''He Cooked His Goose'' 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,

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 140th 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

Larry engages in philandering behavior, embarking on an extramarital affair with Moe's wife, Belle, while also exhibiting romantic interest in Shemp's fiancée, Millie. Moe, upon discovering Larry's deceitful actions, confronts him at his pet shop, expressing his displeasure. Employing quick thinking, Larry manipulates the situation to persuade Moe of his innocence, thereby quelling Moe's anger. Recognizing the need to deflect blame, Larry implicates Shemp as the culprit. Subsequently, Larry secures a job for Shemp as an underwear salesman, orchestrating a scenario where Shemp visits Moe's residence to showcase his merchandise to Belle. Exploiting the opportunity, Larry deceitfully contacts both Millie and Moe, fabricating tales of Shemp's advances towards Moe's wife. Incensed by the misinformation, Millie and Moe rush to Moe's home, with Moe brandishing a loaded firearm. Fearing for his safety, Shemp eludes capture by fleeing up the chimney. Capitalizing on the festive season, Shemp disguises himself as Santa Claus to deceive Moe before making his escape. Meanwhile, Shemp encounters Larry, realizing his complicity in the scheme. In retaliation, Shemp incapacitates Larry and disguises him as Santa Claus, intending to mislead Moe, Millie, and Moe's wife. Unveiling the ruse, Moe pursues Larry, ultimately resorting to gunfire. However, in a series of misfortunes, Moe inadvertently shoots himself in the foot while celebrating the apparent resolution of the situation.

Cast

Credited

* Moe Howard as Moe *

as Larry *

as Shemp *

Mary Ainslee Mary Ainslee (born Florence Stiegler; October 12, 1914 – November 1, 1991) was an American film actress. She appeared in approximately 15 films between 1939 and 1952. Early years Ainslee was a native of Newport News, Virginia, and the daught ...

as Belle * Angela Stevens as Millie * Theila Darin as Miss Lapdale

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 Waiter/Moe's stand-in * Charles Cross as Larry's stand-in * Harold Breen as Shemp's stand-in''He Cooked His Goose'' at threestooges.net
/ref>

Production notes

''He Cooked His Goose'' was reworked in 1959 as '' Triple Crossed'', using ample

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. It is one of only three films in which

is the main character. The other two where he takes the lead role are ''

Woman Haters ''Woman Haters'' is a 1934 musical short subject directed by Archie Gottler starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges ( Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Jerry Howard). It is the inaugural entry in the series released by Columbia ...

'' and '' Three Loan Wolves''. ''He Cooked His Goose'' was filmed on January 7–9, 1952 when Christmas trees were available, but not released until July. When Belle answers the door for Shemp, the Christmas tree she was hanging earlier with Moe is missing. Over the course of their 24 years at Columbia Pictures, the Stooges would occasionally be cast as separate characters. This course of action always worked against the team; author Jon Solomon concluded "when the writing divides them, they lose their comic dynamic". In addition to this split occurring in ''He Cooked His Goose'' (and its

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 ...

'' Triple Crossed''), the trio also played separate characters in '' Rockin' in the Rockies'', '' Cuckoo on a Choo Choo'', '' Gypped in the Penthouse'', '' Flying Saucer Daffy'' and '' Sweet and Hot'', this was also the last Three Stooges short that was filmed before Curly Howard's death.

References

External links

*
''He Cooked His Goose'' at threestooges.net
{{The Three Stooges 1952 films 1952 comedy films The Three Stooges films English-language Christmas comedy films 1950s Christmas comedy 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