In regards to comedy, among the first names that some usually tend to mention are The Three Stooges, who, for more than 30 years, delighted countless audiences with their slapstick humor. During the course of said years, they appeared in a grand total of 190 comedy short films. During the late 1950's, the group experienced a resurgence in popularity after many of their films were released to television. This bolster in popularity led to them appearing in a total of six features films. Among those efforts is this 1962 outing, which reunited them with Edward Bernds, who the trio considered to be their finest director. With that said, the film is a delightful experience that is the best of their later filmography.
The Three Stooges Meet Hercules is a hilarious comedy delight that is without a doubt the best of the feature films that The Three Stooges starred in. The film proves that even after all of their years of being in show business, The Three Stooges still had the ability to amuse viewers, with there being numerous scenes in this film that are guaranteed to elicit laughter from the audience. Not to mention that the film shows that regardless of the era they appear in, The Stooges are incapable of disappointing those who watch their output.
The film appropriately begins in Ithaca. More specifically, in Ithaca, New York. The Three Stooges work at a drugstore run by a rather patronizing individual named Ralph Dimsal. At the same time, they're also best friends with Schuyler Davis, a young man who is working on an invention, a time machine. This has earned the ire of Dimsal, who taunts and bullies Schuyler at every opportunity (this is evident when he blames him for something that wasn't the latter's fault). In addition, Schuyler also is in competition with Dimsal for the affections of Diane Quigley, a young woman who also works at Dimsal's pharmacy. Shortly thereafter, Dimsal attempts to wreck the time machine so that Diane will leave Schuyler. However, this ends up causing the time machine to work. With that, Schuyler, Diane, and The Stooges are warped back in time to Ancient Greece, where they inadvertently rewrite history when Ithaca is claimed by someone named Odius, who is in fact, Dimsal's ancestor. Before long, they end up being banished to a Galley ship after freeing Ulysses, who Odius had imprisoned. With that, The Stooges' only way of defeating Odius and returning home might involve having to turn Schuyler into their version of Hercules, while at the same time, convincing the real Hercules to help them. The end result is a time traveling good time that showcases The Stooges at their brilliant best.
By this point, the trio consisted of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Joe DeRita, who went by the name of "Curly Joe." Despite the fact that Moe and Larry were getting along in years, they still were able to showcase their comedic abilities to the fullest effect, with them having some absolutely hysterical moments. In regards to Curly Joe, this is his best effort during his time with the group. In my opinion, the reason that Curly Joe worked so well as a Stooge was because he wasn't trying to be like Curly or Shemp. Instead, he used his own character, which blended well with Moe and Larry's characters. Besides The Stooges, it also helps that much like their short films, the supporting cast was effective as well. Quinn Redeker brings a sense of innocence and eventually determination as Schuyler, who goes from a naïve and nerdy inventor to being a fearless individual of Herculean proportions. Vicki Trickett was also delightful to watch, in which she has good chemistry with Redeker, who, with help from his friends, becomes determined to prove himself to her. George Neise was also great, in which he performs dual roles as both the aforementioned pharmacist Dimsal, and his ancestor, Odius, both who are equally loathsome. This is also in line with something that appeared at numerous intervals throughout the Stooges filmography, in which they ended up making friends and enemies out of an assortment of interesting characters.
Furthermore, in line with the typical Stooge format, there are numerous scenes that are hilarious to see. The film wastes no time with the laughs when it begins with The Stooges causing a massive mess in the drugstore, which features a brilliant gag involving Moe tricking Larry into letting his guard down. After going back in time, there are also various sequences that are extremely laugh worthy, such as the Stooges trying to break Ulysses out of prison in hysterical fashion. This is followed by the Stooges disguise themselves as women when they get trapped in a bath chamber with other women, with their cover being blown in a way that's sidesplitting. In other words, without spoiling too much, there are many more intervals that are certain to provoke laughter from those who watch it. It's no coincidence that the film was written by Elwood Ullman, who had frequently collaborated with the Stooges on many of their short films. Many of Ullman's shorts were among the best of the Stooges' filmography, and this film proves that in regards to slapstick comedy, Ullman was brilliant. Besides that, I previously mentioned that The Stooges considered Edward Bernds to be their finest director, and such a sentiment would prove true here, as Bernds directs this with the same abilities that he used in the various short films he worked on. In other words, the combination of Edward Bernds, Elwood Ullman, and the Three Stooges was a combination that with chemistry that certainly knew how to deliver slapstick.
To reiterate, The Three Stooges Meet Hercules is a slap happy time that serves as the best of the feature films that the Stooges appeared in during their revival in popularity in the 1960's. Ultimately, the film is an exciting and fun involvement that features The Stooges at their best. While there's no denying that Stooge fans will have fun viewing it, there's also a strong possibility that others will enjoy it as well. Lastly, it's a testament to the staying power that comedic acts like The Three Stooges have, that even after all these years, they still have the ability to delight audiences.
The Three Stooges Meet Hercules is a hilarious comedy delight that is without a doubt the best of the feature films that The Three Stooges starred in. The film proves that even after all of their years of being in show business, The Three Stooges still had the ability to amuse viewers, with there being numerous scenes in this film that are guaranteed to elicit laughter from the audience. Not to mention that the film shows that regardless of the era they appear in, The Stooges are incapable of disappointing those who watch their output.
The film appropriately begins in Ithaca. More specifically, in Ithaca, New York. The Three Stooges work at a drugstore run by a rather patronizing individual named Ralph Dimsal. At the same time, they're also best friends with Schuyler Davis, a young man who is working on an invention, a time machine. This has earned the ire of Dimsal, who taunts and bullies Schuyler at every opportunity (this is evident when he blames him for something that wasn't the latter's fault). In addition, Schuyler also is in competition with Dimsal for the affections of Diane Quigley, a young woman who also works at Dimsal's pharmacy. Shortly thereafter, Dimsal attempts to wreck the time machine so that Diane will leave Schuyler. However, this ends up causing the time machine to work. With that, Schuyler, Diane, and The Stooges are warped back in time to Ancient Greece, where they inadvertently rewrite history when Ithaca is claimed by someone named Odius, who is in fact, Dimsal's ancestor. Before long, they end up being banished to a Galley ship after freeing Ulysses, who Odius had imprisoned. With that, The Stooges' only way of defeating Odius and returning home might involve having to turn Schuyler into their version of Hercules, while at the same time, convincing the real Hercules to help them. The end result is a time traveling good time that showcases The Stooges at their brilliant best.
By this point, the trio consisted of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Joe DeRita, who went by the name of "Curly Joe." Despite the fact that Moe and Larry were getting along in years, they still were able to showcase their comedic abilities to the fullest effect, with them having some absolutely hysterical moments. In regards to Curly Joe, this is his best effort during his time with the group. In my opinion, the reason that Curly Joe worked so well as a Stooge was because he wasn't trying to be like Curly or Shemp. Instead, he used his own character, which blended well with Moe and Larry's characters. Besides The Stooges, it also helps that much like their short films, the supporting cast was effective as well. Quinn Redeker brings a sense of innocence and eventually determination as Schuyler, who goes from a naïve and nerdy inventor to being a fearless individual of Herculean proportions. Vicki Trickett was also delightful to watch, in which she has good chemistry with Redeker, who, with help from his friends, becomes determined to prove himself to her. George Neise was also great, in which he performs dual roles as both the aforementioned pharmacist Dimsal, and his ancestor, Odius, both who are equally loathsome. This is also in line with something that appeared at numerous intervals throughout the Stooges filmography, in which they ended up making friends and enemies out of an assortment of interesting characters.
Furthermore, in line with the typical Stooge format, there are numerous scenes that are hilarious to see. The film wastes no time with the laughs when it begins with The Stooges causing a massive mess in the drugstore, which features a brilliant gag involving Moe tricking Larry into letting his guard down. After going back in time, there are also various sequences that are extremely laugh worthy, such as the Stooges trying to break Ulysses out of prison in hysterical fashion. This is followed by the Stooges disguise themselves as women when they get trapped in a bath chamber with other women, with their cover being blown in a way that's sidesplitting. In other words, without spoiling too much, there are many more intervals that are certain to provoke laughter from those who watch it. It's no coincidence that the film was written by Elwood Ullman, who had frequently collaborated with the Stooges on many of their short films. Many of Ullman's shorts were among the best of the Stooges' filmography, and this film proves that in regards to slapstick comedy, Ullman was brilliant. Besides that, I previously mentioned that The Stooges considered Edward Bernds to be their finest director, and such a sentiment would prove true here, as Bernds directs this with the same abilities that he used in the various short films he worked on. In other words, the combination of Edward Bernds, Elwood Ullman, and the Three Stooges was a combination that with chemistry that certainly knew how to deliver slapstick.
To reiterate, The Three Stooges Meet Hercules is a slap happy time that serves as the best of the feature films that the Stooges appeared in during their revival in popularity in the 1960's. Ultimately, the film is an exciting and fun involvement that features The Stooges at their best. While there's no denying that Stooge fans will have fun viewing it, there's also a strong possibility that others will enjoy it as well. Lastly, it's a testament to the staying power that comedic acts like The Three Stooges have, that even after all these years, they still have the ability to delight audiences.