''Outer Space Jitters'' 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,

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 182nd 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. The supporting cast for this short features

Dan Blocker Bobby Dan Davis Blocker (December 10, 1928 – May 13, 1972) was an American television actor and Korean War veteran, who played Hoss Cartwright in the NBC Western fiction, Western television series ''Bonanza''. Biography Early life Blocker was ...

as a creature from outer space.

Plot

The Stooges regale their infant progeny with a narrative of their extraterrestrial exploits. In this tale, they serve as assistants to Professor Jones on an interstellar voyage to the planet Sunev (a reversal of the spelling of Venus). Upon their arrival, they are cordially received by the planet's leader, the Grand Slitz of Sunev. However, it soon becomes evident that the Grand Slitz harbors malevolent intentions to resurrect prehistoric beings and conquer Earth. Professor Jones discerns the nefarious plot but is promptly subdued and restrained. Meanwhile, the Stooges find themselves entangled in amorous encounters with Sunevian females. During a perilous dinner encounter, the trio receives a dire warning from the alien dignitary known as The High Mucky Muck, signaling their impending demise. Determined to thwart the sinister agenda, the Stooges embark on a frantic escapade to escape the clutches of their extraterrestrial hosts. Along the way, they confront a prehistoric antagonist and ultimately succeed in liberating Professor Jones and sabotaging the equipment intended for Earth's subjugation. Upon their return to Earth, the Stooges conclude their narrative, only to be interrupted by the unexpected arrival of a female goon, prompting a hasty retreat out the window.

Cast

as Joe / Joe's Son (as Joe) *

as Larry / Larry's Son (as Larry) * Moe Howard as Moe / Moe's Son (as Moe) * Emil Sitka as Professor Jones *

Gene Roth Eugene Oliver Edgar Stutenroth (January 8, 1903 – July 19, 1976), known professionally as Gene Stutenroth or Gene Roth, was an American film actor and former theater manager. He appeared in more than 250 films over three decades. Early ...

as The Grand Zilch *

Philip Van Zandt Philip Van Zandt (October 4, 1904 – February 15, 1958), sometimes billed as Phil Van Zandt, was a Dutch-American actor of stage, film, and television. He made nearly 250 film and television appearances between 1939 and 1958. Life and career ...

as The High Mucky Muck *

as The Goon (as Don Blocker) * Diana Darrin as Sunev Girl (uncredited) * Arline Hunter as Sunev Girl (uncredited) *

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 Captain Tsimmis (uncredited) * Harriette Tarler as Sunev Girl (uncredited)

Production notes

''Outer Space Jitters'' was filmed on July 25–26, 1957. ''Outer Space Jitters'' features Moe and Larry's more "gentlemanly" haircuts, first suggested by

. These had to be used sparingly, as most of the shorts with Besser were remakes of earlier films, and new footage had to be matched with old. In ''Outer Space Jitters'', however, Larry's frizz is combed back, while Moe retained his sugarbowl bangs. This seeming inconsistency (which would occur in future films) accommodated the gag of a frightened Moe with hair standing on end.Lenburg, Jeff; Howard Maurer, Joan; Lenburg, Greg; (1982). ''The Three Stooges Scrapbook'', p. 264, Citadel Press. This short marks one of the few moments where one of the Stooges breaks the

fourth wall The fourth wall is a performance dramatic convention, convention in which an invisible, imaginary wall separates actors from the audience. While the audience can see through this "wall", the convention assumes the actors act as if they cannot. ...

. As the professor and The Three Stooges are being introduced to the leader of Sunev, Larry says, "And don't forget to see '' Pal Joey'', folks." This is a reference to the film of the same name that was released two months earlier.

References

External links

*
''Outer Space Jitters'' at threestooges.net
{{The Three Stooges 1957 films 1950s science fiction comedy films The Three Stooges films American black-and-white films American science fiction comedy films American space adventure films Films directed by Jules White Columbia Pictures short films 1957 comedy films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films English-language science fiction comedy films

Plot

Cast

Production notes

See also

References

External links