Gold Raiders: Difference between revisions

Gold Raiders
Gold Raiders
Directed by	Edward Bernds
Written by	William Lively; Elwood Ullman
Produced by	Bernard Glasser; Jack Schwarz
Starring	George O'Brien; Moe Howard; Larry Fine; Shemp Howard; Sheila Ryan; Lyle Talbot; Clem Bevans; Monte Blue; John Merton; Hugh Hooker
Cinematography	Paul Ivano
Edited by	Fred Allen
Music by	Alex Alexander; June Starr
Production; company	Jack Schwarz Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	September 9, 1951 (U.S.);
Running time	56 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$50,000

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Gold Raiders is a 1951 comedy Western film starring George O'Brien and The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). The picture was O'Brien's last starring role and the only feature film released during Shemp Howard's 1947–55 tenure with the trio.^[1]

Plot

Set in the Old West, the Stooges are peddlers, traversing the terrain via a covered wagon. George O'Brien, previously engaged as a federal marshal, has transitioned his occupation to the burgeoning field of property insurance. O'Brien strategically recruits the Stooges to aid him in devising a plan to outmaneuver a notorious gang of outlaws, under the leadership of saloon proprietor Taggart, whose criminal activities involve the pilfering of precious gold-mine consignments.

Cast

George O'Brien as George O'Brien
Moe Howard as Moe
Larry Fine as Larry
Shemp Howard as Shemp
Clem Bevans as Doc Mason
Sheila Ryan as Laura Mason
Lyle Talbot as Taggart
Monte Blue as John Sawyer
Fuzzy Knight as Sheriff
Hugh Hooker as Sandy Evans
John Merton as Clete
Remy Paquet as Singer
Andre Adoree as Bartender
Roy Canada as Slim
Bill Ward as Henchman

Production

Gold Raiders was an attempt by independent producer Bernard Glasser to inaugurate a new western series starring George O'Brien, an action star since John Ford's 1924 epic The Iron Horse and later a top attraction in Western and outdoor-adventure features. The Three Stooges (who consisted at that time of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Shemp Howard) appear with O'Brien.

O'Brien and the Stooges receive roughly equal screen time. Sheila Ryan co-stars as the granddaughter of alcoholic doctor Clem Bevans, while silent-film star Monte Blue enjoys a larger part than usual as a local mine owner. Some of the stunts were performed by Hugh Hooker, who also plays a juvenile role.^{[citation needed]}

Gold Raiders marked the second and last feature film with Shemp Howard as part of the Stooges. The first had been the team's original screen appearance, Soup to Nuts (1930), featuring the Stooges' original leader Ted Healy.

Production and budget

The 56-minute film Gold Raiders directed by Edward Bernds, known for his work on Stooges' comedy shorts, employed an economical approach to filmmaking. Bernds enlisted the assistance of Elwood Ullman, a frequent collaborator in scripting Stooge shorts, to infuse comedic elements into William Lively's original western narrative. Originally slated for a 12-day filming schedule, deemed feasible for a production of modest means, the project encountered financial constraints early on. Producer Bernard Glasser's budgetary limitations necessitated two reductions in the shooting schedule, ultimately settling for a mere five-day window on December 26–30, 1950. Despite the truncated timeline, Bernds, initially disheartened by the constraints, persevered at Glasser's behest.^[2]

Reflecting on the hurried production, Bernds lamented the suboptimal conditions under which the film was made: "I should have never made that picture. It was an ultra-quickie shot in five days at a cost of $50,000 ($633,195 today), which, even then, was ridiculously low. I'm afraid the picture shows it!"^[1] Nonetheless, the seasoned cast members and cinematographer Paul Ivano's expertise facilitated the filming process, minimizing the need for multiple takes.

Following the film's completion, Glasser's limited resources hampered promotional efforts, resulting in sparse publicity materials such as a modest pressbook and posters printed in only two colors, lacking the vibrancy of full-color marketing materials. Released by independent producer Jack Schwarz through United Artists in 1951, Gold Raiders marked a collaboration between George O'Brien and the Stooges. However, plans for a recurring O'Brien-Stooges series were abandoned as O'Brien and Glasser redirected their efforts towards independent production ventures in Europe.

Despite its initial reception, Gold Raiders received renewed attention when United Artists reissued the film in theaters in 1958. Additionally, television distributor Associated Artists Productions released two condensed versions of the film on 8mm home-movie reels during the 1960s.^[3]

Home media

Out of circulation for years, Gold Raiders was released on DVD in 2006 by Warner Bros.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Maurer, Joan Howard; Jeff Lenburg; Greg Lenburg (2012) [1982]. The Three Stooges Scrapbook. Citadel Press. pp. 318–319. ISBN 978-1-61374-074-3.
^ Ted Okuda with Edward Watz, The Columbia Comedy Shorts, McFarland, 1986. ISBN 978-0786405770
^ Solomon, Jon. (2002) The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion; Comedy III Productions, Inc., ISBN 0-9711868-0-4

External links

Gold Raiders at IMDb
Gold Raiders at the TCM Movie Database
Gold Raiders at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films

[Scrapbtheook-1] Maurer, Joan Howard; Jeff Lenburg; Greg Lenburg (2012) [1982]. The Three Stooges Scrapbook. Citadel Press. pp. 318–319. ISBN 978-1-61374-074-3.

[2] Ted Okuda with Edward Watz, The Columbia Comedy Shorts, McFarland, 1986. ISBN 978-0786405770

[solo-3] Solomon, Jon. (2002) The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion; Comedy III Productions, Inc., ISBN 0-9711868-0-4

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|1951 film by Edward Bernds}}
-{{Infobox Film
+{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
-  | name             = Gold Raiders
+{{Use American English|date=October 2021}}
-  | image            =
+{{Infobox film
-  | director         = [[Edward Bernds]]
-  | producer         = [[Bernard Glasser]]
+| name             = Gold Raiders
-  | writer           = [[William Lively]]<br>[[Elwood Ullman]]
+| image            = Goldraduier.jpg
+| director         = [[Edward Bernds]]
-  | starring         = [[Moe Howard]]<br>[[Larry Fine]]<br>[[Shemp Howard]]<br>[[George O'Brien]]<br>[[Sheila Ryan]]<br>[[Jerome Cowan]]<br>[[Clem Bevans]]<br>[[Monte Blue]]<br>[[Lyle Talbot]]
-  | music            = [[Alex Alexander]]<br>[[June Starr]]
+| producer         = [[Bernard Glasser]]<br />[[Jack Schwarz (producer)|Jack Schwarz]]
+| writer           = [[William Lively]]<br />[[Elwood Ullman]]
-  | cinematography   = [[Paul Ivano]]
+| starring         = [[George O'Brien (actor)|George O'Brien]]<br />[[Moe Howard]]<br />[[Larry Fine]]<br />[[Shemp Howard]]<br />[[Sheila Ryan]]<br />[[Lyle Talbot]]<br />[[Clem Bevans]]<br />[[Monte Blue]]<br />[[John Merton]]<br />[[Hugh Hooker]]
-  | editing          = [[Fred Allen]]
+| music            = Alex Alexander<br>[[June Starr]]
-  | distributor      =  [[Columbia Pictures Corporation]]
+| cinematography   = [[Paul Ivano]]
-  | released         = {{flagicon|US}} [[September 9]], [[1951 in film|1951]] |
-  | runtime          = 55' 42" |
+| editing          = [[Fred Allen (film editor)|Fred Allen]]
-  | country          = {{USA}}
+| studio           = Jack Schwarz Productions
-  | language         = [[English language|English]]
+| distributor      = [[United Artists]]
+| released         = {{Film date|1951|09|09|U.S.}}
-  | followed_by      = ''[[Swing Parade of 1946]]''
-  | followed_by      = ''[[Stop, Look and Laugh]]''
+| runtime          = 56 minutes
-  | amg_id           = 1:20144
+| country          = United States
-  | imdb_id          = 0043591 |
+| language         = English
+| budget           = $50,000<ref name="Scrapbtheook" />
 }}
-'''''Gold Raiders''''' is a 1951 comedy film, with a script by B-movie writer [[William Lively]] and veteran comedy writer [[Elwood Ullman]]. The film was an attempt by independent producer [[Bernard Glasser]] to inaugurate a new western series starring old favorite [[George O'Brien]]. Adding novelty value to the proceedings are [[The Three Stooges]]: [[Shemp Howard]], [[Larry Fine]], and [[Moe Howard]]. The 56-minute '''''Gold Raiders''''' was economically filmed in a record five days by director [[Edward Bernds]].
+'''''Gold Raiders''''' is a 1951 [[comedy]] [[Western (genre)|Western]] film starring [[George O'Brien (actor)|George O'Brien]] and [[The Three Stooges]] ([[Moe Howard]], [[Larry Fine]] and [[Shemp Howard]]). The picture was O'Brien's last starring role and the only feature film released during Shemp Howard's 1947–55 tenure with the trio.<ref name="Scrapbtheook" />
+==Plot==
-The action is fairly divided between O'Brien, playing a frontier insurance investigator, and the Stooges, cast as itinerant peddlers. The star and his comic cohorts thwart a gang of thieves hijacking gold-mine shipments. The villain is local bigwig Sawyer ([[Lyle Talbot]]), but the plot sneaks in a few interesting twists, including a red-herring character who initially seems to be a spy for the baddies, but who turns out to be an agent for the good guys. The Stooges, despite their buffoonery, perform heroically during the climactic shootout.
+Set in the [[American frontier|Old West]], the Stooges are peddlers, traversing the terrain via a covered wagon. George O'Brien, previously engaged as a federal marshal, has transitioned his occupation to the burgeoning field of property insurance. O'Brien strategically recruits the Stooges to aid him in devising a plan to outmaneuver a notorious gang of outlaws, under the leadership of saloon proprietor Taggart, whose criminal activities involve the pilfering of precious gold-mine consignments.
+==Cast==
-[[Sheila Ryan]] co-stars as the granddaughter of tipster doctor Clem Bevans, while [[Monte Blue]] enjoys a larger part than usual as the local mine owner. Some of the stunts were performed by Hugh Hooker, who also plays a juvenile role.
+* [[George O'Brien (actor)|George O'Brien]] as George O'Brien
+* [[Moe Howard]] as Moe
+* [[Larry Fine]] as Larry
+* [[Shemp Howard]] as Shemp
+* [[Clem Bevans]] as Doc Mason
+* [[Sheila Ryan]] as Laura Mason
+* [[Lyle Talbot]] as Taggart
+* [[Monte Blue]] as John Sawyer
+* [[Fuzzy Knight]] as Sheriff
+* Hugh Hooker as Sandy Evans
+* [[John Merton]] as Clete
+* Remy Paquet as Singer
+* Andre Adoree as Bartender
+* Roy Canada as Slim
+* Bill Ward as Henchman
+==Production==
-'''''Gold Raiders''''' was originally released by independent producer Jack Schwarz through United Artists in 1951-52, and although the principals worked well together, plans to pursue an O'Brien-Stooges series were abandoned. The film was reissued to theaters in 1958, and television distributor AAP issued two home-movie abridgements on 8mm film in the 1960s. It is one of the few full-length films featuring [[Shemp Howard]] as one of the Stooges. Shemp, Moe and Larry also appear in the full length film "Soup To Nuts" (1930), which also features Ted Healy.  Extremely obscure for five decades, '''''Gold Raiders''''' was finally released to home video in 2006.
+''Gold Raiders'' was an attempt by independent producer [[Bernard Glasser]] to inaugurate a new western series starring George O'Brien, an action star since [[John Ford]]'s 1924 epic ''[[The Iron Horse (film)|The Iron Horse]]'' and later a top attraction in Western and outdoor-adventure features. The Three Stooges (who consisted at that time of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Shemp Howard) appear with O'Brien.
+O'Brien and the Stooges receive roughly equal screen time. [[Sheila Ryan]] co-stars as the granddaughter of alcoholic doctor [[Clem Bevans]], while silent-film star [[Monte Blue]] enjoys a larger part than usual as a local mine owner. Some of the stunts were performed by Hugh Hooker, who also plays a juvenile role.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}
-{{Template:3stoogesfeaturefilms}}
-[[Category:1951 films]]
-[[Category:Three Stooges films]]
-[[Category:American films]]
-[[Category:English-language films]]
-[[Category:Black and white films]]
-[[Category:Comedy films]]
-[[Category:Western films]]
+''Gold Raiders'' marked the second and last feature film with Shemp Howard as part of the Stooges. The first had been the team's original screen appearance, ''[[Soup to Nuts]]'' (1930), featuring the Stooges' original leader [[Ted Healy]].
-{{1950s-comedy-film-stub}}
+=== Production and budget ===
+The 56-minute film ''Gold Raiders'' directed by [[Edward Bernds]], known for his work on Stooges' comedy shorts, employed an economical approach to filmmaking. Bernds enlisted the assistance of [[Elwood Ullman]], a frequent collaborator in scripting Stooge shorts, to infuse comedic elements into William Lively's original western narrative. Originally slated for a 12-day filming schedule, deemed feasible for a production of modest means, the project encountered financial constraints early on. Producer Bernard Glasser's budgetary limitations necessitated two reductions in the shooting schedule, ultimately settling for a mere five-day window on December 26–30, 1950. Despite the truncated timeline, Bernds, initially disheartened by the constraints, persevered at Glasser's behest.<ref>[[Ted Okuda]] with Edward Watz, ''The Columbia Comedy Shorts'', McFarland, 1986. ISBN 978-0786405770</ref>
+Reflecting on the hurried production, Bernds lamented the suboptimal conditions under which the film was made: "I should have never made that picture. It was an ultra-quickie shot in five days at a cost of $50,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|50000|1950}}}} today), which, even then, was ridiculously low. I'm afraid the picture shows it!"<ref name=Scrapbtheook>{{cite book| last = Maurer| first = Joan Howard| author-link = Joan Howard Maurer|author2=Jeff Lenburg |author3=Greg Lenburg | title = The Three Stooges Scrapbook| publisher = Citadel Press| orig-year = 1982| year = 2012| pages = 318–319| isbn = 978-1-61374-074-3}}</ref> Nonetheless, the seasoned cast members and cinematographer Paul Ivano's expertise facilitated the filming process, minimizing the need for multiple takes.
+Following the film's completion, Glasser's limited resources hampered promotional efforts, resulting in sparse publicity materials such as a modest pressbook and posters printed in only two colors, lacking the vibrancy of full-color marketing materials. Released by independent producer [[Jack Schwarz]] through [[United Artists]] in 1951, ''Gold Raiders'' marked a collaboration between George O'Brien and the Stooges. However, plans for a recurring O'Brien-Stooges series were abandoned as O'Brien and Glasser redirected their efforts towards independent production ventures in Europe.
+Despite its initial reception, ''Gold Raiders'' received renewed attention when United Artists reissued the film in theaters in 1958. Additionally, television distributor [[Associated Artists Productions]] released two condensed versions of the film on 8mm home-movie reels during the 1960s.<ref name=solo>Solomon, Jon. (2002) ''The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion''; Comedy III Productions, Inc., {{ISBN|0-9711868-0-4}}</ref>
+==Home media==
+Out of circulation for years, ''Gold Raiders'' was released on [[DVD]] in 2006 by [[Warner Bros.]]
+==See also==
+* [[The Three Stooges filmography]]
+==References==
+{{Reflist}}
+==External links==
+* {{IMDb title|0043591}}
+* {{TCMDb title|id=76616}}
+* {{AFI film|50120}}
+{{The Three Stooges}}
+{{The Three Stooges filmography}}
+[[Category:1951 films]]
+[[Category:The Three Stooges films]]
+[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
+[[Category:Films directed by Edward Bernds]]
+[[Category:United Artists films]]
+[[Category:American slapstick comedy films]]
+[[Category:American Western (genre) comedy films]]
+[[Category:1950s Western (genre) comedy films]]
+[[Category:1951 comedy films]]
+[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
+[[Category:1950s American films]]
+[[Category:English-language Western (genre) comedy films]]

v t e The Three Stooges
Moe Howard Larry Fine Curly Howard Shemp Howard Joe Besser Curly Joe DeRita
Works	The Three Stooges filmography The Three Stooges Collection Jerks of All Trades The New 3 Stooges The Three Stooges Scrapbook Kook's Tour Moe Howard and the Three Stooges
Related topics	List of supporting actors in Three Stooges films Yogi Bear and the Three Stooges Meet the Mad, Mad, Mad Dr. No-No The Robonic Stooges Stoogemania "Swingin' the Alphabet" "The Curly Shuffle" 1984 arcade game 1987 video game 2000 TV biopic 2012 feature film C3 Entertainment
Associated people	Felix Adler Edward Bernds Tiny Brauer Clyde Bruckman Charley Chase Paul Garner Ted Healy Rich Koz Del Lord Norman Maurer Hugh McCollum Christine McIntyre Frank Mitchell Joe Palma/Fake Shemp Fred Sanborn Emil Sitka Greta Thyssen Elwood Ullman Jack White Jules White
Category

v t e The Three Stooges filmography
Short films	Woman Haters (1934) Punch Drunks (1934) Men in Black (1934) Three Little Pigskins (1934) Horses' Collars (1935) Restless Knights (1935) Pop Goes the Easel (1935) Uncivil Warriors (1935) Pardon My Scotch (1935) Hoi Polloi (1935) Three Little Beers (1935) Ants in the Pantry (1936) Movie Maniacs (1936) Half Shot Shooters (1936) Disorder in the Court (1936) A Pain in the Pullman (1936) False Alarms (1936) Whoops, I'm an Indian! (1936) Slippery Silks (1936) Grips, Grunts and Groans (1937) Dizzy Doctors (1937) 3 Dumb Clucks (1937) Back to the Woods (1937) Goofs and Saddles (1937) Cash and Carry (1937) Playing the Ponies (1937) The Sitter Downers (1937) Termites of 1938 (1938) Wee Wee Monsieur (1938) Tassels in the Air (1938) Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb (1938) Violent Is the Word for Curly (1938) Three Missing Links (1938) Mutts to You (1938) Flat Foot Stooges (1938) Three Little Sew and Sews (1939) We Want Our Mummy (1939) A Ducking They Did Go (1939) Yes, We Have No Bonanza (1939) Saved by the Belle (1939) Calling All Curs (1939) Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise (1939) Three Sappy People (1939) You Nazty Spy! (1940) Rockin' thru the Rockies (1940) A Plumbing We Will Go (1940) Nutty but Nice (1940) How High Is Up? (1940) From Nurse to Worse (1940) No Census, No Feeling (1940) Cookoo Cavaliers (1940) Boobs in Arms (1940) So Long Mr. Chumps (1941) Dutiful But Dumb (1941) All the World's a Stooge (1941) I'll Never Heil Again (1941) An Ache in Every Stake (1941) In the Sweet Pie and Pie (1941) Some More of Samoa (1941) Loco Boy Makes Good (1942) Cactus Makes Perfect (1942) What's the Matador? (1942) Matri-Phony (1942) Three Smart Saps (1942) Even as IOU (1942) Sock-a-Bye Baby (1942) They Stooge to Conga (1943) Dizzy Detectives (1943) Spook Louder (1943) Back from the Front (1943) Three Little Twirps (1943) Higher Than a Kite (1943) I Can Hardly Wait (1943) Dizzy Pilots (1943) Phony Express (1943) A Gem of a Jam (1943) Crash Goes the Hash (1944) Busy Buddies (1944) The Yoke's on Me (1944) Idle Roomers (1944) Gents Without Cents (1944) No Dough Boys (1944) Three Pests in a Mess (1945) Booby Dupes (1945) Idiots Deluxe (1945) If a Body Meets a Body (1945) Micro-Phonies (1945) Beer Barrel Polecats (1946) A Bird in the Head (1946) Uncivil War Birds (1946) The Three Troubledoers (1946) Monkey Businessmen (1946) Three Loan Wolves (1946) G.I. Wanna Home (1946) Rhythm and Weep (1946) Three Little Pirates (1946) Half-Wits Holiday (1947)
Features	Soup to Nuts (1930) Time Out for Rhythm (1941) Rockin' in the Rockies (1945) Swing Parade of 1946 (1946) Gold Raiders (1951) Have Rocket, Will Travel (1959) Stop! Look! and Laugh! (1960) Snow White and the Three Stooges (1961) The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962) The Three Stooges in Orbit (1962) The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze (1963) The Outlaws Is Coming (1965)
Related films	Stoogemania (1986) The Three Stooges (2000) The Three Stooges (2012)