Some additional thoughts on the other solo shorts. Hopefully there's no big spoilers here.
If anyone else has watched these, feel free to chime in!
Shemp solos:
PICK A PECK OF PLUMBERS - Making Brendel and Shemp plumbers offers an array of clever comedy situations and this one doesn't disappoint. El Brendel is better when he's teamed with someone than he is on his own.
OPEN SEASON FOR SAPS - It had its moments, but lags behind the previous ones on the set. Not a stinker, just not great.
OFF AGAIN, ON AGAIN - Clever plot with Shemp's finance wrongly thinking he was in love with another woman and then Shemp trying to get a gangster (Dick Curtis) to knock him off.... only to eventually want the "favor" called off.
WHERE THE PEST BEGINS - Shemp is in great form. He causes all kinds of problems for his new neighbor (Tom Kennedy). This one starts off well with Shemp fouling things up in his own kitchen.
A HIT WITH A MISS - A remake of PUNCH DRUNKS, though it falls short of the original. It was still fun to see Shemp in the Curly role.
MR. NOISY - Arguably Shemp's finest moments in these solo shorts. The heckling scenes are excellent. The only strike here is that the ending is a little weak.
JIGGERS, MY WIFE - This is a very good, fast-paced marital comedy with Shemp in hot water with this wife for late night poker games and an alleged affair. Symona Boniface stands out as a nosy neighbor. Early Cantrell, who was also in OPEN SEASON FOR SAPS, is pretty good. Too bad she was never in a Stooge short. Are those outdoor scenes in front of the house on the Columbia lot or a residential street?
SOCIETY MUGS - A remake of TERMITES FOR 1938 and it's about as good as the original. The best parts of this short are the last several minutes when mice as discovered in the house. Wild ending. Shemp and Tom Kennedy compliment each other well.
BRIDE AND GLOOM - Another marital comedy, but it's good fun. The Shemp solo series ends on a high note with a great cast - Dent, McIntyre, Willes, H.Conklin, Curtis, Sitka. Lynton Brent and Lew Davis appear for the last time in a Stooge related film.
Bottom Line: These Shemp solos are generally very good and further prove how talented and versatile he was as a performer.
Besser solos:
WAITING IN THE LURCH - Good comedy with Besser playing a groom to be that's obsessed with chasing fires. Clever bit with a fire pole in Besser's house and look for Hugh McCollum's name on the citation on Besser's wall. McCollum produced this short.
DIZZY YARDBIRD - Starts off a little slow, but gets better as the short goes on. Lots of funny business in the mess hall.
FRAIDY CAT - A remake of DIZZY DETECTIVES, which isn't one my favorite shorts to begin with. This one doesn't do anything to improve on it. A little boring.
AIM, FIRE, SCOOT - Good military comedy that will bring back memories of BOOBS IN ARMS. Outdoor shooting is a plus.
CAUGHT ON THE BOUNCE - Very good domestic/train comedy. The notes at threestooges.net indicate this was filmed about a week after CUCKOO ON A CHOO CHOO and the same train set appears to be used in both.
SPIES AND GUYS - Lightning fast military comedy with Besser on a high risk mission in enemy territory. Angela Stevens is lavishing at the end of this one. Has a supporting player ever looked as good? The outdoor shooting is a plus. Might be the best Besser solo.
THE FIRE CHASER - A remake of WAITING IN THE LURCH, but it improves on the original. The new footage at the wedding and the hospital is great. New sequences were shot in July 1954 (threestooges.net) which makes this close to the end of the line for Dent and McIntyre.
GI DOOD IT - A remake of DIZZY YARDBIRD, but an improvement. The remake moves a little better, the new butcher shop sequences are pretty good, and the talking dogs at the beginning and end are cute. Jules White must have been channeling his Dogville shorts from the early 30s.
HOOK A CROOK - A remake of FRAIDY CAT. The few new scenes are good (look for Dudley Dickerson) but they can't save this effort.
ARMY DAZE - A weak remake of AIM, FIRE, SCOOT.
Bottom Line: The 10 Besser shorts offer more good than bad and make him look better than he ever did as a Stooge.
DeRita solos:
SLAPPILY MARRIED - Good short with DeRita playing a husband in hot water with the wife. Great kitchen scene to open the short.
GOOD, BAG EGG - Misses the mark for me. The kid (Norman Ollestead) was pretty unlikable.
WEDLOCK DEADLOCK - Another one that misses the mark for me. This one didn't do much for me.
JITTER BUGHOUSE - In one word: bad. The Novel-ettes are pretty awful.
Bottom line: The series starts off on a strong note, but is followed by two forgettable shorts and a total stinker. I liked DeRita better as a Stooge than I did in these four solo shorts - the opposite of Besser, who I thought shined brighter in the solos.
Overall big picture - While not all winners, these solo shorts are often fascinating and were long overdue to receive a formal release. Several of them can compete with Stooge shorts of the time.
