''A Merry Mix-Up'' is a 1957

short subject A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film or ...

directed by

Jules White Jules White (born Julius Weiss; 17 September 1900 – 30 April 1985) was an American film director and producer best known for his short-subject comedies starring The Three Stooges. Early years White began working in motion pictures in the ...

starring American

slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such as ...

comedy team

The Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short-subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical, farce, and slapstick comedy. Six total ...

(

Moe Howard Moses Harry Horwitz (June 19, 1897 – May 4, 1975), better known by his stage name Moe Howard, was an American comedian and actor. He is best known as the leader and straight man of the Three Stooges, the farce comedy team who starred in motion ...

Larry Fine Louis Feinberg (October 4, 1902 – January 24, 1975), better known by his stage name Larry Fine, was an American actor, comedian and musician. He is best known as a member of the comedy act the Three Stooges and was often called "The Middle St ...

and

Joe Besser Joe Besser (born Jessel Besser, August 12, 1907 – March 1, 1988) was an American actor and comedian known for his impish humor and wimpy characters. He is best known for his brief stint as a member of The Three Stooges in movie short subject ...

). It is the 177th entry in the series released by

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

starring the comedians, who appeared in 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

The Stooges play three sets of identical triplets, each born with a one-year interval between them. Following

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, these nine brothers lose contact with one another, unaware of their shared proximity within the same city. Distinguishing characteristics set them apart: one set (comprising Moe, Larry, and Joe) remains single, another (Max, Louie, and Jack) is wedded, while the third (Morris, Luke, and Jeff) is engaged. Their attire, specifically their neckwear — striped ties for the single brothers, no ties for the married trio, and bow ties for the engaged siblings — serves as a visual identifier. The narrative escalates when the engaged brothers opt to revel at a local nightclub. Prior to their arrival, the unmarried set makes an entrance, trailed by their brothers' betrothed partners. Mistaken identities ensue as the ladies mistakenly embrace and bestow affections upon the unsuspecting brothers. Subsequently, the wives of the married trio appear, suspecting infidelity on their husbands' part upon witnessing the scene. Convinced that their intended spouses are already wedded, the engaged brothers receive their engagement rings back from the girls, who then depart. As the engaged siblings enter the scene, they are met with reprimand from their fiancees. A series of misunderstandings ensue as the wives return to confront their husbands, who have been occupied in the kitchen. Amidst confusion, the group decides to revisit the nightclub in an attempt to debunk the allegations. However, the waiter, who remains unconscious throughout the chaos, mistakenly believes their presence and confronts them upon awakening. Amidst the ensuing chase, the engaged and single brothers enter the scene separately, further complicating the situation. Ultimately, the waiter encounters all nine brothers simultaneously, prompting a reaction as he purposely strikes himself with a cleaver.

Cast

Credited

as Moe, Max and Morris *

as Larry, Louie and Luke *

as Joe, Jack and Jeff

Uncredited

Frank Sully Francis Thomas Sullivan (June 17, 1908 – December 17, 1975), known professionally as Frank Sully, was an American film actor. He appeared in over 240 films between 1934 and 1968. Today's audiences know him best as the dumb detective in the '' ...

as Waiter and Narrator * Nanette Bordeaux as May *

Jeanne Carmen Jeanne Laverne Carmen (August 4, 1930 – December 20, 2007) was an American model, actress and trick-shot golfer. Early life Carmen was born in Paragould, Arkansas. As a child, she picked cotton before running away from home at age 13. As ...

as Mary * Ruth Godfrey White as Leona * Suzanne Ridgeway as Jill * Harriette Tarler as Letty *

Diana Darrin Diana Darrin (born Harriet Bernice Tenen; ) is an American actress and singer. She has made over 35 film and television appearances in her career. Early years Darrin is the daughter of Edward and Lillian ( Hymowitz) Tenin (who later divorced); ...

as Jane

Production notes

''A Merry Mix-Up'' was filmed on May 14–16, 1956;''A Merry Mix-Up'' at threestooges.net
/ref> it is a

remake A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the same s ...

Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American double act, comedy duo during the early Classical Hollywood cinema, Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957) ...

's '' Our Relations'' (1936). Felix Adler provided the screenplay for both films. The closing matte shot featuring all nine brothers standing side by side took careful planning to expose perfectly, giving the effect of three Moes, Larrys and Joes. To achieve this, each Stooge had to stand behind a specific marker before each shot was taken. For the final exposure, director

suspected that

was standing behind the wrong marker when compared to the previous two exposures. Larry knew White was wrong, and went to great lengths to prove it. Luckily, Larry prevailed, and saved the studio from having to refilm thousands of dollars worth of exposures.Lenburg, Jeff; Howard Maurer, Joan; Lenburg, Greg; (1982). ''The Three Stooges Scrapbook'', p. 264, Citadel Press.

References

External links

*
''A Merry Mix-Up'' at threestooges.net
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merry Mix Up 1957 films 1957 comedy films The Three Stooges films American black-and-white films Films directed by Jules White Columbia Pictures short films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films