False Alarms (1936)

Three inept firemen try to avoid being fired by their increasingly exasperated chief.

Director:

Del Lord

Writers:

John Grey (story), John Grey (screenplay)

Stars:

Curly Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Curly Howard	...	Curly (as Curly)
Larry Fine	...	Larry (as Larry)
Moe Howard	...	Moe (as Moe)

Storyline

The stooges are firemen who are constantly getting in trouble, they've been warned that one more incident will cost them their jobs. Curly sneaks out anyway to visit his girlfriend. She has two friends who need dates, but the only way Curly can get Moe and Larry out of the station is to pull a fire alarm. The firetruck leaves without Moe and Larry, so they steal the captains new car to make it to the call first. They manage to get Curly and get back to the station, but in doing so wreck the car and must leave on the run.

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Plot Keywords:

fire alarm | the three stooges | farce | moving van | trolley | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Short

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 August 1936 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

18 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

What's with Beatrice Blinn's (Mimi) glasses?? In almost every shot she appears in she is adjusting them, as if they were about to fall off of her pretty face. Somebody should have helped her out between scenes.

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Goofs

The Captain's suit is completely dry in the next shot after he gets soaked with soapy water.

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Quotes

Curly: Is there any gas in the tank?
Larry: The arrow's half-way. I don't know if it's half empty or half full!

User Reviews

Plenty of violence, but the plot is just okay

Once again the Stooges are firemen. While this isn't the first time they've been in these roles, this isn't one of the best due to a plot and jokes that just don't seem to have a lot of energy or zip. Fortunately, while this is a problem, the mindless violence that many enjoy in their films is present--with some of the most painful-looking gags I've seen. Larry really has a tough time of it and I don't know how they did the one scene with Moe holding him by the hair as he dangled on the fire pole--could this have been real? Also, although it may offend some, I liked where Curly and the lady at the end of the film slap each other around--especially since in the 1930s you almost never saw a guy slap a lady--unless he's a Stooge! Overall, it's an amiable time-passer and not a lot more. Fans of the team will no doubt love it, while others will probably find it all a tad tiresome.