Micro-Phonies

At some point in late 1944 or early 1945, Curly Howard suffered the first of what was to be a long series of strokes. Due to this, his ability to function and to perform varied widely from day to day and week to week. Always-protective brother Moe insisted he check into a hospital, where the younger Howard was diagnosed with acute hypertension, obesity, and eye problems. He had also been a heavy drinker for years. The doctors (and Moe) insisted that Curly rest; as a result, the Stooges cut back production in 1945. Over the next two years, Howard's abilities varied greatly; the comedian often appeared sluggish, and many scenes had to be shot repeatedly. Nonetheless he made 16 more shorts in the interim, until a massive stroke on the set of "Half Wits Holiday" ended his career in early 1947.

Fortunately for Stooges fans, Curly was near the top of his game for "Micro Phonies," because it is one of the best that the trio made. With new director Edward Bernds at the helm, the film is put together well, with a good mixture of slapstick, music, and dialogue.

Observant viewers will notice that Curly is lip-syncing most of the actual words to "Voices of Spring" (which was actually sung by Christine McIntyre). The Italian aerie that Gino Carrado is trying to sing as the boys throw cherries into his mouth is "Vieni Sul Mar." And during excerpt from the recording of the Sextet from Lucia, while there is considerable clowning around,, you can actually see Larry and Curly lip-syncing many of the correct words of the their parts of the aria --- in Italian! This isn't surprising to Stooges fans, as all three were known to be perfectionists who took their craft, slapstick or not, seriously.

It should also be known that Moe was a good bass-baritone singer who was in casual quartets. Larry was a studied violinist and pianist, but he wasn't known as a singer.

Overall, "Micro Phonies" is one of the better Stooges works, and it deserves a look if you find it on TV or the internet.

Larry, Curly, and Moe are workmen connecting a radiator in a radio studio and are confronted by an angry Signor Spumoni. Alice Andrews auditions for Mrs. Bixby under a stage name, Alice Van Doren, to avoid family disapproval. The Stooges play around in the sound booth lip-sync to Alice's recording. Mrs. Bixby mistakes Curly for her new singer and invites the boys to her party. Alice is at the party as a family friend. Signor Spumoni is also there. This is actually interesting. The story has a good narrative flow and a villain. It also has the Stooges' classic slapstick. It all works together very well.

Micro-phonies is a classic Stooge short. The guys are inept repairmen working at a radio station, and during some horsing around in a broadcast booth, Curly's perfect mimic of a recording of "Voices of Spring" is mistaken for the real thing, leading to a radio contract and a zany musical party. The trio's mock rendition of the quintet from "Lucia de L'Amamore" is especially entertaining. No doubt this is essential viewing for Stooge fans.

Although the evidence of Curly's failing health is visible in his face and voice, his performance is amazing, and it is probably the last glimpse of the old Curly. Some fans think that "A Bird in the Hand" is the last great Curly short, but his coarse voice and slow movement are just too difficult to watch.

Most Stoogephiles consider this to be the best Stooges short bar none, and they're right. Curly is a scream dressed up in drag as "Senorita Cucaracha", and Moe and Larry are in top form as "Senor Mucho" and "Senor Gusto", respectively. Christine McIntyre's beautiful operatic voice is given full rein--she actually was a trained opera singer--and it's wonderful. The great Gino Corrado is hilarious as a pompous Italian singer terrorized by the Stooges at a society party. Some truly funny gags, good direction and very tight editing make this rise to the very top of the Stooges' prolific output. What's even more amazing is that Curly was having severe health problems at the time, and in several of the shorts he made during this period, you can see that he is obviously ill; his timing is way off, he speaks very slowly and haltingly, and has trouble getting around. Fortunately, his health was in an upswing when he made this film, and it shows. Classic Stooge comedy, and enjoyed by even non-Stooge fans (I had a girlfriend who couldn't stand the Stooges, but even she laughed at this one). A must-see.

This is one of the Stooges' best comedies, with a good variety of gags and constant laughs. The three are doing maintenance work in a radio studio when Curly gets mistaken for an opera diva (it sounds impossible, but you'll have to see how it happens). Before they can set things right, Curly is offered plenty of money to sing, and from then on the boys decide to fake it, with some hilarious results. Every sequence in this one is quite good, with some funny and creative situations, plus plenty of the usual Stooges-type humor. "Micro-Phonies" is one of their best films.