Three Little Sew and Sews
Three Little Sew and Sews is a 1939 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 36th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.
| Three Little Sew and Sews | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Del Lord |
| Produced by | Jules White |
| Written by | Ewart Adamson |
| Starring | Moe Howard Larry Fine Curly Howard Harry Semels James C. Morton Phyllis Barry Bud Jamison Vernon Dent Lew Davis Ned Glass |
| Cinematography | Lucien Ballard |
| Edited by | Charles Nelson |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 15:47 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
The Stooges are sailors employed in a naval base tailor shop. The three steal officer uniforms in order to pursue women. While pretending to be an Admiral, Curly and his "aides" (Moe and Larry) are tricked into stealing a submarine by a pair of spies. The Stooges eventually capture the spies, but whilst reenacting the capture for the real Admiral, Curly accidentally detonates a bomb. The short ends with the Stooges, now angels ascending to heaven, being chased by an angry Admiral, who is also now an angel.[1]
Cast
Credited
- Moe Howard as Moe
- Larry Fine as Larry
- Curly Howard as Curly
- Phyllis Barry as Miss Olga Arvin
- Harry Semels as Count Alfred Gehrol[2]
Uncredited
- James C. Morton as Admiral H. S. Taylor
- Ned Glass as Sailor
- Pat Lane as Lieutenant
- Cy Schindell as Brig guard
- John Ince as Butler
- Vernon Dent as laughing party guest
- Bud Jamison as Policeman
- John Tyrrell as Naval Officer
- Bert Young, Charles Dorety as S.P.'s on submarine
- Lew Davis, Earlene Heath, Elaine Waters, Al Thompson as party guests[2]
Production notes
Three Little Sew and Sews was filmed on March 21-24, 1938, and was the last entry to utilize "Listen to the Mockingbird" as the Stooges' official theme song. It was filmed directly after Violent Is the Word for Curly but before Flat Foot Stooges, the latter being the first film to employ "Three Blind Mice" as the Stooges' official theme song.[2]
The title Sew and Sew is a euphemism on "so and so," a softly worded insult for a person one finds unimpressionable.[3] (generally a "son-of-a-bitch").[2]
Three Little Sew and Sews is one of several Stooge shorts in which a sofa spring manages to become attached to someone's backside. This gag was also used in Hoi Polloi, An Ache in Every Stake, Hugs and Mugs and Have Rocket, Will Travel. In addition, footage of war scenes were later used in Boobs in Arms and They Stooge to Conga. The short is also the fifth of sixteen Stooge shorts with the word "three" in the title.[3]
Unlike most Stooge films, Three Little Sew and Sews ends with the trio being killed. This plot device was only used in a handful of their shorts, among them being You Nazty Spy! and Half Shot Shooters.
References
- Garza, Janiss. "Three Little Sew and Sews (1938)". New York Times Movies. The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
- Three Little Sew and Sews at threestooges.net
- Solomon, Jon. (2002) The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion, p. 140; Comedy III Productions, Inc., ISBN 0-9711868-0-4
