Violent Is the Word for Curly (1938)

Director:

Charley Chase

Writers:

Al Giebler (story)
Elwood Ullman (story)

Release Date:

2 July 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Short

Tagline:

THEY'RE CRACKED IN THE CRANIUM...ON A CUCKOO CAMPUS!

Plot:

Three bumbling gas station attendants are mistaken for college professors arriving from Germany to teach at a prestigious women's college.

Plot Keywords:

College | Women's College | Gas Station | College Professor | Nitroglycerin

Cast

Curly Howard	...	Curly (as Curly)
Larry Fine	...	Larry (as Larry)
Moe Howard	...	Moe (as Moe)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Beatrice Blinn	...	Brainy Astronomy Student (uncredited)
Dick Curtis	...	Professor (uncredited)
Marjorie Deanne	...	Miss Katsby (uncredited)
Eddie Fetherston	...	Benson (uncredited)
Gladys Gale	...	Mrs. Sufferin Katsby (uncredited)
Pat Gleason	...	Ice Cream Truck Driver (uncredited)
Bud Jamison	...	Acme Service Station Owner (uncredited)
Vesey O'Davoren	...	Professor Hicks (uncredited)
Al Thompson	...	Professor Frankfurter (uncredited)

Directed by
Charley Chase

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Al Giebler		story & screenplay
Elwood Ullman		story & screenplay

Produced by
Charley Chase	....	associate producer
Hugh McCollum	....	associate producer

Cinematography by
Lucien Ballard

Film Editing by
Art Seid		(as Arthur Seid)

Sound Department
Edward Bernds	....	sound (uncredited)

Music Department
Louis Silvers	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1938) (USA) (theatrical)
• Screen Gems Television (1958) (USA) (TV) (syndication)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (2000) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

18 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor High Fidelity Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

This short contains the classic Stooges rendition of "Swinging the Alphabet", originally composed by Septimus Winner, under the title "The Spelling Bee". Charley Chase's family maid taught it to his children, and Charley brought it to the attention of the Stooges.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: After the lunchman says "Luncheon is served", the a shadow of the boom mic is moving about at the top left corner of the screen.

Quotes:

Acme Service Station Owner:I'm going across the street, men, for a sandwich. Now listen, when the customers come in, give 'em service. Now, this is your first day on the job, so show me that you've got what it takes. Don't be afraid to push those sponges around. Use a little elbow grease!
Curly:Suppose it's knee-action?
[Moe backhand slaps Curly]
Curly:[getting in Larry's face] What's the idea?
Larry:Mistaken identity!
[points at Moe]
Curly:[waving nervously at Moe] Hiya, pal!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Muppet Babies: A Punch Line to the Tummy (#7.7)" (1990)

Great Three Stooges short!

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!

One of the most hilarious Three Stooges shorts is Violent is the word for Curly. In this short are Marjorie Deanne, Eddie Fetherston, Gladys Gale, Pat Gleason, Bud Jamison, and John T. Murray, and Al Thompson. The acting by these actors are all very good especially by Jamison and Deanne. There are many funny scenes here that I think most Three Stooges fans will love! In My opinion this one of the most different Three Stooges shorts. I recommend this one to all!