http://www.threestooges.net/filmography/episode/279http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037781/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1Sorry, no video available for this one.
This would be the infamous remake of PUNCH DRUNKS where Shemp plays the Curly role. The Moe and Larry role is played by Robert Williams and Charley Rogers, respectively. Robert Williams played a few support roles in some sick era Curly shorts while Charley Rogers was a Hal Roach actor/writer/director who worked a lot with Stan Laurel and Harry Langdon, the latter he actually teamed up with in a poverty row feature or two. Neither are given much to do, as this is a manufactured "team" just used to fill in the Moe and Larry roles plot wise. Any scene involving great Stooge comic team work, like the outdoor workout scene or them wooing the girl is not remade. The lack of team chemistry in this entry is what ultimately makes PUNCH DRUNKS superior to A HIT WITH A MISS. I don't see much movement in Charley Rogers fretting hand, so I'm assuming he's not really playing the violin, unlike Larry. If someone thinks I'm wrong, tell me.
The real shame about lack of team chemistry is that Shemp himself is born for this role. It's too bad they did not incorporate Shemp's shadow boxing routine, but his eep eeping when weasel plays, his boxing movements, and little gags like trying to tell his opponent (ironically played by Joe Palma), a story as a stall suit Shemp well. Curly was good in this role, especially when weasel played, but Shemp is on the whole time, weasel or no weasel, and I think his natural love of boxing and the fact he incorporates boxing in his physical comedy makes Shemp overall better in the ring. If only he worked with Moe and Larry in this short! As an aside, I want to add the burping gag in the opening scene is lame, but Shemp's likable personality carries it. I like the line about how he's going to need a plumber to get his hand out of the hat, classic Shemp.
This would have been awful with a lesser comedian, as this ideally works best as a team effort, but Shemp really carries this thing.
7/10