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{{Short description|1936 American short film by Del Lord}}
{{For|the toy line|McFarlane Toys #Movie Maniacs}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Movie Maniacs
| name = Movie Maniacs
Line 10: Line 12:
| producer = [[Jules White]]
| producer = [[Jules White]]
| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]
| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|1936|2|20}}
| released = {{Film date|1936|02|20|U.S.}}
| runtime = 17' 13"
| runtime = {{duration|m=17|s=13}}
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
}}
}}


'''''Movie Maniacs''''' is the 13th [[short subject]] film starring American [[slapstick]] comedy trio [[the Three Stooges]]. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for [[Columbia Pictures]] between 1934 and 1959.
'''''Movie Maniacs''''' is a 1936 [[short film|short subject]] directed by [[Del Lord]] starring American [[slapstick]] comedy team [[The Three Stooges]] ([[Moe Howard]], [[Larry Fine]] and [[Curly Howard]]). It is the 13th entry in the series released by [[Columbia Pictures]] starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.


==Plot==
==Plot==
The Stooges are stowaways on a boxcar headed for Hollywood (to be exact, a furniture consignment to Hollywood). Fully expecting for no good reason to become stars, and dressed for the occasion, the Stooges sneak into a movie studio—where they are mistaken for three new executives who are due to take over the facility. Given the authority, they promptly abuse it and take over the production of a movie set in hopes of shooting a blockbuster movie. Curly gets off on the wrong foot when, unable to light his [[match]] for a smoke, spots an actress receiving a pedicure (silent star [[Mildred Harris]]). He then strikes the match on her bare foot, startling her. Angered, she is about to storm off the set until the trio convince her to stay. The trio then act out the love scene as they want it filmed, leading its stars to abandon the set.
The Stooges are stowaways aboard a boxcar bound for Hollywood, envisioning themselves as future movie stars without merit. Upon trespassing into a movie studio, they are mistaken for executives poised to assume control, granting them unwarranted authority over film production. Their tenure begins on a tumultuous note when Curly's misstep with a match disturbs a silent film star, prompting the departure of key personnel and leaving the trio to assume acting roles themselves.
[[File:Moviemaniacns1936.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The Stooges try to keep [[Mildred Harris]] amused in ''Movie Maniacs'']]


Their charade unravels when genuine executives arrive, exposing the trio's ruse and instigating a pursuit by the studio and crew. Fleeing their pursuers, the Stooges find themselves in a precarious encounter with lions, leading to a chaotic escapade as they attempt to evade danger in a runaway car.
Another telegram arrives with the news that three actual executives were delayed by a storm. Angered at the deception, the studio boss goes after the Stooges, who flee the scene.

==Cast==
===Credited===
{{Cast listing|
* [[Moe Howard]] as Moe
* [[Larry Fine]] as Larry
* [[Curly Howard]] as Curly
* [[Mildred Harris]] as Leading lady
* [[Kenneth Harlan]] as Leading man
* [[Bud Jamison]] as Fuller Rath
* [[Harry Semels]] as Cecil Z. Swinehardt, Director<ref name=3net>{{cite web |url= https://threestooges.net/filmography/episode/13 | title = Movie Maniacs (1936)|author=<!--Not stated--> |website=threestooges.net/ |access-date= May 20, 2020 }}</ref>

===Uncredited===
* [[Heinie Conklin]], [[Blackie Whiteford]] as studio guards
* Jack Kenney as Fuller Rath's assistant
* Charlie Phillips as surveyor
* Elaine Waters as "Marie," maid actress
* Hilda Title as script girl
* Lois Lindsey as Moe's kissing partner
* [[Althea Henley]] as Larry's kissing partner
* Eve Reynolds as Curly's kissing instructor
* [[Eddie Laughton]] as [[Grip (job)|grip]]
* [[Leo the Lion (MGM)|Tanner The Lion]] as Lion
* [[Leo the Lion (MGM)|Jackie The Lion]] as Lion
* [[Antrim Short]] as cameraman
* Charlie Phillips as assistant cameraman
* [[Harry Tenbrook]] as lighting technician
* [[Lew Davis]] as boom operator
* George Gray, Harry Keatan, Bert Young, Charles Dorety as studio crewman
* [[John Barrymore]] as Himself (photograph)<ref name=3net/>}}


==Production notes==
==Production notes==
''Movie Maniacs'' was released on February 20, 1936, only two weeks after the previous release, ''[[Ants in the Pantry]]''. It was filmed, though, in October 1935, two months before ''Ants in the Pantry''.<ref name=pauley>{{cite book | last = Pauley | first = Jim | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Three Stooges Hollywood Filming Locations | publisher = Santa Monica Press, LLC | year = 2012 | location = [[Solana Beach, California]] | pages = 160 | url = http://www.santamonicapress.com/index.php?page_name=threestooges&page_type=book&show=desc&hide0=excerpt&hide1=author&hide2=reviews&hide5=number5 | doi = | id = | isbn = 9781595800701}}</ref><ref name=solomon>{{cite book | last = Solomon | first = Jon | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion | publisher = Comedy III Productions, Inc | year = 2002 | location = [[Glendale, California]] | pages = 80 | url = http://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>
''Movie Maniacs'' was released on February 20, 1936, only two weeks after the previous release, ''[[Ants in the Pantry]]''. It was filmed, though, in October 1935, two months before ''Ants in the Pantry''.<ref name=pauley>{{cite book | last = Pauley | first = Jim | title = The Three Stooges Hollywood Filming Locations | publisher = Santa Monica Press, LLC | year = 2012 | location = [[Solana Beach, California]] | pages = 160 | url = http://www.santamonicapress.com/index.php?page_name=threestooges&page_type=book&show=desc&hide0=excerpt&hide1=author&hide2=reviews&hide5=number5 | isbn = 9781595800701}}</ref><ref name=solomon>{{cite book | last = Solomon | first = Jon | title = The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion | publisher = Comedy III Productions, Inc | year = 2002 | location = [[Glendale, California]] | pages = 80 | isbn = 0-9711868-0-4}}</ref>


The sign at the studio gate reads "Carnation Pictures: From Contented Actors" The gag refers to Carnation milk, which was long advertised as "from contented cows."
⚫
The original ending for the film involved the Stooges somehow setting fire to the movie set and running away.<ref name=solomon/>


The railroad boxcar at the beginning of the short reads "C. M. & St. P. R.R." which alludes to the [[Milwaukee Road]]. The railroad was bankrupt when this short was released (its first bankruptcy was 1925.)
When Curly is preparing aboard the train and one of them gets stuck on the ceiling, a crew member's hand is briefly visible throwing the cake upwards.


The scene with the Stooges demonstrating kissing techniques was deleted when originally released to television in 1958 by Columbia Studio's television distribution subsidiary [[Screen Gems]], as it was deemed too risqué for children's programming. Home video versions present the completed film with the scene intact.<ref>[http://www.threestooges.net/filmography/episode/13 ''Movie Maniacs'' at threestooges.net]</ref>
When Moe hits Larry with his newly "pressed" pants and sets them down on the ironing board, a thin piece of plywood is visible inside the pants, keeping them stiff.


⚫
The original ending involved the Stooges setting fire to the movie set and fleeing the site.<ref name=solomon/>
==Quotes==

'''Curly:''' "If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking 'til you DO succeed!"
The lions seen at the end of the short were named "Tanner" and "Jackie", both trained by Mel Koontz. The two lions were previously used as [[Leo the Lion (MGM)|Metro-Goldwyn Mayer's mascot]]. The two would appear in other Stooges shorts (Tanner being the most frequent of the two).


== References ==
== References ==
Line 41: Line 73:
== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0027993}}
* {{IMDb title|0027993}}
*[http://www.threestooges.net/filmography/episode/13 ''Movie Maniacs'' at threestooges.net]
* {{Amg movie|144514}}

{{ThreeStooges}}
{{ThreeStooges}}
{{Stooges Filmography (1934–1946)}}
{{authority control}}


[[Category:1930s American films]]
[[Category:1930s English-language films]]
[[Category:1936 comedy films]]
[[Category:1936 films]]
[[Category:1936 films]]
[[Category:1930s comedy films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American slapstick comedy films]]
[[Category:Black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures short films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Fiction about rail transport]]
[[Category:Films directed by Del Lord]]
[[Category:Films directed by Del Lord]]
[[Category:Rail transport in fiction]]
[[Category:Television series by Screen Gems]]
[[Category:The Three Stooges films]]
[[Category:The Three Stooges films]]

Latest revision as of 02:38, 22 December 2024

For the toy line, see McFarlane Toys § Movie Maniacs.
Movie Maniacs
Directed byDel Lord
Written byFelix Adler
Produced byJules White
StarringMoe Howard
Larry Fine
Curly Howard
Mildred Harris
Kenneth Harlan
Bud Jamison
Harry Semels
Heinie Conklin
CinematographyBenjamin H. Kline
Edited byWilliam Lyon
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • February 20, 1936 (1936-02-20) (U.S.)
Running time
17:13
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Movie Maniacs is a 1936 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 13th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

[edit]

The Stooges are stowaways aboard a boxcar bound for Hollywood, envisioning themselves as future movie stars without merit. Upon trespassing into a movie studio, they are mistaken for executives poised to assume control, granting them unwarranted authority over film production. Their tenure begins on a tumultuous note when Curly's misstep with a match disturbs a silent film star, prompting the departure of key personnel and leaving the trio to assume acting roles themselves.

Their charade unravels when genuine executives arrive, exposing the trio's ruse and instigating a pursuit by the studio and crew. Fleeing their pursuers, the Stooges find themselves in a precarious encounter with lions, leading to a chaotic escapade as they attempt to evade danger in a runaway car.

Cast

[edit]

Credited

[edit]

Uncredited

Production notes

[edit]

Movie Maniacs was released on February 20, 1936, only two weeks after the previous release, Ants in the Pantry. It was filmed, though, in October 1935, two months before Ants in the Pantry.[2][3]

The sign at the studio gate reads "Carnation Pictures: From Contented Actors" The gag refers to Carnation milk, which was long advertised as "from contented cows."

The railroad boxcar at the beginning of the short reads "C. M. & St. P. R.R." which alludes to the Milwaukee Road. The railroad was bankrupt when this short was released (its first bankruptcy was 1925.)

The scene with the Stooges demonstrating kissing techniques was deleted when originally released to television in 1958 by Columbia Studio's television distribution subsidiary Screen Gems, as it was deemed too risqué for children's programming. Home video versions present the completed film with the scene intact.[4]

The original ending involved the Stooges setting fire to the movie set and fleeing the site.[3]

The lions seen at the end of the short were named "Tanner" and "Jackie", both trained by Mel Koontz. The two lions were previously used as Metro-Goldwyn Mayer's mascot. The two would appear in other Stooges shorts (Tanner being the most frequent of the two).

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Movie Maniacs (1936)". threestooges.net/. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  2. ^ Pauley, Jim (2012). The Three Stooges Hollywood Filming Locations. Solana Beach, California: Santa Monica Press, LLC. p. 160. ISBN 9781595800701.
  3. ^ a b Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Glendale, California: Comedy III Productions, Inc. p. 80. ISBN 0-9711868-0-4.
  4. ^ Movie Maniacs at threestooges.net
[edit]
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