IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD

At least another 30 minutes of footage is still missing; the roadshow, pre-release version ran over 4 hours. Most significant among the missing footage is the split-screen telephone conversation between Spencer Tracy and Buster Keaton... however, complete audio tapes of that scene were found at a garage sale in Paterson NJ in 2002!

At the 40th Anniversary screening at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood earlier this year, Karen Kramer (Stanley's widow) implied that a few, new surprises would be announced in the next year or two.

Nothing could be added to make the Stooges' scene better. It may be 5 seconds, but it's perfect... almost sublime in its brevity. What else could go wrong for Mickey and Buddy? Cut, to a brief scene of the Stooges, and a good example of a perfect gag is realised. Quality, not quantity. I've seen the film a few times in a theater with several hundred other people, and the Stooges' scene is among one of the top laugh-getters. And I've heard the same comment from other theater 'experiencers.'

Reportedly, there is another Stooge scene among the still-lost footage. Supposedly, it's a brief longshot of the Stooges clumsily trying to extract themselves from the firetruck as it rolled onto the airport tarmac. HOWEVER, Stanley Kramer could not recall this footage; some who saw the roadshow version have said they remember it. If it exists, it was directed by the 2nd unit, and in all likelihood that means it used stunt actors as the Stooges (which is likely since the in-motion, physical shot would have been more than the Stooges' ages would permit).

I love this movie, and really liked the laserdisc boxed set which added about 30mins of previously unseen material to the feature. Terry Thomas, Phil Silvers, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar and Ethel Merman are the best. The cameos were also fun - Jack Benny, Jerry Lewis and the 3 Stooges. I wonder though if the Stooges had any extra footage shot that was (and still is) deleted? Their appearance still seems to be too brief and would have benefited from a sight gag.

This film is significant for Stooge fans not for the lack of screen time, slapstick or sight gags by the Stooges, but that they ARE the sight gag. I think that's why the boys agreed to a cameo appearance, they became a parody of themselves.Speaking of slapstick, Milton Berle delivers a beautifully performed "eye-poke" to Terry Thomas in the silly fight scene after Thomas' car overturns. and giff me dose melons!

This is an EXCELENT movie! I saw it in a high school class. The person I was perhaps the most surprised to see in the movie was Norman Fell (Mr. Roper on "Three's Company"). Wait, I take that back- I didn't know at the time that the Stooges were in it! Whatta small part though. It makes me mad that we see other guys playing firemen doing plenty of things. But the Stooges? Nooo! All they do is stand in one place for one second, then we never see them again. Oh well.ISLIPP- on the water that should've come out of the Stooges' fire hose. ®2001

Great movie even though the stooges have just a cameo appearance as firemen. I loved the performances done by all the other actors like Miltion Berle, Sid Caesar, etc.

I never really considered this a "Three Stooges movie" because their part was so small. But, it was very good and funny! Speaking of Three Stooges movies, why isn't "Stop, Look, and Laugh" on this website for discussion? That was a classic!