Movie Maniacs

For the toy line, see McFarlane Toys § Movie Maniacs.

Movie Maniacs
Directed by	Del Lord
Written by	Felix Adler
Produced by	Jules White
Starring	Moe Howard Larry Fine Curly Howard Mildred Harris Kenneth Harlan Bud Jamison Harry Semels Heinie Conklin
Cinematography	Benjamin H. Kline
Edited by	William Lyon
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	February 20, 1936 (1936-02-20) (U.S.)
Running time	17:13
Country	United States
Language	English

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

The Stooges are stowaways on a boxcar carrying a furniture consignment to Hollywood. Fully expecting for no good reason to get a job and become famous movie stars, and dressed for the occasion, the Stooges sneak into a movie studio by trespassing into the studio. Though the studio doesn't allow gate-crashing trespassers without any studio gate passes, they are mistaken for three New York 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 the sole of her bare foot, startling her. Angered, she is about to storm off the set until the trio convince her to stay. which caused the angry director, Cecil Z. Swinehardt, the Leading Lady and the Leading man to quit. The trio then act out the love scene as they want it filmed, leading its stars to abandon the set.

Another telegram arrives with the news that three actual executives were delayed by a storm. Angered at the deception, the studio boss and the film's crew go after the Stooges, realizing they are actually imposters and studio gate-crashing trespassers who don't have studio gate passes.. After the trio are able to hide from their pursuers, they soon find themselves in a lion's den. The three quickly get into a nearby car, but one of the lions catch up and attack them, leaving the car to go out of control down a nearby street.

Cast

Credited

• 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

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
• Tanner The Lion as Lion
• 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)

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.

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.

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

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).

Quotes

Curly: "If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking 'til you DO succeed!"

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• LARRY: "What are we doing in Hollywood? We don't know nothing about making pictures!"

• MOE: "There's a couple hundred guys out there NOW who don't know nothing about it. Three more won't make any difference!"

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External links

• Movie Maniacs at IMDb
• Template:Amg movie
• Movie Maniacs at threestooges.net