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{{Short description|1937 American short film by Preston Black}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Back to the Woods
| name = Back to the Woods
Line 4: Line 5:
| caption =
| caption =
| director = [[Jack White (film producer)|Preston Black]]
| director = [[Jack White (film producer)|Preston Black]]
| writer = [[Andrew Bennison]]<br>[[Searle Kramer]]
| screenplay = [[Andrew Bennison]]
| story = Searle Kramer
| starring = [[Moe Howard]]<br>[[Larry Fine]]<br>[[Curly Howard]]<br>[[Murdock MacQuarrie]] <br> [[Bud Jamison]]<br>[[Vernon Dent]]<br>[[Ethelreda Leopold]]<br>[[Harley Wood]]<br>[[Cy Schindell]]<br>[[Theodore Lorch|Ted Lorch]]
| starring = [[Moe Howard]]<br>[[Larry Fine]]<br>[[Curly Howard]]<br>[[Murdock MacQuarrie]] <br> [[Bud Jamison]]<br>[[Vernon Dent]]<br>[[Ethelreda Leopold]]<br>[[Harlene Wood]]<br>[[Cy Schindell]]<br>[[Theodore Lorch|Ted Lorch]]
| cinematography = [[George Meehan]]
| cinematography = [[George Meehan]]
| editing = [[Charles Nelson (editor)|Charles Nelson]]
| editing = [[Charles Nelson (film editor)|Charles Nelson]]
| producer = [[Jules White]]
| producer = [[Jules White]]
| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]
| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]
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==Plot==
==Plot==
Set in colonial times, the Stooges are convicted criminals who are banished from England to the American colonies. When they arrive (and after a dancing fling with the governor’s daughters), they find that the colonists are starving because the local Indians will not let them use their hunting grounds without a fee of 5,000 [[shekels]]. A down payment has been made, but it is not enough. The Stooges decide to go hunting anyway to help out the colony.
Set in nascent American colonies, the Stooges, cast as convicted felons expelled from England to embark on a series of misadventures upon their arrival. Their initial encounter involves a lively dance with the governor's daughters, followed by the disheartening revelation that the colonists face starvation due to the local indigenous population's refusal to grant access to hunting grounds without a hefty fee.


Undeterred by the predicament, the Stooges resolve to aid the struggling colony by venturing into the wilderness for a hunting excursion. Donning makeshift coonskin caps, with Curly sporting an unconventional skunk hat, the trio ventures outside [[Plymouth, Massachusetts]], armed with blunderbusses in pursuit of game. A fortuitous discharge by Curly's firearm secures them a turkey, buoying their spirits for the task ahead.
Outside of [[Plymouth, Massachusetts|Plymouth]], they exchange their pilgrim hats with coonskin caps, except Curly, who wears a skunk hat. An accidental discharge by Curly’s [[blunderbuss]] yields a turkey, which gives them hope. Then, they spot what they think are a group of turkeys and fire their rather overcharged long blunderbusses at the group. The “group” turn out to be Indian headdresses, and the fired-upon Indians become agitated. Attempts at retaliatory fire fail as their guns are destroyed by the powder overcharge, and they are chased by the Indians.


However, a fateful misjudgment leads them to mistake a gathering of indigenous individuals adorned in ceremonial headdresses for a flock of turkeys. Their ill-conceived volley of shots provokes the ire of the indigenous group, precipitating a frantic chase. Despite their adversaries' pursuit, the Stooges concoct a series of improvised defenses, employing a tree branch catapult to repel their assailants with an assortment of projectiles.
A wild goose chase ensues. The Stooges use a tree branch catapult to launch a rock, a mudpack, a fish, a hornet’s nest, and then a log at their antagonists. But in their escape, Larry is left behind, captured and tied to a tree, ready to be scalped. A passing woodpecker adds to his misery. Curly and Moe eventually rescue him, helped with dumping hot coals down the Indian’s pants and wapping them on their behinds sending them howling and running for the lake. The Stooges escape in a canoe, “motorboat” style, having accidentally revived the bopped Indians with water.

Amidst the chaos, Larry finds himself ensnared and threatened with scalping, prompting Curly and Moe to orchestrate a daring rescue. Employing unconventional tactics involving hot coals and swift physical retribution, they manage to extricate their comrade from peril. Their escape, facilitated by a makeshift canoe, culminates in a comical resurgence of their adversaries, inadvertently revitalized by an inadvertent dousing with water.

==Cast==
===Credited===
*[[Moe Howard]] as Moe
*[[Larry Fine]] as Larry
*[[Curly Howard]] as Curly
===Uncredited===
*[[Murdock MacQuarrie]] as Judge
*[[Bud Jamison]] as Prosecutor
*[[William Irving (actor)|William Irving]] as Courtroom Guard
*[[Harlene Wood]] as Faith
*[[Ethelreda Leopold]] as Hope
*[[Beatrice Curtis]] as Charity
*[[Vernon Dent]] as Governor
*[[John Rand (actor)|John Rand]] as Governor's Aide
*[[Ted Lorch]] as Chief Rain in the Puss
*[[Cy Schindell]] as Indian
*[[Bert Young]] as Indian
*[[Charles Dorety]] as Indian
*[[Budd Fine]] as Indian
*[[Sam Lufkin]] as Indian
*Charlie Phillips as Indian
*[[Blackie Whiteford]] as Indian


==Production notes==
==Production notes==
''Back to the Woods '' is the last Stooges' films directed by "Preston Black", pseudonym of [[Jules White]]'s older brother and fellow producer/director [[Jack White (film producer)|Jack White]]. It is the second-longest Stooge short filmed, running at 19' 27"; the longest is ''[[A Pain in the Pullman]]'', clocking in at 19' 46".<ref name="Solomon">{{cite book | last = Solomon
''Back to the Woods '' is the last Stooges' films directed by "Preston Black", pseudonym of [[Jules White]]'s older brother and fellow producer/director [[Jack White (film producer)|Jack White]]. It is the second-longest Stooge short filmed, running at 19' 27"; the longest is ''[[A Pain in the Pullman]]'', clocking in at 19' 46".<ref name="Solomon">{{cite book | last = Solomon
| first = Jon | authorlink = Jon Solomon| coauthors = | title = The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion | publisher = Comedy III Productions, Inc | date = 2002 | location = | pages = | url = https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Three-Stooges-Filmography-Companion/dp/0971186804/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201570359&sr=1-1 | doi = | id = | isbn = 0-9711868-0-4}}</ref> Filming was completed on March 2-6, 1937.<ref>[http://www.threestooges.net/filmography/episode/23 ''Back to the Woods'' at threestooges.net]</ref>
| first = Jon | author-link = Jon Solomon| title = The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion | publisher = Comedy III Productions, Inc | date = 2002 | isbn = 0-9711868-0-4}}</ref> Filming was completed on March 2–6, 1937.<ref>[http://www.threestooges.net/filmography/episode/23 ''Back to the Woods'' at threestooges.net]</ref>


Near the beginning of ''Back to the Woods'' when the Stooges are prisoners, each Stooge drops the metal ball that is being used to restrain him, in succession. When each ball hits the ground, a chime rings. The notes are the G-E-C chime sequence that was (and still is) the same as the [[NBC Chimes]] used for NBC radio and later NBC television. This is followed by Curly imitating a radio announcer. The "NBC chimes" gag would eventually be recycled in the team's 1941 short ''[[So Long Mr. Chumps]]''.<ref name="Solomon"/>
Near the beginning of ''Back to the Woods'' when the Stooges are prisoners, each Stooge drops the metal ball that is being used to restrain him, in succession. When each ball hits the ground, a chime rings. The notes are the G-E-C chime sequence that was (and still is) the same as the [[NBC Chimes]] used for NBC radio and later NBC television. This is followed by Curly imitating a radio announcer. The "NBC chimes" gag would eventually be recycled in the team's 1941 short ''[[So Long Mr. Chumps]]''.<ref name="Solomon"/>
Line 41: Line 68:
== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0028600|Back to the Woods}}
* {{IMDb title|0028600|Back to the Woods}}
* {{Amg movie|143266|Back to the Woods}}
* [http://threestooges.net/filmography/episode/23 ''Back to the Woods''] at [http://threestooges.net/ threestooges.net]
* [http://threestooges.net/filmography/episode/23 ''Back to the Woods''] at [http://threestooges.net/ threestooges.net]


{{The Three Stooges}}
{{The Three Stooges}}
{{Stooges Filmography (1934–1946)}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1937 films]]
[[Category:1937 films]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures short films]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures short films]]
[[Category:The Three Stooges films]]
[[Category:The Three Stooges films]]
⚫
[[Category:American short films]]
⚫
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:1937 comedy films]]
[[Category:1930s comedy films]]
[[Category:American slapstick comedy films]]
[[Category:American slapstick comedy films]]
[[Category:Films about Native Americans]]
[[Category:Films about Native Americans]]
⚫
[[Category:1930s English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:1930s American films]]

Latest revision as of 17:24, 21 December 2024

Back to the Woods
Directed byPreston Black
Screenplay byAndrew Bennison
Story bySearle Kramer
Produced byJules White
StarringMoe Howard
Larry Fine
Curly Howard
Murdock MacQuarrie
Bud Jamison
Vernon Dent
Ethelreda Leopold
Harlene Wood
Cy Schindell
Ted Lorch
CinematographyGeorge Meehan
Edited byCharles Nelson
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • May 14, 1937 (1937-05-14) (U.S.)
Running time
19:27
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Back to the Woods is a 1937 short subject directed by Preston Black starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 23rd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

[edit]

Set in nascent American colonies, the Stooges, cast as convicted felons expelled from England to embark on a series of misadventures upon their arrival. Their initial encounter involves a lively dance with the governor's daughters, followed by the disheartening revelation that the colonists face starvation due to the local indigenous population's refusal to grant access to hunting grounds without a hefty fee.

Undeterred by the predicament, the Stooges resolve to aid the struggling colony by venturing into the wilderness for a hunting excursion. Donning makeshift coonskin caps, with Curly sporting an unconventional skunk hat, the trio ventures outside Plymouth, Massachusetts, armed with blunderbusses in pursuit of game. A fortuitous discharge by Curly's firearm secures them a turkey, buoying their spirits for the task ahead.

However, a fateful misjudgment leads them to mistake a gathering of indigenous individuals adorned in ceremonial headdresses for a flock of turkeys. Their ill-conceived volley of shots provokes the ire of the indigenous group, precipitating a frantic chase. Despite their adversaries' pursuit, the Stooges concoct a series of improvised defenses, employing a tree branch catapult to repel their assailants with an assortment of projectiles.

Amidst the chaos, Larry finds himself ensnared and threatened with scalping, prompting Curly and Moe to orchestrate a daring rescue. Employing unconventional tactics involving hot coals and swift physical retribution, they manage to extricate their comrade from peril. Their escape, facilitated by a makeshift canoe, culminates in a comical resurgence of their adversaries, inadvertently revitalized by an inadvertent dousing with water.

Cast

[edit]

Credited

[edit]

Uncredited

[edit]

Production notes

[edit]

Back to the Woods is the last Stooges' films directed by "Preston Black", pseudonym of Jules White's older brother and fellow producer/director Jack White. It is the second-longest Stooge short filmed, running at 19' 27"; the longest is A Pain in the Pullman, clocking in at 19' 46".[1] Filming was completed on March 2–6, 1937.[2]

Near the beginning of Back to the Woods when the Stooges are prisoners, each Stooge drops the metal ball that is being used to restrain him, in succession. When each ball hits the ground, a chime rings. The notes are the G-E-C chime sequence that was (and still is) the same as the NBC Chimes used for NBC radio and later NBC television. This is followed by Curly imitating a radio announcer. The "NBC chimes" gag would eventually be recycled in the team's 1941 short So Long Mr. Chumps.[1]

Larry refers to the WPA, which he identifies as the "Willing Pilgrims Association". This is a reference to the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal program that was prominent in the 1930s.[1]

Curly and Larry refer to Whopper and Rosemont, two popular racehorses of the era.[1]

The shot of the Stooges leaving in their high speed canoe was recycled from Whoops, I'm an Indian!. Back to the Woods was the first Stooge film to employ stock footage, a practice that would become more common in future productions.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Comedy III Productions, Inc. ISBN 0-9711868-0-4.
  2. ^ Back to the Woods at threestooges.net
[edit]
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