Back to the Woods

Back to the Woods (1937)

** (out of 4)

The Three Stooges in England are sentenced to fifty-five years in prison but the prosecutor thinks the country could save money by just shipping them to America to fight Indians. The judge agrees so the boys are off to fight "redskin savages", which shows you what was going over for comedy back in the 1930's. Here was another new Stooges short to me but I didn't find myself laughing very much. It seems opinions on this one are rather mixed at best so I'm going to have to side with those who don't find this very funny. There are certainly a few nice chuckles but there wasn't anything here that had me busting a gut through laughter. The biggest problem is that there are long sequences where nothing funny happens and the big jokes turns out to be a dub. The best example of this is when the boys arrive and meet three women. Soon a long dance follows but I found this to be rather tiresome. Another joke that doesn't work is when the Stooges are hitting the Indians in the stomach and then putting some hot wood in their pants.

One of the better Stooge films. The portrayal of Native Americans is less than PC, but if you bear in mind the period in which the film was made, you'll enjoy it.

The premise is that the Stooges are petty thieves, exiled by the British government to colonial America, where they must hunt for food against the edicts of Chief Rain In The Puss. Eventually the hunters are the hunted, as the Chief's warriors attack our heroes. Can the three knuckleheads escape certain death? See for yourself.

Highlights include Curly's commentary of an imaginary horserace, the boys' rendition of "A-Hunting We Must Goeth" with a soulful piece of scat by Larry, an extremely violent dance, and Curly's surprisingly athletic display of the martial arts.

The social commentary is a bit dated, but otherwise a fine film!

Working under the pseudonym of 'Preston Black' as the story goes, to keep his ex-wife out of the loop on his extra income, Jack White (brother of Jules) directs his last stooge short. Unfortunately, it's a rather long-winded effort, harboring on the below average scale. A pity, considering I find all of "Preston's" previous outings to all be stooge classics (i.e. Disorder in the Court/A Pain in the Pullman).

The biggest laughs to be had come from the dancing sequence the boys have with three sweeties named Hope, Faith, and Charity.

5.5/10

>:]

In The Three Stooges' May 1937 "Back to the Woods," the three travel in time even further back then the Old West when they're convicted for crimes in England that sends them to the Massachusetts Colony in Plymouth. The native Indians in the area have prohibited the settlers from hunting for game at any time. The Stooges' tussle with the tribesmen result in some hilarious hijinx that result in a wild goose chase. This 23rd episode of the Stooges was the last film directed by Jack White, a.k.a. Preston Black, who was with the trio after two years. He went on to become a full-time producer and writer. "Back to the Woods" is also the second longest Stooges' film at 19 minutes and 27 seconds, just 20 seconds short of their longest, 1936's "A Pain in the Pullman."

"Back in the Woods" is known for showing the first example of an 'Alexa' audio device. When the Stooges first arrive at Plymouth, they meet the three daughters of the colony's governor (Vernon Dent). Moe turns on his music box the size and shape of a large ice hockey puck to dance with the women. The irate governor enters the cabin and yells at the music box to stop, which it does. The film is also the first time stock footage is used in a Stooges' short film, as seen in the introduction showing a street scene in Old Towne London, England. "Back in the Woods" is also the first instance where they re-use footage from their earlier film. Towards the end of the movie, they dash onto a canoe while the Indians are in pursuit. With one paddle movement the boat jettisons across the lake. The scene was previously used in 1936's "Whoops, I'm an Indian." History records that when the Stooges caused all the mayhem against the Indians, Plymouth settlers were even worse off with its inability to hunt for food since the natives were agitated beyond belief by the three and were angrily looking for revenge.

We are back in "Merrie Old England" and the boys say they are related to the Three Musketeers but the court says they are criminals who tried to attack His Majesty's guards. They are sentenced to New Cape Prison for 55 years. The prosecutor, played by Stooges regular and favorite Bud Jamieson, however, recommends the court save money and send these "knaves to the new colonies in America to fight the redskin savages." That sounds good to Curly. "I just love corned beef and savages," he says.

Soon we see three beautiful pilgrims who open the door to let in the Stooges. The boys are impressed. Who wouldn't be with these gorgeous governor's daughters: "Faith," "Hope," and "Charity?" Poor Charity is third pick of the lot. Larry says he doesn't charity because he's already on the WPA (Willing Pilgrims Association.). Yup, comedy was really corny back in the 1930s.

It gets cornier as it goes on, with a prolonged dance scene, a horse racing skit, a funny speech by a Chief who is labeled "an Indian giver," and then some more corny antics by the Stooges as they go out "a-hunting-we-will go" to get food for their new sweethearts.

The second half features the hunting scenes and The Boys various encounters with the Indians. Yes, it's pretty crude stuff, but it generally funny material.