OldFred,
Almost forgot to ask - in what order would you rank the 5 MGM shorts now that you've seen them all?
I don't know if I'm qualified to give a rating, I've seen the shorts, but don't have that good a memory of 'The Big Idea', just remembered the Stooges kept coming into Healy's office and interrupting him by playing on their horns. I'll do what I can here:
Ratings: 1 to 5NERTSERY RHYMES - The first of the MGM shorts with Ted Healy and the Stooges with Bonnie along for the ride. This one is pretty bizarre as the Stooges are playing Ted's 'sons', and they keep insisting that he tell them a bed time story. Bonnie is some weird fairy princess and doesn't really come across as annoying as in other shorts, just weird. This is the first of the shorts in color and the make-up on Ted and the Stooges is pretty heavy. Interesting for it's weirdness factor. Rating: 4
Beer and Pretzels - This one has a conventional plot and the Stooges come off as very funny while Ted not so much. Bonnie actually has a more solid character in this one. Some of the scenes come off as awkward, especially the one with the Stooges and Ted sitting at the table enjoying the floor show. It's like MGM didn't know what to do with them and just told them to sit and look like they're enjoying themselves. Historically, MGM
DIDN'T know what to do with the Stooges, so they just stuck them there. The musical numbers are just ok. Rating: 4
Hello Pop - It was great to finally see this long lost MGM Stooge short. The Stooges again play Healy's 'sons' and have whole scenes without Ted and Bonnie and they shone in those scenes. Ted was actually pretty funny during his scenes. Bonnie kept interrupting Ted and the payoff was kind of limp. The short was in two-strip Technicolor and they REALLY slathered on the make-up on Ted and the Boys, it's most noticeable on Moe. Again, the musical numbers were fine for what they are. Rating: 4 1/2
Plane Nuts - I like this one a lot as it presents a visual record of the Healy and Stooges stage act and gives us a rare glimpse of what their act was like live with Bonnie as part of the act. What I really enjoyed was that Larry had a lot to do in the sketch. This is probably my favorite of the MGM Stooge shorts because of if preservation of the Healy/Stooges stage act. Rating: 5
The Big Idea - Probably the weakest of the MGM Healy/Stooges shorts. It mostly features Ted with Stooges coming in at various times to serenade him on their horns. I've seen this short perhaps once, and while the Stooges were funny, it didn't have a lasting impression on me. Rating: 3
Now, if one of you mugs can do better, I dare ya to cross that line! --------------------------------- there, you see, now you're on my side! Nyuck Nyuck Nyuck!
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