Topic: Three Stooges Collection, Volume 8

[archiezappa]

Any news yet about Vol. 8?  I've really enjoyed Volume 7.  3-D Stooges episodes were definitely worth the wait.  And widescreen?  I never even dreamed of having that on home video.  Well, I did dream one time, but that was in technicolor...

[Sadistic Stooge]

I would love to see vol 8 come out soon , along with the 5 movies
We can only dream 

[falsealarms]

I haven't seen anything. If anything is spotted, someone will have it here in short order.

[Stooges#1]

I'm hoping we get some news soon and im guessing that it should be released in March/April. The good thing with Sony dvd sets is that the 2/3 disc sets are all in slimline packages like we have had all the Stooges volumes to date. The last 4 seasons of Married With Children which are 3 disc sets were in slimline, so if we get all the remaining 31 (or 32?) shorts in volume 8 we can rest assured that they will be in a slimline package. But dont hold my word to it, thats only my guess. 

[stradivarius]

If they continue the three-year format, the collection would be as follows:

Volume 1: 1934-1936
Volume 2: 1937-1939
Volume 3: 1940-1942
Volume 4: 1943-1945
Volume 5: 1946-1948
Volume 6: 1949-1951
Volume 7: 1952-1954
Volume 8: 1955-1957
Volume 9: 1958-1959

However... I don't think Sony will plan the format that way. There would be 24 shorts on Volume 8 and eight shorts on Volume 9. Not only would Volume 9 at eight shorts be the odd one out, but that also would twist the DVD collection out of shape. I still say that they rap up the short productions at number 8, since the remaining 32 shorts should be on it. However, this is my assumption, as Sony might not be able to end the rest of the collection without distorting it. BTW, pretty colors for the sides of the DVD covers. Volumes 8 and 9 are unconfirmed, so those are my guesses.

[stooge1029]

I almost wish they would release a volume 8 with all the remaining shorts. That way by mid way through next year my boyhood dream will have come true....owning all the stooges on dvd. My kid should also be born around that time too so that will be two great things to look forward to in 10.

[Rammer]

I was under the impression that there would be nine releases. If they would put the 16 remaining Shemp shorts on one and the 16 with Joe on another, that would make me extremely happy, as I would not be stuck with any shorts featuring Joe.

[dimelives]

I was under the impression that there would be nine releases. If they would put the 16 remaining Shemp shorts on one and the 16 with Joe on another, that would make me extremely happy, as I would not be stuck with any shorts featuring Joe.

Awww, poor Joe lol...

But truthfully, I agree haha.

[Stooges#1]

I have been thinking about something recently, tell me what you all think.

There were 5 (or 6?) Ted Healy and His Stooges shorts made in the early 30s, does anyone think Sony should've put them at the beginning of disc 1/volume 1 and then Woman Haters after the shorts with Ted Healy? I know they were produced by MGM but I think it might've been wise if Sony paid a fee for them and released them at the start of volume 1. Personally I would've loved that, it would've been one less thing to worry about collecting from the Stooges films.

The cover for volume 1 would have more writting than the rest, maybe: Ted Healy and His Stooges 1933-1934, plus The Three Stooges Collection Volume one 1934-1936. 

[locoboymakesgood]

I thought Vol. 8 was confirmed to be the final volume?

[stooge1029]

I was under the impression that there would be nine releases. If they would put the 16 remaining Shemp shorts on one and the 16 with Joe on another, that would make me extremely happy, as I would not be stuck with any shorts featuring Joe.

You wouldnt want the joes just to complete the set? I know they suck but I figure you gotta have all 190.

[Desmond Of The Outer Sanctorum]

Since my curiosity about the Joe shorts is what got me into the Stooges in the first place, I think I'd have to buy them. Besides, I'd generally rather watch one of the better Joe shorts than most of the Shemp remakes with 75% reused footage.

[locoboymakesgood]

I've said it many times here in the past and I'll say it again:

Hate on the Besser-era all you want, but don't deprive Moe and Larry the credit they deserve. They still put it in good performances with what was given to them. I think it would be more than worth it to own those 16 since a lot of them haven't been seen by casual Stooges fans and you get mainly new material with Moe & Larry, compared to the Shemp remakes. They're not that bad, folks.

[Stooges#1]

I've said it many times here in the past and I'll say it again:

Hate on the Besser-era all you want, but don't deprive Moe and Larry the credit they deserve. They still put it in good performances with what was given to them. I think it would be more than worth it to own those 16 since a lot of them haven't been seen by casual Stooges fans and you get mainly new material with Moe & Larry, compared to the Shemp remakes. They're not that bad, folks.

So true, I am going to cherrish the Joe Besser shorts like I would the rest. Not equally of course, but I want the complete series.

Alot of people look at it as only 16 shorts with Besser. But, maybe it should be looked at it as owning all 190 Moe/Larry shorts rather than 174 Moe/Larry/Curly/Shemp shorts.

[metaldams]

Joe Besser was a god amongst men.  Seriously, I mean no sarcasm with that statement.  I have seen an episode or two with Besser as Stinky in the past and knew he was funny, but for my b-day I just got THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW 100TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION: SEASON ONE, and after going through the first three discs, I can safely say Joe B. was the man.  Not a great Stooge, mind you, but still the man. Put Joe Besser in a Little Lord Faunterloy outfit and tell him to act man-child - wonderful things will begin to happen!  Children smile, flowers bloom, cripples walk, midgets grow, noses grow back on lepers - it's great!  I seriosuly get more laughs out of a single two minute Stinky skit than I do from all 16 Stooge shorts combined.  Just goes to show a comedian is only good when he has the material that best suits him.

[vomit]

Thats awesome!!  Congratulations on the little one.  My boys (6 & 4) love the Stooges, and have been in the process of watching all the shorts in order!!!!!!  My kids are 4th generation Stooge fans.  Now that's pride!

[FineBari3]

That's awesome!!  Congratulations on the little one.  My boys (6 & 4) love the Stooges, and have been in the process of watching all the shorts in order!!!!!!  My kids are 4th generation Stooge fans.  Now that's pride!

That's great! Real pride there.... My Mother still rolls her eyes when I talk about them!

Metal, I completely agree with you about Joe. The man was apparently super-sweet and cherished, truly cherished his time with Moe and Larry.

One of my favorite Stooge moments is all Joe; when he breaks the third wall and says into the camera "I HATE HIM!" My mind is blanking right now on the short's name, of course.

[HELLOLARRY]

I couldn't agree with you more about Joe's work on the A&C Show.  In listening to interviews of Joe in the last years of his life, it struck me that he was just as proud (if not more) of his accomplishments outside of the Stooges than his two years with them.  I haven't seen all of his work mind you and his solo shorts for Columbia are just ok.  When you look at his work on the A&C Show, you could see what he was capable of.

The funny thing is that when most of us (including myself) look back on these things, it is with a critical eye.  I don't think they were looking at quality by the time Joe rolled around, they were just cranking these things out to meet a schedule so we've never (IMO) been able to see exactly what the Stooges would've looked like with Joe since they never really developed an act with him.  Honestly, the series and ideas had run their course by this time. Not sure if that makes sense.

Now when DeRita was brought in, I found that he worked much better with Moe and Larry but I think that was because they had some time to develop an act before they went in front of the cameras with anything (at least I 'think' this is true, I'm not sure about the chronology with DeRita but know they played supper clubs for a bit). I don't think Joe would have worked in the 60s features because he was too youthful for where Moe and Larry were.  DeRita moved at the right pace for them at that time so as a group the features are more rewarding to me than the 16 Besser shorts.

Great thread.

[7stooges]

Last I heard, Sony is planning on releasing the remaining two volumes as follows:

Volume 8: The remaining Shemp shorts (1955-1956) and Shemp's solo Columbia shorts.

Volume 9: All 16 of the Joe Besser shorts (1957-1958) and Joe's solo Columbia shorts.

[locoboymakesgood]

Last I heard, Sony is planning on releasing the remaining two volumes as follows:

Volume 8: The remaining Shemp shorts (1955-1956) and Shemp's solo Columbia shorts.

Volume 9: All 16 of the Joe Besser shorts (1957-1958) and Joe's solo Columbia shorts.

That's not correct. Although the solo shorts are still coming, Sony had decided not to include them in the regular Stooges Collection series. The guy running the show had mentioned that on some message board and it was quoted here.

[BeAStooge]

There were 5 (or 6?) Ted Healy and His Stooges shorts made in the early 30s, does anyone think Sony should've put them at the beginning of disc 1/volume 1 and then Woman Haters after the shorts with Ted Healy? I know they were produced by MGM but I think it might've been wise if Sony paid a fee for them and released them at the start of volume 1.

The MGM Healy/Stooges films are owned by Warner Bros. WB does not license its properties for other studios' products, not even to 3rd party distributors like Shout Factory. Likewise, Sony does not pay to distribute other studios' properties.

Warner has already released a few of the [surviving] Healy/Stooges films, features & shorts (as bonus extras). A couple of the shorts were rumored to be slotted as bonuses in Warners' oft-delayed "Jean Harlow Signature Collection" box set (Healy costarred in two of Harlow's features).

A collection of Healy/Stooges material is also a future possibility from The Warner Archive.

[BeAStooge]

Just goes to show a comedian is only good when he has the material that best suits him.

I recommend...

HEY, ROOKIE! (1944)
EADIE WAS A LADY (1945)
THE DESERT HAWK (1950), Besser & Gleason
SPIES AND GUYS (1953)
SAY ONE FOR ME (1959)

THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM  Jack Goes to the Races (1958) *
THE JOEY BISHOP SHOW (1961 - 1965) **
THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW  How Not to Manage a Rock Group (1968), Besser & The Seeds ***

* On home video
** Season 2 (1962 - 1963) on home video
*** Complete series coming to home video in 2010

[Rich Finegan]

Last I heard, Sony is planning on releasing the remaining two volumes as follows:

Volume 8: The remaining Shemp shorts (1955-1956) and Shemp's solo Columbia shorts.

Volume 9: All 16 of the Joe Besser shorts (1957-1958) and Joe's solo Columbia shorts.

That would be absolutely PERFECT!! Please, PLEASE Columbia do it that way!!
Sure we've heard that they'll be releasing the solo Shemp and Joe shorts later. But pardon me for being dubious (still waiting for the long-promised Columbia Charley Chase shorts set) and I just have to doubt we'll ever see those solo shorts released by Columbia if not as parts of these Stooges sets.

But I'll be delighted if Sony/Columbia would prove me wrong!

[xraffle]

Are the Joe shorts really going to come out on DVD? Pinch me, see if I'm dreaming. Owww! Not so hard.

[7stooges]

That's not correct. Although the solo shorts are still coming, Sony had decided not to include them in the regular Stooges Collection series. The guy running the show had mentioned that on some message board and it was quoted here.

I had no idea. Thanks for the correction!