The Top Ten Three Stooges/Curly Shorts of All Time

On 22 October 1903, a true comedy legend was born. While few would recognize him by his given name — Jerome Lester — millions recognized the sheer creative genius that was Curly Howard. Yes, Curly Howard, the third (and perhaps best loved) Stooge. The brother to Moe, and Shemp, and as part of the original Columbia short subject brigade, a man who brought mirth to multiple generations of comedy fans. But he didn’t start out as part of the act. While his brothers hooked up with partner Larry Fine and “leader” Ted Healy for several tours of vaudeville, “Babe” (as he was known to friends) pursued a career as a humorous conductor. When Shemp tired of Healy’s abuse and drinking, he left to take other offers. Moe suggested Curly step in, on one condition. He had to shave his full head of flowing red hair. Since he considered himself quite the ladies man (and he was), Curly was crushed.

Still, upon his debut with the trio, he quickly became its most iconic member. With a collection of classic mannerisms, malapropisms, and mugging, he soon symbolized the Stooges’ sensibility. Moe may have been the Mean One, and Larry and Laid Back One, but Curly was the Cut-up. He was the punchline to every joke, the rimshot to every pie in the face. Up until his untimely death from poor health at age 48, he was the center of attention, though he was far from happy. Still, the legacy he left behind has become a beacon to a long forgotten time of face slaps, eye gouges, and head clunks. In this regard, we present the Top 10 Three Stooge Shorts — Curly Edition — of All Time. Of course, there’s a caveat. This is a very personal list. After all, comedy is a very personal thing. Also, we’re concentrating on Curly, not the Stooges or shorts overall. And finally, the fact remains that you could easily do a Top 20… or 30… or 50 Curly overview (he co-starred in 98 of the timeless two reelers, after all) and still leave out something legitimate.

So sit back, relax, and get ready to laugh as we show today’s shoe gazing satirists what true comic talent is all about, beginning with this excellent example of amiable anarchy:

#10: Three Missing Links (1938)

This early effort won us over in two significant ways. First, there’s the brilliant byplay between the boys as they essay janitors working in a low rent Hollywood studio. Their eventual insertion into the gorilla movie subplot is aces, including a wonderful bit including Curly and a “cordial”. However, once they get to the ‘jungle,’ things really take off. We get our hero’s henpecked harping of “Mirabel?”, “Mirabel?” as he pines for his leading lady. There’s also a racially inappropriate witch doctor who, while setting the cause of African Americans in film back 50 years, matches his far more famous costars quip for quip.

 
#9: No Census, No Feeling (1940)

After becoming accidental government workers (they get involved in the 1940 census), our heroes crash a snobby game of Bridge. Brought on to be both interviewers and waiters, they make a disaster of everything, including putting mouth puckering Alum in the punch. The results are one of the Stooges’ best set-piece bits. Things get even crazier, though, when the boys stumble upon a football game. Recognizing that they could get hundreds of signatures (and therefore, lots of money), they chase players up and down the sidelines… right up to the line of scrimmage. A classic bit of old school slapstick.

 
#8: A Plumbing We Will Go

Many classic Stooge bits derived out of the boys getting involved in areas where they have limited to no expertise. In this case, they are shiftless plumbers who end up wrecking an entire house. Larry digs up the whole front yard looking for a leak, while Curly concocts a pipe piece that ends up looking like abstract art. But the best stuff occurs once the guys hook the water main to the electrical conduit. The resulting chaos — including another racially inappropriate but still quite humorous reaction shot from the house chef — argues for the trio’s tenure as the greatest physical comedians of all time.

 
#7: Violent is the Word for Curly (1938)

The guys start our as gas station attendants (Google it, since most of you won’t know what those are/were). Then, with a need to escape, they are mistaken for college professors and end up at an all girl’s school (sounds like the set-up to a dirty joke). In between, Curly is frozen solid. Eventually, we are treated to the real highlight of this short — the wonderful version of the song “Swinging the Alphabet.” Reminiscent of other nonsense novelty tunes like “The Name Game” it showcases how versatile and talented these actors really were. And never forget…”Curly’s a dope!”

 
#6: An Ache in Every Stake (1941)

Another sensational short, another occupation from a long bygone era. In this case, the guys are ice men, delivering large chunks of frozen water to those without electric refrigerators (again, Google is your friend). When they cause a pair of surly personal servants to quit, the harried housewife hoping to give her husband a surprise birthday dinner hires them to take over. Their meal prep, filled with band puns, oddball set-pieces (ice shaving) and an explosive pay-off (literally) remains one of the boys’ best. Watching Curly work his stuffed bird is worth the price of admission alone. It’s a classic.

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#5: Pop Goes the Easel (1935)

This short is noted for several firsts. It was the first time the boys brought out the soon to be classic “pick two” eye poke gag, as well as the “see that” fist slap that ended up in a roundhouse blow to the head for the unlucky mark. It was also the first time the boys would engage in a pie-fight like melee (in this case, it involves clay) and the guys dressed in drag. But it’s the various ancillary bits (“look at the grouse…” “I am an artiste too…”) that really win us over… that and the moment when our dress wearing dudes discover “a MAN!”

 
#4: Punch Drunks (1934)

When the average fan thinks of the Stooges, they usually end up recalling one of several over-emphasized shorts. Along with “Men in Black” (doctors) and “Disorder in the Court” (“find the letter!”) this remains one of their best benchmarks. Curly’s inability to box without the song “Pop Goes the Weasel” playing in the background is priceless enough. Watching Larry and Moe figure out how to keep the music going turns what is often referenced as one of their greatest comic achievements. Overall, this is the perfect place to start for the novice Stoogephile… and guess what? It only gets better from there.

 
#3: Uncivil Warriors (1935)

If it wasn’t for the fact that there is some horribly un-PC material here (we are dealing with a narrative set in the Civil War South, made during racially insensitive times in Hollywood, after all), this would be one of the greatest Stooge achievements, ever. It begins with their introduction as Northern spies. Then they become the house guests for a high ranking Southern colonel. One horrible piece of Southern Comfort “cake” later and we are introduced to the Confederacy’s number one spy hunter. What results becomes a singular sequence in the boys’ resume of ridiculousness. It’s some of their funniest disguise shtick ever!

 
#2: You Nazty Spy (1940)

Before the US became involved in World War II, before their isolationist approach was superseded by a desire to kick some Axis butt, the Stooges mocked Hitler and his hopeless regime in this brainy political parody. We are introduced to three nitwits who, thanks to some members of the military industrial complex, soon become leaders of the fictional country of Moronica (“Moronica for Morons!”). While they sure look like Der Führer, Göring, and Goebbels, the trio was cautious about their critique as to not get the ever-present Hays Code in a panic. For a while, it didn’t make the standard syndication package. Now, it’s a tribute to their vision and comic voice.

 
#1: Three Smart Saps (1942)

Now this is going to be a controversial choice. We can hear the diehards now chiming in. “What? No ‘Pardon My Scotch’?” “How about ‘Ants in the Pantry?’ or ‘Three Little Pigskins?'” Well, all we have to say in return is one word: “RUMBA!” In a stunning sequence that plays on every single one of Curly’s many, many strengths, our chunky monkey man delivers a physical comedy primer that few if any in his peer group could match. His dancing is delightful, his interaction with his much taller female friends pitch perfect… and then his suit starts to tear. Without a doubt, the funniest few minutes in the man’s entire career, bar none.

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