Idiots Deluxe

This is easily one of the BEST Stooges shorts ever. The premise: Curly and Larry take Moe on a hunting vacation for his nerves but a wandering bear makes things difficult for them. It is unique in that it moves at a slower pace than many of their other films (at least, from my POV) but it's still quite hilarious! Some of their best gags come from this little gem such as Curly and Larry performing as the "Original 2-Man Quartet" (with an out-of-control trombone slide), the boys trying to seal a menacing bear inside a cave by blocking the entrance with rocks (inevitably leading to both Moe and the bear being knocked cold by decidedly misthrown boulders), and Curly asking Larry if hunting is allowed. Larry replies, "Sure. I just saw a sign: Fine for Hunting" (a great verbal gag). This short also shows some of Moe's best acting abilities. One practically sympathizes with him as he unsuccessfully tries to soothe his "jangled nerves". I highly recommend this to any Stooges fan. Give it a try; you'll not be sorry you did. And watch out for that car driving bear!

The pillar of The Three Stooges, Curly Howard, was an experienced carouser whose late evening eating and drinking began taking its toll. In the July 1945 release of "Idiots Deluxe," Curly, 42, was clearly showing signs of slowing down from his usual high energy on-screen antics. His voice, purposely forced higher while filming on the set to separate himself from Moe and Larry's lower tonalities, was beginning to lose its falsetto pitch. And his movements weren't as physically adept as in the past. This all was evident shortly before he experienced a series of strokes.

As par for the course, Columbia Pictures didn't release its Stooges' short films until six or more months after they finished filming. In "Idiots Deluxe's" case, its production took place in early October 1944, three months before Curly's first minor stroke. The Jules White-directed movie opens with Moe's nerves shot, prompting Larry and Curly to take him out into the wild countryside for a well-needed rest. Once situated in their rustic rented cabin, a bear lurks nearby, disrupting their intended peaceful vacation. Largely a remake of the Del Lord-directed 1935 Academy Award nominated comedy short 'Oh, My Nerves" starring comedian Monte Collins, "Idiots Deluxe" is famous for the scene showing the vast amount of condiments Larry and Curly slather on their bread while making their sandwiches. Concentrating on preparing their lunch, the two don't notice the bear gulping down the cooked eggs Moe had placed on the table next to an open window. After Moe smacks the heck out of both of them thinking they ate all the eggs, he forces them to cook the breakfast while he prepares his own sandwich. As he pours a ton of honey on the bread saturated in ketchup, Moe gushes, "If there's anything I like better than honey and ketchup, it's bologna and whipped cream-and we haven't got any!" "Idiots Deluxe" is also known for the first time the title of the Stooges film shown over the ancient Greek comic mask of the goddess Thalia, the mythical muse of comedy and poetry. This opening format would remain in the front credits throughout the rest of the Stooges' Columbia series.

This was the film in which we first see Moe on trial for trying to murder Curly and Larry. The rest of the film, except for the ending, is a flashback and what led to Moe losing control and trying to murder his buddies.

It's fairly famous for that, and for the scenes with a bear out in the woods, who licks honey from Moe's glass and eventually drives away in their car while signaling for a left turn!! Who can ever forget that? No matter how many times I view those scenes, I laugh out loud. Those bear scenes are true Three Stooges classic moments.

This is one of the top 20 short films, in my opinion, of all time regarding The Three Stooges. It's full of classic slapstick scenes.

Not the greatest stooge short, but it still has plenty of laughs. The boys are roommates and Moe has decided to sue the other two because they're literally driving him crazy. The story is told in flashbacks about how Larry and Curly try to soothe Moe's illness while only making it worse.

My favorite bit is when they're in the woods and Larry is giving Curly some rocks to wall up a bear's den, and he decides to play football center and hikes a huge rock to Curly through his legs without looking to see where it goes (it hits Moe in the head, of course). You just can't make people any dumber.

This is the first short where Curly is clearly not himself (he suffered a mild stroke after this short was made). He has a fair amount of energy but his voice rarely gets up into his classic falsetto, and his speech is slightly slurred. Even so, it's easy to enjoy this short as it's another fine example of the stooges doing what they do best.

Woe is Moe. He's being sued by Larry and Curly for assault. Moe tells the judge (Vernon Dent) he can't help himself, that he is a sick man and a nervous wreck. The film flashbacks to the boys on a hunting trip; Moe gets irate when he thinks Larry and Curly have eaten his food; in reality a bear has devoured the tasty morsels! Will the boys defeat the bear and will Moe get some much needed rest?

"Idiots Deluxe" is a decent Stooge outing, but somewhat inconsistent. Many film buffs and historians cite a later 1945 release, "If a Body Meets a Body," as evidence that Curly had suffered a stroke. I think that "Idiots Deluxe" shows that Curly Howard was already a sick man. Physically, he's still able to do many things, including running into the side of a cabin and getting knocked down by a rock. But listen to his voice; it ebbs and flows between his "Curly" falsetto and Jerome "Curly" Howard's natural voice. This inconsistency does not allow the viewer to fully relax with the film. You know there's something wrong when a bear and not the Stooges get most of the laughs.

Funny, but not outstanding. 6 out of 10.