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J.Toner
Reviews
Myrt and Marge (1933)
Good but Very Rare Musical/Comedy with Ted Healy and The 3 Stooges
Based on the popular radio show Myrt and Marge of the early 30's, it tells the story of Myrt (Myrt Spear) trying to keep her vaudeville show alive after her financial backer leaves. She gets a new one in her old friend Jackson (Thomas E. Jackson). Along the way backstage handyman Mullins (Ted Healy) is able to recruit his friend, comedian/dancer Eddie Hanley (Eddie Foy Jr.)to join the show. With a need for new young talent to help the show with aging Myrt wanting to step out of the spotlight, Eddie brings in Marge Minter (Donna Damerel) a young dancer/singer who he's falling in love with. Things get complicated when Jackson becomes enamored with Marge and tries to force himself upon her, causing Eddie and him to get into a fight that threatens to put a end to the show for good.
This is a decent musical/comedy movie that is made more enjoyable due to the fact Ted Healy and the three men who would become to be know as The Three Stooges (Moe, Larry and Curly) co-star as backstage workers for the show with hopes to someday star in it. Healy and the Stooges provide most of the laughs and their are some good ones, esp with Healy and the Stooges attempts to deal with the constant attempts of an aspiring singer named Bonnie (Bonnie Bonnell) to try and crash her way into the show.
It's fun to see The Three Stooges film work before they left Healy and went on to become the famous and beloved comedy team they are today.
The main story is well told and there are some decent performances from the actors. There are some funny moments and lines that don't come from Healy and the Stooges which is nice. Plus the ending of the movie is very unique and creative. I won't spoil it, you will have to see it for yourself.
This is a hard movie to find, its never been on video and its rarely shown on cable. I had to go to E-Bay to find a copy of it. Its a neat and rarely seen piece of The Three Stooges film history. If you are a big time Stooges fan and you ever get the chance to see this I recommend that you check this movie out, you just might enjoy it.
Gold Raiders (1951)
The Stooges Go West for Laughs!
I got this on DVD just last month, I've been waiting years to see this and I wasn't disappointed! This is a pretty good movie, it's not a straight comedy western but The Stooges provide the big laughs of course. I really enjoyed the fact they got a lot of screen time. The "magical eyeglasses" scene was hilarious and I also loved their attempt at a doctor exam on a prospective client. The acting from O'Brien and everyone else is pretty good and the plot is simple but with some neat little twists, esp concerning Doc Mason and his daughter.
The only negative thing I could find was that the Stooges are absent for the last good 15 minutes of the movie before the big climactic fight with the bad guys. It dragged in a few parts when the Stooges were absent for a long time.
But other than that I really enjoyed the movie. I wish they had gotten to make more full length movies with Shemp also. It's well worth it to get the DVD with this and "Meet The Baron". Its much better than most of the Curly Joe movies.
If your a Three Stooges fan it's well worth your time to check it out!
Time Out for Rhythm (1941)
The 3 Stooges at their best, stealing the show!
I finally got a copy of this recently thanks to a fellow Stooge fan online.
Wow, this was a great movie! This has to be one of the best movies they did when Curly was with the group. For being in a supporting role here the Stooges get a lot of great screen time and they make the most of it. All the stuff they do in this movie is freaking hilarious. Seeing a healthy Curly do the "Maharajah" Routine is worth it alone, it makes the one a few years later in "Three Little Pirates" with a sick Curly pale in comparison. But that's just the begging of the fun with their gangster impression, the Telegram messengers bit and they even bring back the Melodrama bit they did back in vaudeville with Ted Healy. Then they hit another home run with their Conga Dance at the end with Brenda and Cobina performing with them. Curly was awesome trying to be like Carmen Miranda! I was laughing out loud several times while watching them. I also enjoyed the main storyline because the actors did a great job. Ann Miller was amazing, now that's how you dance! She was something else.
All in all, a good, fun movie that doesn't deserve its rare and obscure status. This should have been put on DVD ages ago! If you can catch it on cable or get a copy from someone like I did its worth it.
You Nazty Spy! (1940)
The 3 Stooges at their best
I've been a fan of The Three Stooges for a long time, and in my opinion this short is one of the best they ever made. "You Natzy Spy!" does a great job of poking fun at Hitler and the Natzi's and much of the politics in Europe at the time. Moe looks so much like Hitler it's scary, a very funny film.
Phantasm II (1988)
My favorite of the series
As much as I enjoy Phantasm, I have to say my favorite movie of the series is Phantasm II, its bigger budget makes the blood, gore and sphere's much more excellent. Reggie really kicks ass in this movie and makes his infamous 4 barrel shotgun (which I love).
The action is great and the ending is too, leaving you hanging for the next sequel. It's not the best movie ever made, but it's an enjoyable one.
Phantasm (1979)
Very Cool Horror Movie
After watching it a few times and buying the re-released version on MGM video (which has footage cut from the movie at the end of the video) I have come to love this movie.
Now I see why it's a cult classic.
The special effects are pretty good for a low budget horror movie, especially the sphere!
Angus Scrimm as the Tall Man just rules, the movie is an eerie, dark, visual and mind bending experience. Any horror movie fan should give Phantasm a try.
The Matrix (1999)
Excellent Movie, A Must See
"The Matrix" is one of the best sci-fi movies i've seen in awhile, and one of the best movies of 1999 so far.
The themes in this movie have been explored in sci-fi before but I was impressed that the movie gives it a new twist and a plot which was pretty sound.
The special effects, camera work, and fight sequences are all incredible and well done. I thought the use of slow motion was excellent and added alot of neat things to the action. The martial arts action was some of the best i've ever seen in a movie.
-Keanu Reeves did a decent job as Neo, much better then some of his last couple of movie roles
-Laurence Fishburne was very cool as the wise and experienced Morpheus. A great performance
-Carrie-Anne Moss was the person that impressed me the most, she was excellent as Trinity. She gave a great performance that made me really like her character.
-and Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith did a great job as the main villian. He gave Smith such a cold, calculating and menacing look and attitude, he also impressed me.
Don't wait too long, go see "The Matrix"