I've only seen a couple, Art Trouble being one. To say the least it's interesting to see James Steward second billed, in tiny letters, to Shemp Howard. I don't remember the name of the other short I saw, but Shemp was paired with another young actor who, I think, became a well known character comic of the Phil Silvers mold. They were both grunt seamen at some naval base, working as barbers. At one point they give a haircut to a visiting foreign officer, whose head gets shaved polished to a mirror-like finish, with the two "barbers" admiring their reflections in the officer's bald head. I thought both shorts were first rate.
Already in my brief time as a member I've noticed there's a lot debate as to whether Shemp or Curly was the better Third Stooge. For me, at least, Curly's surrealistic, bizarre style evokes a visceral response which Shemp doesn't. On the other hand Shemp was probably more versatile as an actor. I think this is suggested by the significant demand he enjoyed during his non-Stooge hiatus. Then again, it's a hard thing to judge with regard to the other two, because once they became Stooges, they remained Stooges to the end.
