"Scheming Schemers" is one of the many remakes of old Stooges shorts from the 1950s. Producer Jules White, in an effort to cut expenses, took old Stooge films and inserted new scenes in them. "Scheming Schemers" is one such effort.
The film is noteworthy for several reasons. First, it is one of four remakes with Shemp that includes new footage after Shemp died in November 1955. Joe Palma doubled for Shemp in a few scenes of the new footage. Second, the film contains scenes lifted from three previous Stooge films - probably a record number of scene lifts for the series.
Footage from the 1940 Stooge short "A Plumbing We Will Go" was inserted into the film; these scenes include Larry digging a hole and popping up out of the ground, and Dudley Dickerson as a cook in the family kitchen while its being flooded with water. Scenes from the pie fight from 1947's "Half-Wits Holiday are included. Most of the footage in the film is from 1949's "Vagabond Loafers," including all the footage of the real Shemp. The new scenes, filmed in January 1956, include Moe and Larry interacting with Emil Sitka and getting into a pie fight with Kenneth MacDonald. The scene where MacDonald is stuffing the painting into the pipe is also from 1956; a double stands in for Christine McIntyre, and has her back to the camera (McIntyre by this time had left Columbia.)
What it noticeable to diehard Stooge fans, and what takes away from the enjoyment of the film, is the mixture of footage from the three previous shorts with the new 1956 footage. Incredibly, pies that Moe and Larry throw in 1956 land on people in the 1947 scenes!
The mixture of old and new footage limits one's enjoyment of this short. In addition, the absence of the real Shemp is noticeable in the new footage. This short is interesting only as a curio; watch "Vagabond Loafers" instead.
The film is noteworthy for several reasons. First, it is one of four remakes with Shemp that includes new footage after Shemp died in November 1955. Joe Palma doubled for Shemp in a few scenes of the new footage. Second, the film contains scenes lifted from three previous Stooge films - probably a record number of scene lifts for the series.
Footage from the 1940 Stooge short "A Plumbing We Will Go" was inserted into the film; these scenes include Larry digging a hole and popping up out of the ground, and Dudley Dickerson as a cook in the family kitchen while its being flooded with water. Scenes from the pie fight from 1947's "Half-Wits Holiday are included. Most of the footage in the film is from 1949's "Vagabond Loafers," including all the footage of the real Shemp. The new scenes, filmed in January 1956, include Moe and Larry interacting with Emil Sitka and getting into a pie fight with Kenneth MacDonald. The scene where MacDonald is stuffing the painting into the pipe is also from 1956; a double stands in for Christine McIntyre, and has her back to the camera (McIntyre by this time had left Columbia.)
What it noticeable to diehard Stooge fans, and what takes away from the enjoyment of the film, is the mixture of footage from the three previous shorts with the new 1956 footage. Incredibly, pies that Moe and Larry throw in 1956 land on people in the 1947 scenes!
The mixture of old and new footage limits one's enjoyment of this short. In addition, the absence of the real Shemp is noticeable in the new footage. This short is interesting only as a curio; watch "Vagabond Loafers" instead.