Three Stooges Collection, the - 1937-1939

Well "Three Stooges" fans can now exhale because Sony Pictures has released the second "Three Stooges Collection" volume two from 1937-1939 with the same amazing video and sound quality as found in the volume one set. Once again fans will be happy to find that all 24 shorts in this outstanding two-disc set are in chronological order and In my opinion they're isn't a bad one in the bunch. By 1937-39 the "Three Stooges" were finding their groove and the quality of their shorts was a testament that bigger and better things were still to come from the trio. As a "Three Stooges" fan who purchased the first "Three Stooges Collection" volume one the 1934-1936 years I wondered if Sony Pictures would continue to release future sets with the same level of quality shorts found in the volume one set or if this was another studio ploy to screw stooge fans out of their hard earned money, yet again. In the past Sony Studios has been famous for releasing products with inferior quality and sometimes canceling future installments for no reason leaving fans with incomplete sets. Of the 24 shorts presented in volume two many of them really stand out "Grips, Grunts and Groans", "Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb", "Three Missing Links", "Calling all Curs" and my personal favorite "Violent is the Word for Curly" are filled with hilarious high jinks as only the three Stooges could serve up for their legions of fans. Volume two is also somewhat of a milestone for the Three Stooges as we are treated to the new stooge theme song as first heard in the short "Flat Foot Stooges". The debut of "Three Blind Mice" melody as the Stooges new theme song, which replaced the "Listen to the Mockingbird." theme is a welcomed change and it enhanced the stooge shorts from then on. Once again Sony Pictures has done an incredible job with the video and sound remastering and they should be commended for their efforts. The digitally remastered video transfers are simply amazing; no longer do these shorts look like they were made over 70 years ago and the completely restored soundtrack is the best I've ever heard. Missing from the newly remastered shorts is the debris, grain, dirt and sound hissing that used to plague these wonderful shorts. The set contains 24 shorts on two single sided discs packaged in slim cases. The disc artwork and packaging is fantastic to say the least, making this set even more attractive and highly collectible for fans to own. On a final note Stooge Fans will be pleased that these newly remastered shorts are finally presented complete and uncut, politically incorrect and in all they're Black & White splendor for fans to enjoy over and over. Hip Hip Hooray! DVD Features: Disc #1 * Grips, Grunts and Groans * Dizzy Doctors * Three Dumb Clucks * Back to the Woods * Goofs and Saddles * Cash and Carry * Playing the Ponies * The Sitter Downers * Termites of 1938 * Wee wee Monsieur * Tassels in the Air * Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb * Violent is the Word for Curly Disc #2 * Three Missing Links * Mutts to You * Flat Foot Stooges * Three Little Sew and Sews * We Want Our Mummy * A Ducking they did Go * Yes, We Have No Bonanza * Saved by the Belle * Calling all Curs * Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise * Three Sappy People

Seriously, there are not a whole lot of things I can say about this collection of timeless, classic Stooge episodes that has not already been said before. However, I really must say that this collection from the last few years of the 1930s is full of some of the best moments in their career that any Stooge fan could ask for. After all, the early years with Curly are where it is at. What is especially notable about this collection is the inclusion of the episode “Violent Is The Word For Curly” from which the super-famous “B-I-Bickey-Bi” song came (please correct me if I spelled that wrong), and still has millions singing along to this day. Another one which is worthy to note is “Goofs And Saddles,” which contains the parts where Moe, Larry and Curly disguise themselves as bushes to spy on the bandits, befuddling them in the process, and not to mention the part near the end of the episode where the meat-grinder turns into a makeshift Gatling gun, enabling the boys to help subdue the bad guys. Not once have I been able to watch these parts and not find myself fighting to stop myself from having an accident in my pants from laughing so hard. Another stooge fan favorite included here is “We Want Our Mummy” in which they expedite to Egypt to find the lost mummy of King “Rooten-Tooten” and a kidnapped professor. Again, as predicted, their antics inadvertently subdue the villains in their tracks. In “Grips, Grunts And Groans,” how could anyone not find themselves rolling on the floor with more laughs upon Curly going crazy at the smell of Wild Hyacinth and beating the living daylights out of everyone within reach? Honestly, I could go on and on for days about all the episodes in this season. After all, it is the Stooges in their prime. What’s NOT to love? Honestly, whether they are smacking each other around, poking each other in the eyes, ruining parties, making a mess, destroying things, or just creating pure havoc in general, the Stooges NEVER disappoint, no questions asked. They have invoked laugher in millions the world over for several generations, and will continue to do so for all generations to come. Quality comedy like this NEVER gets old, it DOES NOT have an expiration date, and it can NEVER be recreated or reinvented. Calling the Stooges “legends” is simply an understatement, and NONE of the childish junk on Disney or Nickelodeon that passes off as “comedy” nowadays can EVER compare to the Stooges and will certainly never, and I mean NEVER stand the same test of time. I should not even have to say that, because that is just common sense! Anyways, just buy this already, and as always my fellow stooges fanatics: N’YUK-N’YUK-N’YUK and WOO-WOO-WOO-WOO-WOO-WOO!!!

Sony should be congratulated for finally doing the right thing and releasing all of the Stooge shorts in order, without any lengthy delays between each set, after years of sporadic "themed" releases. This set starts in 1937, when they weren't quite in the classic mode yet, but soon segues into their early classic era. I once heard it suggested that 'The Sitter-Downers,' their last short of 1937, really marked the beginning of their golden era. I think I'd have to agree that the transition began somewhere around there, particularly now that we have all of the shorts in order to watch. This set also contains two of the Missing 60, 'We Want Our Mummy' and 'Three Little Sew and Sews,' the two shorts on here I was most looking forward to seeing since they were among the few Curly shorts I hadn't seen yet. Once they got into their classic era, they just kept getting better and better, having put all of the final finishing touches on their screen characters, comedic style, and screen relationship. Some of my favorite shorts on this set are 'A-Ducking They Did Go,' 'Three Missing Links,' 'Flat-Foot Stooges,' 'Three Dumb Clucks,' and 'Violent Is the Word for Curly.' I've even heard it suggested by some people that the lattermost short contains the world's first music video, since it's a lip-synched performance of a song in video format! There are a couple of doozies here too, though; 'Back to the Woods' has got to be one of the worst shorts of the Curly era. I've also never cared too much for 'Grips, Grunts, and Groans,' though at least it's not the awful 'Back to the Woods.' Again, Sony should be commended for releasing these Stooge sets in such a speedy fashion, and finally releasing the shorts properly. I do wish there would be some bonus material, but I tend to agree with those who speculate that the bonus material is being saved for the late Shemp and Joe eras, to try to boost up the sales of those less-than-great shorts.

Wow, after years of crummy bootlegs and over-priced unsatisfactory compilations, Sony is finally doing the Three Stooges on DVD the right way, and they have my thanks. The restoration on these shorts, as in Volume 1, is absolutely gorgeous. Some of my personal favorites, like "The Sitter Downers" and "Yes We Have No Bonanza" are included on this set, with Curly at the height of his numb-skull powers. With this and the previous collection you can now own 43 out of 190 total classic Three Stooges short subjects in chronological order for an amazing low price in the absolute highest quality, most pristine condition they've been seen in since they were new in theaters. Again, great work Sony! As a small trade-off there are no extras or commentaries on these sets. I would still pay more for these sets if they contained such material, but to be honest most Three Stooges facts and trivia have been revealed and analyzed hundreds of times over during their various TV incarnations and specials over the years. I say, keep 'em coming just the way they are Sony, please! I want to own them all! Curly, Shemp, Joe -- at these prices and this quality level I'll buy as many Stooge sets as they'll put out until I have all their shorts. I encourage all true knuckleheads to purchase these collections ASAP.

I currently have Volumes 1, 2, 3, and 6, all of which rate 5's, but in comparing these to each other, Volume 2 edges out the others for the top spot. During the years covered by this Volume (1937 to 1939), it is obvious that the Stooges had perfected their style of comedy. Their comic routines roll along at a rapid pace and the scripts are funny. Out of this set of comedies, there are two which are atypical for the Stooges. The first, is "Flat Foot Stooges." From the title, you might expect the Stooges would be policemen, but no, they are firemen. If you are a fan of comedies from the silent film era, you might recognize the striking similarities of this Stooge's short to Mack Sennett's Keystone Kops style of comedy. Perhaps the use of "Flat Foot" in the title is a subtle reference to the idea for the script. . . . The second unique Stooge's short is "Cash and Carry." Most of the film is typical Stooges fare: they attempt to help a young woman and her polio stricken son raise enough cash to pay for an operation. What's unusual is the ending: the Stooges meet the President of the United States! When the door to the meeting room is opened, you see President Roosevelt sitting - cane by his side - facing away from the camera. After FDR grants Executive Clemency to the Stooges, Curly gushes, "Gee Mister President, you are a swell guy!" Was it really FDR? No, he was played by Harry Cohn. Picture (DVD): 3 to 3.5 . Sound: low volume. Subtitles and Languages: none. Special Features: previews.

The Three Stooges were decades ahead of their time. Their type of physical comedy that they pioneered is the absolute hardest to do. Jack Black, Jim Carrey, Steve Carrell, Mike Myers, and even the Wayans brothers, all owe their entire careers to this legendary comedy team. After years of poor transfers and the same repeated shorts on extremely high priced sets of only a few episodes at a time, Sony releases yet another volume of what is hands down the ultimate Stooge fans must-have set. This treasure trove of shorts, many of which have almost never been aired and have not seen the light of day since their original theatrical exhibition back in the late 1930's, is the only special feature you need. If you have any younger children or teens that are fans of newer comedians I strongly urge you to introduce them to the men that invented today's type of comedy. Sure, they might initialy balk at the original Black & White presentation of the shorts, but I can give you a 100% guarantee that once they start watching these legendary masters go to work, they will want to repeatedly visit this wonderful timecapsule of a bygone era that trancends the two tone color of these films. The greatest tribute to these masters of Comedy, is knowing that newer generations are getting introduced to them.

Since most of the other reviews nail this release of the Stooges on the head, I will just get right to the point. In the 1937 episode "The Sitter Downers" I have noticed there is a missing scene. When the Stooges wives tell the stooges to "build a fire for breakfast while they go to the store" Curly accidentally burns the plans for the house. This scene has been cut from the short, but is still referenced later. Moe tells Larry "if that puddin' head hadn't have burned the plans we'd have saved plenty of work". Considering this is an official release by Sony I was very shocked that there are missing scenes. Were these just remastered versions of syndicated (cut) episodes? It makes me wonder what other episodes have scenes cut. I know its nothing big, but an official release shouldn't have omissions like this. That's why I only give it four stars instead of five.

This collection of stooge shorts kicks off with one of the funniest comedies ever put to film. "Grips, Grunts and Groans" is in my eyes an improved version of "Punch Drunks" as the boys tackle the subject of professional wrestling and the stooges display that they were the original innovators of hardcore violence. The closing minutes with Curly going nuts and knocking out people with a ring bell will have you rolling. Easily one of the stooges best films. If I had any reservations about this particular collection, is that this was the time period where Charley Chase began to direct many of the stooge shorts & he was hardly my favorite director. He seemed to have a softer approach to the stooges & in particular, "Mutts to You" seems to strive to put the stooges in the "cute and whimsical" category--a category I would rather not see the stooges in. Also, this time period is when Jules White would begin to step behind the camera & direct and the closing year of 1939 is when Jules and Del Lord would began to crank out classic after classic and continue into the 1940s. Overall, I rate this 4 1/2 stars.

If you're a fan of the Three Stooges like I am, you cannot go wrong with Volume 2. This pair of DVDs contains '24 digitally remastered shorts presented in their original release order' from 1937- 1939. These were their glory years, the years before Curly got sick, when they were at their slap happy best, their fittest and funniest. (I also recommend Volume 1, 1934- 1936.) If you're interested in an episode listing, here it is. 1937- Grips, Grunts and Groans/ Dizzy Doctors/ Three Dumb Clucks/ Back To The Woods/ Goofs and Saddles/ Cash and Carry/ Playing the Ponies/ The Sitter-Downers. 1938- Termites of 1938/ Wee Wee Monsieur/ Tassels in the Air/ Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb/ Violent is the Word for Curly/ Three Missing Links/ Mutts to You/ Flat Foot Stooges. 1939- Three Little Sew and Sews/ We Want Our Mummy/ A-Ducking They Did Go/ Yes, We Have No Bonanza/ Saved By the Belle/ Calling All Curs/ Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise/ Three Sappy People.

Good quality.

What wouldn't you like about the Three Stooges. They are so funny, very good entertainment. Very satisfied with my dvd.

Technically excellent quality, Im a fan they have me rolling in the isles, quiet stupid and crass but so enjoyable, I know some people cant get it and hate them, just love the stupid humour, they are really very clever despite what you may think. keeps me sane watching their childish antics just wish I could have been one of them. Highly recommended. If you like them you won't be disappointed. What story lines there is in some of the items is extremely funny, only wish we could get them in the house of Parliament they certainly wouldn't be out of place their either.

Tapes arrived sooner than we thought and a beautiful addition to our collection