in an useless sword, and the last scene Moe, Larry and Shemp running thru the painting frame, Shemp was priceless in the recycled episode!!

Resume:

First watch: 1973 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-DVD-R / Rating: 7.5

LOOSE LOOT (1953) is not the best remake The Three Stooges have ever made. You can hardly even call this a remake. There's just reused footage from HOLD THAT LION! (1947) in the first five minutes. And the new footage is unusual, because most of it takes place in one room at the theatre. For some odd reason, Shemp isn't his usual funny self in the new footage, he, acts meaner that usual. "That guy must have iron in his bod," Shemp says after he sticks a sword in Slipp's (Kenneth MacDonald) rear end. Overall, an olay remake, but nothing special.

Grade: C

Footage from HOLD THAT LION! was also used in BOOTY AND THE BEAST (1953), the previous short.