''Guns a Poppin!'' 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 179th 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

Moe stands trial for assaulting his comrades Larry and Joe, pleading with Judge (Vernon Dent) that he was under medical advice to maintain tranquility. However, the serenity is shattered by Larry and Joe's raucous rehearsal of their musical act, exacerbating Moe's fragile condition. Losing control, Moe ensnares Larry's trombone apparatus around their collective neck. Concerned for Moe's well-being, Larry and Joe propose a therapeutic hunting excursion to alleviate his stress. Moe eagerly embraces the suggestion, and they embark on their journey. However, their respite is short-lived as they encounter a hungry bear, which pilfers their provisions. Frazzled, Moe implores Larry and Joe to confront the bear, leading to a sequence of mishaps that culminate in the bear absconding with their vehicle. Further complications ensue when the trio inadvertently becomes entangled in a pursuit led by Sheriff, targeting outlaw Mad Bill Hookup. Despite unwittingly capturing Hookup and earning a substantial reward, their subsequent blunder allows the fugitive to escape, incensing the sheriff and prompting Moe to lash out at his companions. Returning to court, Moe concludes his narrative, attributing his need for prolonged rest to his tumultuous experiences. Moved by Moe's plight, the judge exonerates him. However, the verdict elicits dismay from Larry and Joe, and their subsequent altercation with Moe leads to further chaos, compounded by the fortuitous intervention of Larry's resilient cranium.

Cast

Credited

as Moe *

as Larry *

as Joe *

Vernon Dent Vernon Bruce Dent (February 16, 1895 – November 5, 1963) was an American comic actor, who appeared in over 400 films. He co-starred in many short films for Columbia Pictures, frequently as the foil, main antagonist, and an ally to The Three ...

as Judge (stock footage) *

Joe Palma Joe Palma (born Joseph Provenzano; March 17, 1905 – August 14, 1994) was an American film actor. Palma appeared in over 120 films between 1937 and 1968. He was well known as a supporting player for The Three Stooges and his brief tenure a ...

as Mad Bill Hookup *

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 Sheriff

Uncredited

Johnny Kascier Johnny Kascier (born John Kacerosky; July 1, 1889May 10, 1974) was an American actor who appeared in over 90 films between 1932 and 1957. Modern viewers will recognize Kascier as the Emir of Schmow in the Three Stooges film ''Malice in the Palac ...

as Courtroom Spectator *

Paul Kruger Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger (; 10 October 1825 – 14 July 1904), better known as Paul Kruger, was a South African politician. He was one of the dominant political and military figures in 19th-century South Africa, and State Preside ...

as Bailiff (stock footage)

Production notes

''Guns a Poppin!'' 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 ...

of 1945's '' Idiots Deluxe'', using a minimal amount of

stock footage Stock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures, and file footage is film or video footage that can be used again in other films. Stock footage is beneficial to filmmakers as it saves shooting new material. A single piece of stock ...

from the original. All new scenes were filmed on November 28, 1956.Solomon, Jon. (2002) ''The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion'', p. 493; Comedy III Productions, Inc.,

References

External links

*
''Guns a Poppin!'' at threestooges.net
{{The Three Stooges 1957 films 1957 comedy films American black-and-white films The Three Stooges film remakes Films directed by Jules White The Three Stooges films Columbia Pictures short films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films American comedy films