Booby Dupes

The Stooges' second release of 1945, BOOBY DUPES has the boys as three fish peddlers who decide to cut out the middleman by catching their own fish. They then go about purchasing fishermen uniforms and a boat. In traditional Stooge fashion, they run afoul of a jealous boyfriend (the venerable Vernon Dent), whose suit Curly has swiped, sink their boat, and get bombed by the air force, who mistakes the boys as Japanese navy men.

BOOBY DUPES has real potential, with all the typical Stooge elements, falling into place neatly. Casting Vernon Dent is always a safe bet, as he was easily the Stooges' best foil. However, his role in the short is not pivotal in advancing the plot. In fact, it could be deleted altogether. Plus, the opening scene when the Stooges are driving through the streets trying to sell their fresh fish, is a carbon copy of the same opening scene from their 1940 short, CUCKOO CAVALIERS. In that one, the boys look into owning a bar/saloon ('a beauty salune'), but end of getting a beauty salon. The results are better; not so in BOOBY DUPES. The short was filmed in late 1944, and the United States was heavily involved in World War II, and the Japanese were the biggest threat to the country. The final gag may disturb some modern-day viewers, as the boys are stranded in the middle of a huge river. They call for help, and when they spot a plane flying overhead, Moe tries to get their attention by waving a rag tied to their fishing pole. The rag has a huge blot of paint on it, resembling Japan's flag. Naturally, the plane overhead is a bomber, and proceeds to drop bombs on the Stooges' defenseless boat. Funny at the time, but a gag that did not age well.

That is not the say that BOOBY DUPES is bad. In fact, it remains one of the funniest of the later 'Curly' shorts. The scene in which the boys are trying to make heads or tails of their newly purchased boat is hysterical, with Moe on the receiving end of three very painful gags. Curly climbs into the boat (which is elevated when delivered), and promptly steps through the weak floor, squashing Moe, who is below the boat. Then, they boys switch place, as Moe climbs aboard to inspect the damage. Curly and Larry then nail a board over the hole, and end up nailing Moe's shoe the boat floor. Moe is about at his wits' end when he sees that the motor's propeller is loose. As he bends over to retrieve some tools, Curly and Larry activate the motor, and pieces of Moe's trousers go flying in the air. This scene is notable for the addition of a new CLANG sound effect that would be prominent for the remainder of the Stooges career. It can be heard when Moe clobbers Curly in the leg and face with a wrench after Curly steps on Moe.

What hurts BOOBY DUPES somewhat is Curly's lagging performance. He was only a few short weeks away from suffering a minor stroke, one that would hamper his last ten shorts and two features with the Stooges. Though Curly carries most scenes pretty well (the entire 'jealous boyfriend' scene revolves around Curly), he is starting to show signs of his slowing abilities. His falsetto voice sounds hoarse at times, and at age 40, seems more like 50. Though Curly would remain with brother Moe and friend Larry for 11 more films, BOOBY DUPES showed the beginnings of the beloved Stooge slowly losing his way.

Overall, BOOBY DUPES is a pleasant short, one that marked the end of the Stooges wartime films.

Booby Dupes (1945)

*** (out of 4)

The Stooges are trying their luck at selling fish but after a bunch of kittens eat their stock they realize that they're going to have to try something new. Curly comes up with an idea to cut out the middle man and instead catch the fish that they'll eventually sell. This leads the boys to buy a boat and things just don't go as planned.

BOOBY DUPES isn't the greatest films that the Stooges did but it certainly contains enough laughs to make it worth watching. The highlight of the film comes when Curly ends up doing battle against a fish who just isn't going to give up no matter what happens. There's also some good stuff at the start of the picture when the boy's car isn't working correctly. As I said, this here certainly isn't a classic Stooges short but there are enough laughs that make it work.

This short subject finds the 3 Stooges as fish peddlers and doing about as well as they do in other occupations. But they get the brilliant idea of becoming fishermen and selling their catch wholesale. What the Fulton Fish Market in New York wouldn't do to keep these guys away.

Once at sea in a pair of ramshackle rowboats the boys have their usual monkeyshines trying to learn their new trade. Curly has a bout with a flying fish and need I tell you who won?

But adding insult to injury when they sink one boat and get to the second, trying to get attention they raise a white flag for rescue. A passing plane sees the white flag and because of certain stains thinks it Japanese.

What was unusual about this was that at the very end Moe has a good idea from getting away from the bombs dropping all around. Can't tell what it is. But Stooge fans everywhere will appreciate it.

This was one of those very fast-moving Stooges shorts that really had no story. Even so, I was surprised to see familiar foil Vernon Dent kind of forgotten in the last half of the film. He was supposed to be chasing the guy (who was Curly) who stole his Naval Captain's uniform. We never know what happened regarding that angle.

The best gags in here for in the first half, anyway. The boys have a truck, selling fresh fish and some of the routines are both subtle and slapstick as they try to peddle their wares and then come up with the idea of buying their own boat to catch the fish and cut out the middleman.

However, you can imagine how their boat-sailing and fishing expeditions. Suffice to say, not too well!

A nice feature in here was seeing Rebel Randall (that's a woman!) in her bathing suit. Wow, would she look good in today's styles.

While I don't expect comedic masterpieces from The Three Stooges, I do expect far better than you see in "Booby Dupes". Not only is it a bad remake of an excellent film (Laurel and Hardy's "Towed in a Hole"), but it has one glaring problem...it's not funny.

When the story begins, the trio are selling fish door to door. Curly comes up with the idea that if they catch the fish themselves, they'll get to keep all the money they earn. But they end up buying a small piece of junk boat and in the process they have an odd encounter with a plane that thinks they are Japanese!

As I said, this one isn't funny. And, to take an excellent Laurel and Hardy film and turn it into this is practically criminal. And, by the way, what's with the bizarre title and who came up with that?!