Squareheads of the Round Table (1948)

Set in Arthurian times, the stooges decide to help their friend Cedric the Blacksmith win the hand of the fair princess Elaine. At night the group sneaks into the castle to serenade Elaine,... See full summary »

Director:

Edward Bernds

Writer:

Edward Bernds

Stars:

Shemp Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Shemp Howard	...	Shemp (as Shemp)
Larry Fine	...	Larry (as Larry)
Moe Howard	...	Moe (as Moe)
Christine McIntyre	...	Princess Elaine
Philip Van Zandt	...	The Black Prince (as Phil Van Zandt)
Jock Mahoney	...	Cedric the Blacksmith (as Jacques O'Mahoney)
Vernon Dent	...	King Arthur

Storyline

Set in Arthurian times, the stooges decide to help their friend Cedric the Blacksmith win the hand of the fair princess Elaine. At night the group sneaks into the castle to serenade Elaine, but pick the wrong window and are caught by the King. Tossed in the dungeon, the boys escape with Cedric's help and manage to foil the plans of the Black Prince who was plotting against the King. All turns out well when the grateful King allows Cedric to marry Elaine.

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Plot Keywords:

slapstick | the three stooges | historical fiction | anvil

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Genres:

Short | Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 March 1948 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

18 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Moe: One for all.
Shemp: And every man for himself.

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Connections

Referenced in SCTV Network: Southside Fracas (1981)

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Soundtracks

"Oh, Elaine"
(uncredited)
based on the Sextet from "Lucia di Lammermoor"
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Arranged by Paul Mertz
Sung by Howard, Fine, Howard, and Christine McIntyre

User Reviews

Score another for Christine McIntyre

In addition to an above-average performance by the Stooges themselves, we get an early look at future Tarzan Jock Mahoney, and see Christine McIntyre demonstrate, albeit briefly, why I consider her to be one of the great unrecognized musical/comic actresses of the 20th century. It's a mystery why her career never attained the level of visibility and recognition she deserved. Here, although "Oh Elaine" is primarily the Stooges' number, it is her brief aria in the middle that elevates this short above the level of just another Stooges flick. The juxtaposition of her beautiful operatic delivery with such absurd and banal lyrics is nothing short of hilarious. Years after seeing this, I've forgotten most of the gags and pratfalls, but I can still picture and hear Elaine's impassioned musical promise to signal the threesome "when the coast is clear." Doesn't showcase her pure vocal skills to the degree of "Voice of Spring" in "Micro-Phonies," but by inserting her beautiful singing into the absurd setting of what we have here, we see her at her best as a musical comedian.