The Three Stooges (TV 2000)

A biography of the Three Stooges, in which their careers and rise to fame is shown throughout the eyes of their leader, Moe.

Director:

James Frawley

Writers:

Michael Fleming (book), Janet Roach (television story),

Stars:

Paul Ben-Victor, Evan Handler, John Kassir

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Ben-Victor	...	Moe Howard
Evan Handler	...	Larry Fine
John Kassir	...	Shemp Howard
Michael Chiklis	...	Jerome 'Curly' Howard
Rachael Blake	...	Helen Howard
Anna Lise Phillips	...	Mabel Fine (as Anna-Lise Phillips)
Jeanette Cronin	...	Gertrude Howard
Joel Edgerton	...	Tom Cosgrove
Marton Csokas	...	Ted Healy
Linal Haft	...	Harry Cohn
Brandon Burke	...	Harry Romm
Lewis Fitz-Gerald	...	Jules White (as Lewis Fitzgerald)
Peter Callan	...	Joe DeRita
Laurence Coy	...	Joe Besser
Phillip Hinton	...	Judge

Storyline

In the late 1950's, Moe Howard, the leader of the Three Stooges is at a low point of his life with his film career apparently over, and he won't earn a dime from the impending big profits when his films are shown on TV. In addition, he is being pestered by a young TV exec who wants his team for a live show at his city. Amidst all this, Moe can't help but think back to the past starting from the beginning of the team's career with Ted Healy and their break from him to eventually having a successful film career in shorts. Yet that can't obscure the tragedy of Jerome "Curly" Howard's stroke and death or the death of his other brother, Shemp. While he reminisces, Moe must decide whether to gamble on whether there will be a new generation of fans who will let the team to enter a new phase of their career.

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Plot Keywords:

slapstick | vaudeville | comedy team | stroke | comedian | 

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 April 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

A három komédiás

Filming Locations:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Comedy III Productions Inc., C3 Entertainment Inc., Columbia TriStar Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The Stooges were shown filming Disorder in the Court when they learned of Ted Healy's death. In reality, this particular short subject was released in 1936, and Healy died in 1937. Also, the Stooges did not encounter Healy at a nightclub the night he died. Moe found about his death via a phone call from a reporter when the Stooges were in New York.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Young Moe: How old are you?
Young Shemp: Seventeen.
Young Moe: Come on, you're older than that.
Young Shemp: No, I got a birth certificate.
Young Moe: You couldn't get that dirty in seventeen years.
Young Moe: How 'about you, how old are you?
Young Jerome: I was seven three years in Sanford Connecticut.
Young Moe: That makes you nine.
Young Jerome: Not 'til I get back to Connecticut...

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Connections

References Woman Haters (1934)

User Reviews

Excellent

I did like the fact that the film didn't dwell so much on the comedy part of the Stooges.. although the re-creation of some of their classic routines was excellent.. The film was entertaining because it was a story about the Howard brothers.. Not to forget Larry.

I was fortunate to meet Larry when I was a child. He was doing a personal appearance at Hess's Department store .. and as a 7 year old who loved seeing the Stooges on TV.. he was a very nice and also a very gracious man.

I do think that it could have been a bit longer .. the film seemed to rush from Curly's stroke in 1947.. right to 1955 with very little about Shemp.. Also there was very little about Joe DeRita..

However all in all .. a very enjoyable film.. even for the non-stooges fan.. whoever you are :)