"Uncivil Warriors" is one of the funniest shorts that the 3 Stooges have ever done. Though "Men In Black" was nominated for an Oscar in the Short Subject category, this film could have been nominated as well in 1935. The Three Stooges displayed their greatest comedic energy between 1934 and 1937, and "Uncivil Warriors" is a gem among all of their films. The funniest scene is when the boys are masquerading as Confederate officers and Curly has to dress up as an officer's wife. But when the boys have to "produce" a child to keep up the masquerade and the child is black, that is hysterical. That was a joke that was very brave to do in 1935 - the same year that Southern theater owners didn't want their audiences to see a dance number between Shirley Temple and Bill "Bo Jangles" Robinson. Much respect goes to director Del Lord - for letting the Stooges go to the comedic edge of the universe. Also, much respect goes to actor Bud Jamison, one of the best straight men in comedy at that time. Had Jamison not passed away in 1944, he would have been very much a part of the Stooges legend. Now that television is editing all of the Stooges films for commercial time, it is better to get all of your favorite Stooges films on VHS or DVD.
15 Reviews
Uncivil Warriors
Smells_Like_Cheese7 May 2005
Another very funny short by the wonderful Three Stooges. The plot of this episode takes place during the Civil War. Moe, Larry, and Curly are three yankee soldiers, and their captain asks them to spy on the Southern Rebels. When they get to the South, our typical stooges screw around as usual. But they do get the information they need. They end up meeting some very beautiful southern bells as well and have a wonderful feathered cake. Of course they blow their cover, and you know the rest of the story. This was a very funny episode. Despite not being my favorite, as one three stooges fan to another, I would always recommend it.
8/10
8/10
Very, Very Civil Entry In Stooge Output!
redryan6419 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
AS A RULE OF thumb, the earlier a Stooges' Comedy, the better. This has never been more evident than with UNCIVIL WARRIORS (1934). Being the 8th 2 reeler that the Stooges made for Columbia, it was among the oldest, ergo, the best of their long career.
THE AMAZING THING, to us anyway, about this entry is how real both the Union and Confederate soldiers appear. In till photos, they would appear to be actual Civil War photographs by, say Matthew Brady. "Officers" James C. Morton, Bud Jamison, Theodore Lorch and Marvin Lobach all look the part of the real thing. (See what a little grease paint and artificial facial hair can do!)
AND THE UNIFORMS were accurate and convincing, too!
THE SEVENTEEN MINUTES of the short roll by in a seeming flash; owing to a rich assortment of clever, relevant gags; such as 'Operators 12, 14 and 15!', 'Duck, Dodge, Hyde' and 'Charley walks like this!'
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, WHICH of course, was an unknown commodity in the 1930's, is in evidence. In the scenes in which Colonel 'Bloodhound' Filbert (Theodore Lorch) interrogates the Stooges, demanding to see Moe's little Son; he is presented with an infant; who just happens to be a Black child. This scene has been deleted in some of the prints which we've seen.
WE WOULD CERTAINLY give this a top shelf rating. As an example of a Stooges' outing, it's strictly Bon Ton!
THE AMAZING THING, to us anyway, about this entry is how real both the Union and Confederate soldiers appear. In till photos, they would appear to be actual Civil War photographs by, say Matthew Brady. "Officers" James C. Morton, Bud Jamison, Theodore Lorch and Marvin Lobach all look the part of the real thing. (See what a little grease paint and artificial facial hair can do!)
AND THE UNIFORMS were accurate and convincing, too!
THE SEVENTEEN MINUTES of the short roll by in a seeming flash; owing to a rich assortment of clever, relevant gags; such as 'Operators 12, 14 and 15!', 'Duck, Dodge, Hyde' and 'Charley walks like this!'
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, WHICH of course, was an unknown commodity in the 1930's, is in evidence. In the scenes in which Colonel 'Bloodhound' Filbert (Theodore Lorch) interrogates the Stooges, demanding to see Moe's little Son; he is presented with an infant; who just happens to be a Black child. This scene has been deleted in some of the prints which we've seen.
WE WOULD CERTAINLY give this a top shelf rating. As an example of a Stooges' outing, it's strictly Bon Ton!
Great Three Stooges short!
Movie Nuttball13 July 2004
The Three Stooges has always been some of the many actors that I have loved. I love just about every one of the shorts that they have made. I love all six of the Stooges (Curly, Shemp, Moe, Larry, Joe, and Curly Joe)! All of the shorts are hilarious and also star many other great actors and actresses which a lot of them was in many of the shorts! In My opinion The Three Stooges is some of the greatest actors ever and is the all time funniest comedy team!
This is a great Three Stooges short and it has become one of My favorites! Its hilarious! Great one from beginning to end! Bud Jamison as usual puts on a great performance! The cake eating scene, the questioning scene with Theodore Lorch, and the end scenes are very funny. This is a very good Three Stooges short!
This is a great Three Stooges short and it has become one of My favorites! Its hilarious! Great one from beginning to end! Bud Jamison as usual puts on a great performance! The cake eating scene, the questioning scene with Theodore Lorch, and the end scenes are very funny. This is a very good Three Stooges short!
"I'm Charlie. You know, the fellow who walks like this."
slymusic16 August 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Without a doubt, "Uncivil Warriors" is one of the best shorts the Three Stooges ever made, and it's one of my personal favorites. It's the eighth Stooge short in a series of 190, and it's the second Stooge short that was directed by the competent Del Lord. Probably more than any other director during the Stooges' heyday, Lord helped to further define the comic personalities of Moe, Larry, and Curly.
This entertaining Civil War comedy has some wonderful highlights (but do not read any further until after you see this picture). While preparing a cake, Curly accidentally spreads frosting on a torn potholder. The one close shot of Curly's hands applying frosting to the cake is brilliantly hilarious: Curly's voice is heard explaining about his getting "sick of the dough" and going "on the loaf." Then a slap is heard (presumably from Moe) and Curly lets out a yelp. Moments later, the Stooges predictably cough up feathers after they struggle to eat the cake (Moe remarks that the cake, called "Southern Comfort," tastes more like "Southern Comforter"). In their opening scene, the Stooges cause some ruckus when they scramble to answer their bugle call. By the same token, they cause more havoc at the film's closing when they get shot out of a cannon and land on their Union campsite. When Capt. Dodge (Moe) reveals an African-American infant as his own child, the sneering Major Filbert (Ted Lorch) remarks, "Looks like you, does he?" And finally, in order to dodge a Confederate soldier, the Stooges apply the familiar "Charlie, the fellow who walks like this" gag, which they did later in "From Nurse to Worse" (1940).
For Three Stooges fans everywhere, "Uncivil Warriors" is simply a gem not to be missed.
This entertaining Civil War comedy has some wonderful highlights (but do not read any further until after you see this picture). While preparing a cake, Curly accidentally spreads frosting on a torn potholder. The one close shot of Curly's hands applying frosting to the cake is brilliantly hilarious: Curly's voice is heard explaining about his getting "sick of the dough" and going "on the loaf." Then a slap is heard (presumably from Moe) and Curly lets out a yelp. Moments later, the Stooges predictably cough up feathers after they struggle to eat the cake (Moe remarks that the cake, called "Southern Comfort," tastes more like "Southern Comforter"). In their opening scene, the Stooges cause some ruckus when they scramble to answer their bugle call. By the same token, they cause more havoc at the film's closing when they get shot out of a cannon and land on their Union campsite. When Capt. Dodge (Moe) reveals an African-American infant as his own child, the sneering Major Filbert (Ted Lorch) remarks, "Looks like you, does he?" And finally, in order to dodge a Confederate soldier, the Stooges apply the familiar "Charlie, the fellow who walks like this" gag, which they did later in "From Nurse to Worse" (1940).
For Three Stooges fans everywhere, "Uncivil Warriors" is simply a gem not to be missed.
Uncivil Warriors is one of the funniest of the early Three Stooges shorts
tavm5 January 2011
This review is of the eighth Three Stooges short they made for Columbia Pictures. In this one, Moe, Larry, and Curley (as his name was spelled at the time) are Union spies during the Civil War disguising themselves as Confederates in order to discover their plans. Plenty of many very funny and what would become very familiar routines abound here and they all come together perfectly. And it's always a treat to see usual supporting player Bud Jamison whenever he has a scene with the boys. Also, usual writer Felix Adler and director Del Lord-with only his second film with the boys-do a fine job of making this an almost perfect Stooges short. Oh, and while there's a visual joke near the end that would probably be politically incorrect today, the way Moe explains it does excuse it a little. So on that note, Uncivil Warriors comes highly recommended.
Military Intelligence?
bkoganbing9 October 2013
I know that if I had a sensitive mission involving obtaining some enemy secrets at wartime, I'd entrust that mission to none other than the team of Howard, Howard, and Fine to get the job done. It's agreed they're the best men for the job.
That's what the Three Stooges have to do in Uncivil Warriors, get some battle plans from the Confederate headquarters which is in an old plantation house. Of course Moe, Larry, and Curly especially Curly aren't exactly housebroken yet to mix in that society.
Funniest scene is them eating a cake where feathers have been stuffed into the batter mix. Seeing these three coughing up enough feathers for an indoor blizzard will really tickle the old funny bone.
That's what the Three Stooges have to do in Uncivil Warriors, get some battle plans from the Confederate headquarters which is in an old plantation house. Of course Moe, Larry, and Curly especially Curly aren't exactly housebroken yet to mix in that society.
Funniest scene is them eating a cake where feathers have been stuffed into the batter mix. Seeing these three coughing up enough feathers for an indoor blizzard will really tickle the old funny bone.
Duck! Dodge! Hyde!
WeNeedJohnWayne9 January 2019
Uncivil Warriors (Del Lord, 1935) ***
Bunuel197625 January 2008
This is certainly one of the better Stooges vehicles I've watched so far, arguably lifted by its Civil War setting: the boys are Union secret agents(!) sent on a mission behind enemy lines. While the level of invention isn't up to that seen in Buster Keaton's similar THE GENERAL (1927) and it would be unrealistic to expect it to be it's still a reasonably sustained comical piece.
The trio's typical slapfest routine is, together with the aid of impersonation and mimicry, utilized as a means of confusing the Confederates and retrieve the information they were assigned to procure (which is summarily destroyed by Curley when he rolls the paper used by Moe to write it all down to make a cigarette!). The ending sees The Stooges fired out of an enemy cannon and landing on the superior officers from their own lines!
The trio's typical slapfest routine is, together with the aid of impersonation and mimicry, utilized as a means of confusing the Confederates and retrieve the information they were assigned to procure (which is summarily destroyed by Curley when he rolls the paper used by Moe to write it all down to make a cigarette!). The ending sees The Stooges fired out of an enemy cannon and landing on the superior officers from their own lines!
Three Stooges Introduce A Number of Routines They'll Repeat Later
springfieldrental16 May 2023
To the veterans of the United States Civil War, some still living in the mid-1930s, the bloody conflict was no laughing matter. But when it came to the Three Stooges' April 1935 "Uncivil Warriors," no former soldier in that war couldn't help but laugh at the antics of Moe, Larry and Curly as they pose as spies for the Union Army.
The trio's eighth released film, directed under Del Lord, his second with the Stooges, became one of their more popular shorts. Disguised as Confederates, the trio sneak into Rebels' headquarters by telling a guard they need to see Charlie, the man who walks with a pronounced gimp. The routine was used in two other Stooges' film. Also, "Uncivil Warriors" is the first time Curly uses one of his signature catchphrases, "I'm a victim of soycumstance!" Another oft-repeated phrase first introduced in "Uncivil Warriors" was the repetition of the phrase "Hallelujah!" as the three praise something said in a pronounced southern accent.
Actor Ted Lorch, a character actor from the silent era who was in over 140 films, including several with the Stooges, makes his first appearance with them playing Major "Bloodhound" Filbert, questioning the three who he thinks are spies. Informing Moe that his wife is in the area wanting to see him, Filbert sees Curly darting out of the room and dressing up in woman's attire to return as his spouse, the second time Curly poses as a female.
One of the highlights of "Uncivil Warriors" is Curly accidentally mistakes a potholder for part of a cake layer as he helps make it and smothers it with frosting. As polite gentlemen who don't want to insult the Southern belle who had cooked the cake, the three struggle to eat it with the feathered potholder inside. Their digestive tract become upset, and a cough leads to a fountain of feathers spewing from their mouths. The routine of the three eating something foreign disguised as something else appears in several future Stooges movies.
The trio's eighth released film, directed under Del Lord, his second with the Stooges, became one of their more popular shorts. Disguised as Confederates, the trio sneak into Rebels' headquarters by telling a guard they need to see Charlie, the man who walks with a pronounced gimp. The routine was used in two other Stooges' film. Also, "Uncivil Warriors" is the first time Curly uses one of his signature catchphrases, "I'm a victim of soycumstance!" Another oft-repeated phrase first introduced in "Uncivil Warriors" was the repetition of the phrase "Hallelujah!" as the three praise something said in a pronounced southern accent.
Actor Ted Lorch, a character actor from the silent era who was in over 140 films, including several with the Stooges, makes his first appearance with them playing Major "Bloodhound" Filbert, questioning the three who he thinks are spies. Informing Moe that his wife is in the area wanting to see him, Filbert sees Curly darting out of the room and dressing up in woman's attire to return as his spouse, the second time Curly poses as a female.
One of the highlights of "Uncivil Warriors" is Curly accidentally mistakes a potholder for part of a cake layer as he helps make it and smothers it with frosting. As polite gentlemen who don't want to insult the Southern belle who had cooked the cake, the three struggle to eat it with the feathered potholder inside. Their digestive tract become upset, and a cough leads to a fountain of feathers spewing from their mouths. The routine of the three eating something foreign disguised as something else appears in several future Stooges movies.
Uncivil Warriors (1935) ***
JoeKarlosi26 January 2013
The Three Stooges are Union spies sent to snoop on the activities of the Confederates in this different short from their earliest period. This gives them the opportunity to dress up in Civil War costumes, which boosts the level of their shenanigans slightly. Good scenes include them trying to outwit usual foil Bud Jamison, as well as a classic routine that would be repeated many times as this series continued: Curley helps bake a layer cake but mistakenly adds a torn and discarded pot holder into the pan, causing feathers to be coughed up later on while eating it.
*** out of ****
*** out of ****
Another Stupendous Stooge Short
aka-4531611 May 2020
Now if I'm gonna be honest, the only error that I can't help but note is that there was a slight hole in the plot.
The hole is this:
When the Stooges come across the first Confederate sentry shown in the picture, it was stated by both Larry and the guard that he wasn't the first one that they had to get past. I couldn't help but wonder why how the Stooges got past the unshown first sentry wasn't in the short, really.
Other than that, though, this short was another one of the most fun installments of the Three Stooges filmography I had ever watched.
The direction by Del Lord, and the story and screenplay by Felix Adler, were as entertaining as ever. The gigantic amount of humor and wit throughout the episode was so hilarious, with each gag landing with extreme fluency and timing. Along with that, the premise tied itself together perfectly.
The performances of the cast were fun as well, if I may add. The supporting characters throughout the short terrifically mixed with the presence and antics of the Stooges, and the trio themselves gave one of their most funny, witty, and energetic of performances I've noted so far.
In the end, despite having a small plot hole that I can't help but constantly question, "Uncivil Warriors" was another one of the Three Stooges's most entertaining installments, and I'm glad to finally get around to reviewing it.
The hole is this:
When the Stooges come across the first Confederate sentry shown in the picture, it was stated by both Larry and the guard that he wasn't the first one that they had to get past. I couldn't help but wonder why how the Stooges got past the unshown first sentry wasn't in the short, really.
Other than that, though, this short was another one of the most fun installments of the Three Stooges filmography I had ever watched.
The direction by Del Lord, and the story and screenplay by Felix Adler, were as entertaining as ever. The gigantic amount of humor and wit throughout the episode was so hilarious, with each gag landing with extreme fluency and timing. Along with that, the premise tied itself together perfectly.
The performances of the cast were fun as well, if I may add. The supporting characters throughout the short terrifically mixed with the presence and antics of the Stooges, and the trio themselves gave one of their most funny, witty, and energetic of performances I've noted so far.
In the end, despite having a small plot hole that I can't help but constantly question, "Uncivil Warriors" was another one of the Three Stooges's most entertaining installments, and I'm glad to finally get around to reviewing it.
Fine Stooges slapstick
SnoopyStyle7 August 2014
During the US Civil War, Operator 12 (Larry Fine), Operator 14 (Moe Howard), and Operator 15 (Curly Howard) are given a secret mission behind the southern lines. They take on the captured identities of Lieutenant Duck (Larry), Captain Dodge (Moe), and Major Hyde (Curly).
This has all the great Three Stooges slapstick. It has a bit of drama but it's mostly Stooges stupidity in the funniest sense. The feathers in the cake are a charming touch. A cross-dressing Curly is also good. This ends with the guys fired from the cannon and landing on the northern general. It's a bit abrupt but the 20 min short still works. The boys could have at least given a quick report to the general.
This has all the great Three Stooges slapstick. It has a bit of drama but it's mostly Stooges stupidity in the funniest sense. The feathers in the cake are a charming touch. A cross-dressing Curly is also good. This ends with the guys fired from the cannon and landing on the northern general. It's a bit abrupt but the 20 min short still works. The boys could have at least given a quick report to the general.
Not political, not funny either
Horst_In_Translation11 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Uncivil Warriors" is an American black-and-white sound film from 1935, so this one is already over 80 years old. Maybe the names of director Del Lord or writer Felix Adler tell you already what this is, but if not then a look at the cast list certainly should. These 20 minutes are one of the first 10 Three Stooges short films and even if this may look like a political comedy taking place during the Civil War, it really isn't. It's all about the slapstick and also not an anti-Nazi propaganda movie as they did several in the years to come. The Stooges are spies from the North trying to collect information in the South and if you know them, you will also know that nothing goes according to plan really. As this is an early Stooges work, it still has trademark Stooge Curly on board. The outcome of how much you will enjoy this little film, probably one of their more, but not most, known short film efforts will have to do a lot with how much you like the trio in general and their run-ins with soldiers, cake and each other of course in particular. I am not a great fan of their slapstick routine and find it pretty much the same in all their works regardless of the plot. Thumbs down. Not recommended.
So-So
Michael_Elliott25 February 2008
Uncivil Warriors (1935)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
The Three Stooges are fighting for the North in the Civil War but go undercover to spy on the South. This is a short that actually looks better than anything else. The period piece actually looks very realistic with the costumes but there are a few laughs as well. The highlight has to be the scene where the boys eat a cake, which just happens to make them cough up feathers.
Now available on Columbia's 2-disc set, which includes over 20 classic shorts, all digitally remastered.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
The Three Stooges are fighting for the North in the Civil War but go undercover to spy on the South. This is a short that actually looks better than anything else. The period piece actually looks very realistic with the costumes but there are a few laughs as well. The highlight has to be the scene where the boys eat a cake, which just happens to make them cough up feathers.
Now available on Columbia's 2-disc set, which includes over 20 classic shorts, all digitally remastered.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
