MATRI-PHONY (1942) -- ThreeStooges.net

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Released July 02, 1942
Featuring Moe, Larry and Curly

Columbia
17.2 min. (Short Subject)

Mohicus, Larrycus and Curlyque run "Ye Olde Pottery and Stone Works" ("The Biggest Chislers in Town") in ancient Erysipelas. Emperor Octopus Grabus is seeking all red-haired maidens for his new bride, and when one hides in their shop the Stooges are arrested as girl hoarders! Escaping, Curly disguises as Diana and becomes Ockie's newest prospect (fortunately the emperor is very near-sighted!).

The first short to use the faster rendition of "Three Blind Mice" as the Stooges' theme music. Like 1938 - 1942's slower version, this arrangement is by Leigh Harline and Ben Oakland; see The Three Stooges Journal # 91 (Fall 1999).

Up thru the final shooting script for MATRI-PHONY, Larry was intended for the featured role, not Curly. That script deviation, plus the original, alternate ending for the short, are transcribed in The Three Stooges Journal # 116 (Winter 2005).

The number of shooting days are unknown; six is an estimate. The short filmed over a period of 3 weeks, and was a troubled production involving material script changes, reshoots and deleted footage. Based on Del Lord's name appearing in Jules White's files it is suspected that he also may have directed some footage, although Harry Edwards is the only credited Director.

Avg. Rating:

[8.27/10]

Cast List

Larry Fine
Larrycus

Jerry Howard
Curlyque

Moe Howard
Mohicus

Marjorie Deanne
Diana

Eddy Chandler
Marcus, guard in pottery shop

Bobby Barber
Snake charmer

Vernon Dent
Emperor Octopus Grabus

Monte Collins
Prime Minister

Max Wagner
Guard

Jack Parker
Guard

Charlie Phillips
Guard

Cy Schindell
Guard

Joe Garcio
Guard

Jack Hill
Guard

Si Jenks
Wino

Ethelreda Leopold
Miss Carthage, scene deleted

Sally Cleaves
Miss Troy, scene deleted

Judy Malcolm
Miss Antioch, scene deleted

Unidentified MATRI-PHONY 1
Guards

Unidentified MATRI-PHONY 2
Beauty contestants, scene deleted

Production Crew

Del Lord
Producer

Hugh McCollum
Producer

Harry Edwards
Director

Del Lord
Director

Monte Collins
Story and Screenplay

Elwood Ullman
Story and Screenplay

George Meehan
Director of Photography

Paul Borofsky
Film Editor

Leigh Harline
Music

Ben Oakland
Music

Stooge Businesses (0)

Stooge Goofs (12)

Diane or Diana?
The actress is referred to as Diane by Moe, but as Diana by Vernon Dent!

Director's Voice
When the Stooges are hanging upside down from the guards' spears, you can clearly hear what appears to be director Harry Edwards telling Larry "Larry, grab a hold on. Larry was the only one who wasn't grabbing onto his guard's trousers, so once the yell was heard off-screen, Larry quickly grabbed hold of the guard.

Disappearing Dollar Day Sign
We see a large sign pasted over the Dollar Day sign, but later when Moe takes off the large sign, the Dollar Day sign isn't behind there anymore.

Dubbed-In Line
When Moe says "You wanna get me in trouble? Easy, buddy, easy!, his mouth isn't moving.

Head in the Jar
After Diana comes out of the jar when she thinks she hears the signal, she quickly ducks her head back in the jar. But in the next shot, she's still looking out the jar, then she sticks her head back in again.

Keep Your Head Up
When Moe puts paste on the wall, the long shot shows him painting Curly's face, but the close-up shows Curly's face down and the top of his head getting painted.

Muted Audio
After the guard asks "So you think they're three nice guys, huh?, Curly's mouth is moving, but we don't hear anything for the first few seconds.

Outline on large pot
You can see the outline of the cut-out on the side of the pot that Diane is hiding inside before the guard crashes through it.

Repeated Shot
The previous scene of Larry about to drink the poisoned wine is repeated in between the scenes when the Emperor asks Curly for a smooch and when the Emperor says, "Leave here, we want to be alone.

Squinting or Not?
When the camera shows a close up of the emperor in the scene where he's introduced, he's squinting his eyes, but in the long shots of him, he's not squinting.

Too Early
When one of the guards asks the knocked-out guard if he saw the Stooges, you can see a hand on the back of the knocked-out guard's collar, but none of the Stooges are holding his neck yet.

Visible wire
A wire is visible on the rope, or snake that the snake charmer is charming outside the Stooges' store.

Stooge Mayhem (Avg. 0.75)

Re: MATRI-PHONY
Posted 2010-04-30 21:28:30 by Shemp_Diesel
Edited 2015-01-16 11:09:14 by Shemp_Diesel

It's a great episode, but I'm curious to know what was it about Harry Edwards behind the scenes that caused the stooges to stop working with him. Judging by the two shorts he directed (two excellent shorts imo) he seemed to have a good handle on how to direct the boys.

8 pokes

Reviewer's Rating:

(8)

Re: MATRI-PHONY
Posted 2001-08-25 01:33:00 by Stooge
Edited 2008-06-13 23:17:34 by Stooge

I didn't really like this much at first, but it really grew on me after a few viewings. Very fast-paced short, hilarious sound-effects (anyone catch the number of times they use the 'plunk' sound effect in this one?), and Curly as "Diana" is great. It's also funny and a bit surprising when Moe tells Curly "go on, get sexy!" The only time in a Stooge short where "sexy" was said.

Reviewer's Rating:

(9)

Re: MATRI-PHONY
Posted 2007-11-16 14:48:28 by skeit

Best Vernon Dent performance period. Awesome short, one of their best. Great lines, as mentioned by previous reviewers, especially the "back of the drapes" line and Curly's "pretty good" cracks me up every time. Pouring the wine out the window into the "wino's" mouth is one of the most memorable scenes in all of the Stooge "canon." Four pokes without a doubt.

Reviewer's Rating:

(10)

Re: MATRI-PHONY
Posted 2006-01-27 13:11:00 by [Deleted Member]
Edited 2006-01-27 19:28:19 by [Deleted Member]

One of the best Vernon Dent performances in a Stooges short--he practically has as much dialogue and comedy as the Stooges themselves. Watch how his expressions and how he delivers his lines carries the dining room scene. Also, the scene where Larry and Curley try to back away from the guards after their arrest is hysterical, especially Larry's good-bye kiss.

Re: MATRI-PHONY
Posted 2003-07-09 00:39:00 by Moe is me

Very good. Nonstop action. Our world today would be different if the Stooges would have been turned loose on the ancient world. Memorable quote: "Go on, get sexy." - Moe

Reviewer's Rating:

(10)

Re: MATRI-PHONY
Posted 2001-08-27 03:42:00 by [Deleted Member]

I love this short! The above mentioned lines about the vitamins, the drapes and "Go on, get sexy!" get me rolling every time! Interesting- I would've always wondered how far back the word "sexy" was first used. I still do, but thanx to the Stooges, I have an idea!You also have to love the names "Moehicus", "Larricus" and "Curly-Cue". "Curly-Cue"? What kind of ancient Greek name is that?!! I also love the name, "Octopus Grabus". Vernon Dent plays him well.ISLIPP- when Larry misses the bum's mouth with that wine! ©2001

Re: MATRI-PHONY
Posted 2001-02-14 12:10:00 by Ichabod Slipp

Good moments (the puppet-guard scene) but tends to drag towards the end, despite the knockout comic potential of Curly in drag flirting with Vernon Dent.

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Title Origin:	Matrimony
Prod. No.:	527
Shooting Days:	6 days From: 1942-03-05 To: 1942-03-25

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