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False Alarms

  • 1936
  • 18m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
739
YOUR RATING
Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, and The Three Stooges in Hoi Polloi (1935)
SlapstickComedyShort

Three inept firemen try to avoid being fired by their increasingly exasperated chief.Three inept firemen try to avoid being fired by their increasingly exasperated chief.Three inept firemen try to avoid being fired by their increasingly exasperated chief.

  • Director
    • Del Lord
  • Writer
    • John Grey
  • Stars
    • Moe Howard
    • Larry Fine
    • Curly Howard
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    739
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Del Lord
    • Writer
      • John Grey
    • Stars
      • Moe Howard
      • Larry Fine
      • Curly Howard
    • 14User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos17

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    Top cast15

    Edit
    Moe Howard
    Moe Howard
    • Moe
    • (as Moe)
    Larry Fine
    Larry Fine
    • Larry
    • (as Larry)
    Curly Howard
    Curly Howard
    • Curly
    • (as Curly)
    Beatrice Blinn
    Beatrice Blinn
    • Mimi
    • (uncredited)
    Stanley Blystone
    Stanley Blystone
    • Fire Captain Ashe
    • (uncredited)
    Beatrice Curtis
    • Maisie
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Dorety
    Charles Dorety
    • Mechanic
    • (uncredited)
    June Gittelson
    June Gittelson
    • Minnie
    • (uncredited)
    George Gray
    George Gray
    • Pedestrian
    • (uncredited)
    John Grey
    • Fireman
    • (uncredited)
    Sol Horwitz
    • Pedestrian
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Laughton
    • Helpful Pedestrian
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Phillips
    • Pedestrian
    • (uncredited)
    Elaine Waters
    • Pedestrian
    • (uncredited)
    Bert Young
    • Car Delivery Man
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Del Lord
    • Writer
      • John Grey
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    7.4739
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    Featured reviews

    5planktonrules

    Plenty of violence, but the plot is just okay

    Once again the Stooges are firemen. While this isn't the first time they've been in these roles, this isn't one of the best due to a plot and jokes that just don't seem to have a lot of energy or zip. Fortunately, while this is a problem, the mindless violence that many enjoy in their films is present--with some of the most painful-looking gags I've seen. Larry really has a tough time of it and I don't know how they did the one scene with Moe holding him by the hair as he dangled on the fire pole--could this have been real? Also, although it may offend some, I liked where Curly and the lady at the end of the film slap each other around--especially since in the 1930s you almost never saw a guy slap a lady--unless he's a Stooge! Overall, it's an amiable time-passer and not a lot more. Fans of the team will no doubt love it, while others will probably find it all a tad tiresome.
    8SnoopyStyle

    incompetent, idiotic, and selfish

    Larry, Curly, and Moe are incompetent firemen. The Captain is furious that they missed the fire. He gives them their last chance but the boys keep screwing up. Curly sneaks out to visit his girlfriend. She has two friends who need boyfriends. Curly makes a false alarm to bring in his firemen friends.

    Incompetent, idiotic, and selfish is the best of the ugly Stooges. This is one of the best ugly Stooges. One still roots for them despite themselves. I love Curly fighting the girl although he could lose worst. When he slaps her, he should act like he hurts his hand. I also love that this is one story and not disjointed. This is loads of fun.
    10Movie Nuttball

    Great Three Stooges short!

    The Three Stooges has always been some of the many actors that I have loved. I love just about every one of the shorts that they have made. I love all six of the Stooges (Curly, Shemp, Moe, Larry, Joe, and Curly Joe)! All of the shorts are hilarious and also star many other great actors and actresses which a lot of them was in many of the shorts! In My opinion The Three Stooges is some of the greatest actors ever and is the all time funniest comedy team!

    This is a very funny Three Stooges short. Its extremely hilarious. Curly is so different in this one. Stanley Blystone is very good in this one and his fire chief character is a good one. The scenes with Curly and the women is very funny. There is another fire fighter Three Stooges short called Flat Foot Stooges which it is pretty good. I recommend this one!
    10tcchelsey

    STOOGES AND FIRE DON'T MIX.

    Sleeping on the job, aye? Moe, Larry and Curly manage to get jobs as firemen, but they're lazy. Then again, between fires there's not much to do, right? Their boss, Captain Ashe(?), played by rough & tough Stanley Blystone, gives them one more chance -- and you know what means. TOTAL CHAOS. I agree with the last reviewer, this is a take-off on many other films and cartoons that make firemen look bad (really bad), or with hose malfunctions, which is common in real life. The Stooges take it to the next level.

    A terrific comedy that also finds Curly with a gal pal, Maisie (played by Beatrice Curtis). Never mind the fires, Maisie wants Curly to find her "plump" pal Minnie (June Gittelson) a date? That's where Moe and Larry come in? Gittelson was a staple in the Stooge comedies, always trying to latch onto a guy, any guy. She was best paired with Curly, for obvious reasons.

    Director Del Lord keeps this rolling, and that's the secret, non-stop action, including the Stooges wrecking the captain's new car. Surprisingly, the film must have had a higher budget to be able to wreck a new car, or at least a car that looked new? By the way if you're thinking Our Gang/Little Rascals, you are right. The kids also played goofy firemen (HOOK AND LADDER, 1932) and may have inspired this film.

    Always on Columbia dvd, generally released by decades, 30s, 40s, 50s episodes or theme boxes. Thanks always to METV for running these oldies every Saturday, making our weekend.
    8movifan1785

    funny firefighter short

    In this short the stooges are firefighters that always get into trouble and are never on time when the alarm rings. There are some funny moments in here like when Moe locks himself and Larry in a room so they won't leave work early and go to a house where Curly and some girls are and Moe drops the key down the sink and there trying to get it, also Curly says some good stuff ex: woman: Curly sit down take a load off your feet. Curly: its not my feet that hurt. A funny short.

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    Related interests

    Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
    Slapstick
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)
    Short

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Captain's new car is a 1936 Ford 5-window Coupe.
    • Goofs
      When Moe is helping Minnie out of the car trunk, she accidentally kicks the actress behind her in the jaw. Looking closely at that actress's face, she can be seen to hold back a grin.
    • Quotes

      Moe: Is there any gas in the tank?

      Larry: The arrow's half-way. I don't know if it's half empty or half full!

    • Connections
      Referenced in Rental Reviews: The Three Stooges: A Retrospective (2019)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 16, 1936 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • YouTube - Video
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • フォールス・アラーム
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 18m
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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