''Corny Casanovas'' is a 1952

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

Shemp Howard Shemp Howard (born Samuel Horwitz; March 11, 1895 – November 22, 1955) was an American comedian and actor. He is best known as the third Stooge in The Three Stooges, a role he played when the act began in the early 1920s (1923–1932), while i ...

). It is the 139th 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 released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

The Stooges engage in household chores with joyful anticipation of their impending marriages, oblivious to the fact that they are all betrothed to the same woman, Mabel. Amidst their cleaning endeavors, comedic mishaps abound. Shemp, in an attempt to utilize a pistol handle as a makeshift hammer, inadvertently triggers the firearm, resulting in Moe's distinctive sugarbowl hairstyle being split down the middle. Subsequently, their efforts to reupholster a davenport lead to further chaos, with Moe enduring various indignities including having his clothing mistakenly trimmed and being bombarded with upholstering tacks from a makeshift machine gun. Following the completion of their chores, each Stooge separately ventures to Mabel's residence to propose, each bearing an engagement ring. The revelation of their shared engagement prompts a frenzied altercation, culminating in the Stooges incapacitating each other. Seizing the opportunity, Mabel swiftly procures three engagement rings and slips away amidst the chaos.

Production notes

''Corny Casanovas'' was filmed on December 3–5, 1951. It was remade with

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 ...

in 1957 as ''

Rusty Romeos ''Rusty Romeos'' is a 1957 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges ( Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Joe Besser). It is the 181st entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the ...

'', using ample recycled footage.Solomon, Jon. (2002) ''The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion'', p. 403; Comedy III Productions, Inc., A mild variation of the Stooges' theme song "

Three Blind Mice "Three Blind Mice" is an English nursery rhyme and musical round.I. Opie and P. Opie, ''The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1951, 2nd edn., 1997), p. 306. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 3753. ...

" was used for this film. This version would be used throughout 1952. Director

distinguished himself through the incorporation of numerous comedic elements centered around physical humor, particularly involving depictions of violence directed at the buttocks. While such humor was perceived as coarse by other directors at Columbia Pictures, White viewed it as integral to the comedic essence of the Stooges' brand. He maintained a steadfast commitment to this style of humor, considering it a defining characteristic of the Stooges' comedic repertoire, and thus, essential to the authenticity of their comedic performances.Okuda, Ted; Watz, Edward; (1986). ''The Columbia Comedy Shorts'', pp. 24-26 McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers.

Memorable quotes

*Larry: "The tacks won't come out!" *Shemp: "They went in. Maybe they're income tacks!"

References

External links

*
''Corny Casanovas'' at threestooges.net
{{Casanova 1952 films 1952 comedy films The Three Stooges films American black-and-white films Films directed by Jules White Columbia Pictures short films American comedy short films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films