Description
Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Shemp Howard achieved cinematic immortality portraying bumbling fools. In hundreds of shorts and feature films starting in 1934 at Columbia Pictures (with baby Howard brother Curly), every simple situation became insanely complicated, every sure-fire plan backfired. Their illogical, self-defeating antics inevitably provoked some nemesis to knock a little sense into their heads. Often the comic foil was veteran actor Vernon Dent, who made impatience a virtue. Dent logged more appearances in Stooge films than any supporting actor, playing detectives, hotel managers, fake foreigners, and salesmen.
Think of all the negative-role model behavior these three legendary “nitwits” showcased for American youth. In today’s risk-averse culture, in which kids must be shielded from even slapstick “violence,” these films—if made at all—would be required by PC moralists to run endless disclaimers and parental warnings. Where’s Vernon Dent when you need him?