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{{Short description|1935 American short film by Del Lord}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Hoi Polloi
| name = Hoi Polloi
| image = Hoipolloi35.jpg
| image = Hoipolloi35.jpg
| caption =
| caption = Original [[lobby card]]
| director = [[Del Lord]]
| director = [[Del Lord]]
| writer = [[Felix Adler (screenwriter)|Felix Adler]]<br>Helen Howard
| writer = [[Felix Adler (screenwriter)|Felix Adler]]<br />Helen Howard (uncredited)
| starring = [[Moe Howard]]<br>[[Larry Fine]]<br>[[Curly Howard]]<br>[[Harry Holman]]<br>[[Robert Graves]]<br>[[Phyllis Crane]]<br>[[Geneva Mitchell]]<br>[[William Irving (actor)|William Irving]]<br>[[Bud Jamison]]<br>[[James C. Morton]]
| starring = [[Moe Howard]]<br />[[Larry Fine]]<br />[[Curly Howard]]<br />[[Harry Holman]]<br />[[Robert Graves]]<br />[[Phyllis Crane]]<br />[[Geneva Mitchell]]<br />[[William Irving (actor)|William Irving]]<br />[[Bud Jamison]]<br />[[James C. Morton]]
| cinematography = Henry Freulich
| cinematography = [[Henry Freulich]]
| editing = [[James Sweeney (film editor)|James Sweeney]]
| editing = [[James Sweeney (film editor)|James Sweeney]]
| producer = [[Jules White]]
| producer = [[Jules White]]
| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]
| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]
[[Coca-Cola Telecommunications (1987)]]
| released = {{Film date|1935|8|29|U.S.}}
| released = {{Film date|1935|8|29|U.S.}}
| runtime = {{duration|m=18|s=08}}
| runtime = {{duration|m=17|s=52}}
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
}}
}}


'''''Hoi Polloi''''' (1935) is the 10th [[short film]] released by [[Columbia Pictures]] starring [[United States|American]] [[slapstick]] comedy team [[The Three Stooges]] ([[Moe Howard]], [[Larry Fine]] and [[Curly Howard]]). The comedians released 190 short films for the studio between 1934 and 1959.
'''''Hoi Polloi''''' is a 1935 [[slapstick]] [[comedy]] [[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 tenth entry in the series released by [[Columbia Pictures]] starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.


==Plot==
==Plot==
In an adaptation of ''[[Pygmalion (play)|Pygmalion]]'', Professor Richmond ([[Harry Holman]]), certain that environment and not heredity dictates social behavior, bets one of his peers, Professor Nichols (Robert Graves) $10,000 that he can take a common man and through environment and proper training turn him into a gentleman. Naturally, the Stooges, who are garbage men, are discovered and made the subjects of the wager. After many attempts to teach them proper etiquette (including a dance class punctuated by an errant bee) that flies down the back of their female dance instructor, the Stooges will decide the wager by their behavior at a fancy society party.
In a cinematic adaptation of [[George Bernard Shaw]]'s 1913 play, ''[[Pygmalion (play)|Pygmalion]]'', Professor Richmond champions the belief that social behavior is predominantly shaped by environmental factors rather than inherent traits. Engaging in a high-stakes wager with his colleague, Professor Nichols, Richmond asserts his ability to refine a common individual into a gentleman through meticulous training and exposure to refined surroundings. Nichols, however, counters with the proposition to refine three common individuals, thereby testing the limits of Richmond's theory. The unwitting subjects of this experiment happen to be the Stooges, initially employed as garbage men.


Despite earnest efforts to instill proper etiquette and refinement, the Stooges continually falter in their assimilation to high society. At a lavish society party hosted by Richmond, the Stooges' comportment descends into chaos, marked by a series of comical mishaps and social blunders. These include sartorial hijinks, inelegant dancing, and a cascade of faux pas involving grooming, culinary decorum, and surreptitious theft. The culmination of their antics leads to a chaotic fracas, wherein the assembled guests unwittingly mimic the Stooges' behavior, sparking a cascade of slapstick mayhem.
The party does not go well: Curly pulls Moe's jacket threads until it splits. Moe then hijacks Curly's oversized jacket. Larry and Moe dance with stomped feet and bumps galore. Curly, as usual, gets most of the faux pas: he shaves in front of a guest; he gets stuck on a [[spittoon]]; he picks a "maraschino" cherry from a punch bowl; he hides a bottle of champagne, which Moe sees. Frustrated, Moe kicks Curly in the pants, resulting in the champagne popping open and spraying a guest.


Eventually, Professor Richmond loses the bet and gives the $10,000 dollars to Professor Nichols. Nichols in turn makes a comment to a lady guest concerning being pestered by a bunch of "rowdies". The remark does not go over well with her, and she slaps him in the face. Professor Richmond laughs, and the unfortunate fellow slaps him in turn. In quick succession, guests laugh at other guests' misfortunes, and slaps and gouges fly until the party becomes a melee of Stooge-born slapstick. The Stooges, disgusted by it all, realize that this is what they get for "associating themselves with the hoi polloi" and decide to leave, but Richmond and Nichols get the last laugh on them via champagne bottles crashed onto their heads.
Acknowledging defeat, Professor Richmond concedes the wager and presents a check to Professor Nichols. However, the attempt to smooth over the disruption with an apology to Mrs. Richmond backfires, leading to a slapstick exchange of physical retribution among the guests. Disillusioned by the superficiality and absurdity of high society, the Stooges opt to depart, only to be subjected to one final comedic blow from Richmond and Nichols.


==Production notes==
==Production notes==
The idea for ''Hoi Polloi'' came from Moe Howard's wife, Helen, who was offered either screen credit or money (she took the latter). Moe later stated that the plot of ''Hoi Polloi'' was so good that it bore repeating. The Stooges reworked the film twice more, as ''[[Half-Wits Holiday]]'' in 1947 (Curly's final starring role) and ''[[Pies and Guys]]'' in 1958.<ref>Lenburg, Jeff; Howard Maurer, Joan; Lenburg, Greg; (1982). ''The Three Stooges Scrapbook'', Citadel Press. ISBN 0-8065-0946-5</ref> Filming for ''Hoi Polloi'' was completed May 2–6, 1935.<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 = 135–141 | 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>
The idea for ''Hoi Polloi'' came from Moe Howard's wife, Helen, who was offered either screen credit or money (she took the latter). Moe later stated that the plot of ''Hoi Polloi'' was so good that it bore repeating. The Stooges reworked the film twice more, as ''[[Half-Wits Holiday]]'' in 1947 (Curly's final starring role) and ''[[Pies and Guys]]'' in 1958.<ref>Lenburg, Jeff; Howard Maurer, Joan; Lenburg, Greg; (1982). ''The Three Stooges Scrapbook'', Citadel Press. {{ISBN|0-8065-0946-5}}</ref> Filming for ''Hoi Polloi'' was completed May 2–6, 1935.<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 = 135–141 | 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>


In the first street scene where the Stooges are rubbish sanitation workers, the original "[[Hollywood sign|Hollywoodland]]" sign is visible in the distance.<ref name=pauley/> On the street is a marquee advertising the film ''[[Mississippi (film)|Mississippi]]'' featuring [[Bing Crosby]]. Coincidentally, this film also co-stars [[Fred Kohler]] who was portrayed Double Deal Decker in the short ''[[Horses' Collars]]'' released the same year.<ref name=solo>{{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 = 68–70 | 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>
In the first street scene where the Stooges are rubbish sanitation workers, the original "[[Hollywood sign|Hollywoodland]]" sign is visible in the distance.<ref name=pauley/> On the street is a marquee advertising the film ''[[Mississippi (film)|Mississippi]]'' featuring [[Bing Crosby]]. Coincidentally, this film also co-stars [[Fred Kohler]] who portrayed Double Deal Decker in the short ''[[Horses' Collars]]'' released the same year.<ref name=solo>{{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 = 68–70 | isbn = 0-9711868-0-4}}</ref>


The movie theater mentioned above was the Larchmont Theatre at 149 North Larchmont Blvd in [[Los Angeles]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Now |first=Chris Bungo Studios Filming Locations Then and |title=Chris Bungo Studios Filming Locations Then and Now |url=https://ChrisBungoStudios.com |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Chris Bungo Studios Filming Locations Then and Now |language=en-US}}</ref>
⚫
In the ''Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special'', hosted by [[Woody Harrelson]], the dancing scene with Geneva Mitchell was voted by the fans as their favorite Stooge moment of all time. The dancing sequence would later be reused in ''[[In the Sweet Pie and Pie]]''.<ref name=solo/>


⚫
In the ''Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special'', hosted by [[Woody Harrelson]], the dancing scene with Geneva Mitchell was voted by the fans as their favorite Stooge moment of all time. The dancing sequence footage would be reused in 1941's ''[[In the Sweet Pie and Pie]]''.<ref name=solo/>
⚫
This is the first of three shorts in which Curly gets a sofa spring attached to his back. The spring gag would be used again in ''[[Three Little Sew and Sews]]'', ''[[An Ache in Every Stake]]'', with [[Shemp Howard]] in ''[[Hugs and Mugs]]'' and [[Joe DeRita]] in ''[[Have Rocket, Will Travel]]''.<ref name=solo/>

⚫
This is the first of three shorts in which Curly gets a sofa spring attached to his back. The spring gag would be used again in ''[[Three Little Sew and Sews]]'', ''[[An Ache in Every Stake]]'', with [[Shemp Howard]] in ''[[Hugs and Mugs]]'' and [[Joe DeRita|Curly-Joe DeRita]] in ''[[Have Rocket, Will Travel]]''.<ref name=solo/>


During the dance sequence, Larry loses his shoe. At one point actress Phyllis Crane, dancing with Moe, trips on the shoe and falls down, visibly striking her head on the floor; this was not scripted.<ref name=solo/>
During the dance sequence, Larry loses his shoe. At one point actress Phyllis Crane, dancing with Moe, trips on the shoe and falls down, visibly striking her head on the floor; this was not scripted.<ref name=solo/>


A [[Film colorization|colorized]] version of this film was released in 2006. It was not released on a Stooge DVD, but rather as a hastily added DVD bonus feature for the [[Jamie Foxx]] movie ''[[Breakin' All the Rules]]''.<ref>[http://video.barnesandnoble.com/DVD/Breakin-All-the-Rules/Jamie-Foxx/e/43396013124 barnesandnoble.com]</ref>
A [[Film colorization|colorized]] version of this film was released in 2006. It was not released on a Stooge DVD, but rather as a hastily added DVD bonus feature for the [[Jamie Foxx]] movie ''[[Breakin' All the Rules]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://video.barnesandnoble.com/DVD/Breakin-All-the-Rules/Jamie-Foxx/e/43396013124 |title=barnesandnoble.com |access-date=2009-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218083108/http://video.barnesandnoble.com/DVD/Breakin-All-the-Rules/Jamie-Foxx/e/43396013124 |archive-date=2012-02-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 45: Line 48:
* {{IMDb title|0026479|Hoi Polloi}}
* {{IMDb title|0026479|Hoi Polloi}}
*[http://www.threestooges.net/filmography/episode/10 ''Hoi Polloi'' at threestooges.net]
*[http://www.threestooges.net/filmography/episode/10 ''Hoi Polloi'' at threestooges.net]
*''[http://threestoogespictures.info/hoi-polloi-starring-the-three-stooges/ Hoi Polloi]'' at [http://threestoogespictures.info/ threestoogespictures.info]


{{ThreeStooges}}
{{ThreeStooges}}
{{Stooges Filmography (1934–1946)}}
{{Pygmalion}}
{{Pygmalion}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoi Polloi (1935 Film)}}
[[Category:1935 films]]
[[Category:1935 films]]
[[Category:1930s comedy films]]
[[Category:1935 comedy films]]
⚫
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films based on Pygmalion (play)]]
[[Category:Films based on works by George Bernard Shaw]]
[[Category:Films directed by Del Lord]]
[[Category:Films directed by Del Lord]]
[[Category:The Three Stooges films]]
[[Category:The Three Stooges films]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures short films]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures short films]]
[[Category:American slapstick comedy films]]
[[Category:1930s English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:1930s American films]]

Latest revision as of 03:37, 17 December 2024

Hoi Polloi
Original lobby card
Directed byDel Lord
Written byFelix Adler
Helen Howard (uncredited)
Produced byJules White
StarringMoe Howard
Larry Fine
Curly Howard
Harry Holman
Robert Graves
Phyllis Crane
Geneva Mitchell
William Irving
Bud Jamison
James C. Morton
CinematographyHenry Freulich
Edited byJames Sweeney
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • August 29, 1935 (1935-08-29) (U.S.)
Running time
17:52
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Hoi Polloi is a 1935 slapstick comedy short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the tenth entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

[edit]

In a cinematic adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play, Pygmalion, Professor Richmond champions the belief that social behavior is predominantly shaped by environmental factors rather than inherent traits. Engaging in a high-stakes wager with his colleague, Professor Nichols, Richmond asserts his ability to refine a common individual into a gentleman through meticulous training and exposure to refined surroundings. Nichols, however, counters with the proposition to refine three common individuals, thereby testing the limits of Richmond's theory. The unwitting subjects of this experiment happen to be the Stooges, initially employed as garbage men.

Despite earnest efforts to instill proper etiquette and refinement, the Stooges continually falter in their assimilation to high society. At a lavish society party hosted by Richmond, the Stooges' comportment descends into chaos, marked by a series of comical mishaps and social blunders. These include sartorial hijinks, inelegant dancing, and a cascade of faux pas involving grooming, culinary decorum, and surreptitious theft. The culmination of their antics leads to a chaotic fracas, wherein the assembled guests unwittingly mimic the Stooges' behavior, sparking a cascade of slapstick mayhem.

Acknowledging defeat, Professor Richmond concedes the wager and presents a check to Professor Nichols. However, the attempt to smooth over the disruption with an apology to Mrs. Richmond backfires, leading to a slapstick exchange of physical retribution among the guests. Disillusioned by the superficiality and absurdity of high society, the Stooges opt to depart, only to be subjected to one final comedic blow from Richmond and Nichols.

Production notes

[edit]

The idea for Hoi Polloi came from Moe Howard's wife, Helen, who was offered either screen credit or money (she took the latter). Moe later stated that the plot of Hoi Polloi was so good that it bore repeating. The Stooges reworked the film twice more, as Half-Wits Holiday in 1947 (Curly's final starring role) and Pies and Guys in 1958.[1] Filming for Hoi Polloi was completed May 2–6, 1935.[2]

In the first street scene where the Stooges are rubbish sanitation workers, the original "Hollywoodland" sign is visible in the distance.[2] On the street is a marquee advertising the film Mississippi featuring Bing Crosby. Coincidentally, this film also co-stars Fred Kohler who portrayed Double Deal Decker in the short Horses' Collars released the same year.[3]

The movie theater mentioned above was the Larchmont Theatre at 149 North Larchmont Blvd in Los Angeles.[4]

In the Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special, hosted by Woody Harrelson, the dancing scene with Geneva Mitchell was voted by the fans as their favorite Stooge moment of all time. The dancing sequence footage would be reused in 1941's In the Sweet Pie and Pie.[3]

This is the first of three shorts in which Curly gets a sofa spring attached to his back. The spring gag would be used again in Three Little Sew and Sews, An Ache in Every Stake, with Shemp Howard in Hugs and Mugs and Curly-Joe DeRita in Have Rocket, Will Travel.[3]

During the dance sequence, Larry loses his shoe. At one point actress Phyllis Crane, dancing with Moe, trips on the shoe and falls down, visibly striking her head on the floor; this was not scripted.[3]

A colorized version of this film was released in 2006. It was not released on a Stooge DVD, but rather as a hastily added DVD bonus feature for the Jamie Foxx movie Breakin' All the Rules.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lenburg, Jeff; Howard Maurer, Joan; Lenburg, Greg; (1982). The Three Stooges Scrapbook, Citadel Press. ISBN 0-8065-0946-5
  2. ^ a b Pauley, Jim (2012). The Three Stooges Hollywood Filming Locations. Solana Beach, California: Santa Monica Press, LLC. pp. 135–141. ISBN 9781595800701.
  3. ^ a b c d Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Glendale, California: Comedy III Productions, Inc. pp. 68–70. ISBN 0-9711868-0-4.
  4. ^ Now, Chris Bungo Studios Filming Locations Then and. "Chris Bungo Studios Filming Locations Then and Now". Chris Bungo Studios Filming Locations Then and Now. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  5. ^ "barnesandnoble.com". Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
[edit]
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