https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0147148/https://threestooges.net/filmography/episode/466YOU'RE NEXT!:
https://moronika.com/forums/index.php/topic,6621.0.htmlWHO DONE IT?:
https://moronika.com/forums/index.php/topic,5542.0.htmlFOR CRIMIN' OUT LOUD:
https://moronika.com/forums/index.php/topic,5726.0.htmlWe enter part 2 of the quadrilogy with PARDON MY TERROR. This was the successor to last week's short, YOU'RE NEXT!, which I have linked. This is eventually succeeded by WHO DONE IT? This short was supposed to be a Three Stooges short, but Curly's illness prevented this. They ran the script as is, with the lines divided between the two.
PARDON MY TERROR is a physical short for non-Stooge Columbia fare, with Dick Lane whacking Gus Schilling (no relation to retired pitcher Curt) several times in this short. They were one of Columbia's strongest non-Stooge teams, and this short shows why when viewed in light of the circumstances. Of course, one can only wonder what the original script was.
Schilling is a goofball in good ways and adapts himself well to Curly's parts. They do a nice job with the "It's warm in here" gag, and overall carry the product well. In particular, they do well with what is a scare comedy. Dick Lane does well as the big bully and really carries himself as the team leader.
The plot is basic and similar to what we are familiar with. There aren't really notable weaknesses in the script that would detract from this. The opening scenes do well as a transition and set the stage. We're clearly in McCollum-Bernds turf here , as Ed directed and prepared the script with Hugh as producer.
The cast is the negative here. Emil Sitka and Dudley Dickerson are fantastic in the opening scenes in their respective roles. Kenneth MacDonald is as perfectly slimy as ever, and he is absolutely fantastic in the scene where, spoiler alert, he gets his ass electric-shocked with 10000 volts. Of course, 10000V won't harm you if it's at 0.4 microamps. Dick Wessel, aka Chopper Kane, is solid here with a goofy villain role. Phil Van Zandt, like Kenneth MacDonald, is wonderfully slimy in a surprise role that highly impacts the plot. Vernon Dent is fine in his limited time.
The ladies. Christine McIntyre is great as always. Is it just me, or does Columbia, in their shorts, always do well at picking appropriate actresses to get bound and gagged? My issue, however, is Lynne Lyons, who reminds me of the mouse-fearing spy from THREE LITTLE SEW AND SEWS. She's about as good at the evil seductress role as coronavirus-19.
Decent stuff
9/10