Tricky Dicks (1953)

Director:

Jules White

Writer:

Felix Adler (story)

Release Date:

7 May 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Short

Plot:

The stooges are policemen on the trail of a murderer. They unsuccessfully interrogate an Italian organ grinder...

Plot Keywords:

Organ Grinder | The Three Stooges | Slapstick

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Shemp Howard	...	Shemp (as Shemp)
Larry Fine	...	Larry (as Larry)
Moe Howard	...	Sgt. Moe (as Moe)
Benny Rubin	...	Antonio Zucchini Salami Gorgonzola dePizza
Connie Cezan	...	Slick Chick
Ferris Taylor	...	Chief of Detectives B.A. Copper
Phil Arnold	...	Chopper
Murray Alper	...	The Thrill Killer
Suzanne Ridgeway	...	Mail clerk

Runtime:

16 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the monkey sets the paper holder on Shemp's chair, a string or wire can be seen holding it in place.

Quotes:

[Repeated line]
Sgt. Moe: I have to do everything around here!

Movie Connections:

Edited from Hold That Lion! (1947)

Funny, yes. But not their best.

From the start, this looks like something that was maybe intended for a guest shot on the Frank Sinatra Show or something else of the time. Why? The whole short has only one scene, the police station. The gags are all there but disjointed because of a lack of any story or plot. Granted, the Stooges didn't use much plot or story to begin with but when it gets this "thin", it's very noticeable. This looks like one that was just "rushed through" in order to meet contractual obligations. This is nothing new for the boys at Columbia during the 1950's. Skimpy script, poor sets, poor direction and writing. In other words, little or no budget. It's OK but certainly far from being one of their better shorts.