KOOK’S TOUR is the very last bit of film ever The Three Stooges ever did. At this point, Moe was in his early seventies, Larry in his late sixties and about to have a stroke and Curly Joe was the third Stooge. They were filming footage for some proposed TV show where the boys would be doing shenanigans in national parks with Moe doing the narrating. After Larry had his stroke, Norman Maurer edited some footage into a 50 minute mini feature that barely made the home market and was saved in the 90’s for DVD release. What I see here are the boys coming to grips with age and changing times.
What saddens me the most about KOOK’S TOUR is the fact the boys almost disavow the slapstick and routines that made them great. Part of it may be age, part of it may be they don’t want to be a bad influence on kids, i.e. pressure from the heads of the PTA afraid junior will do an eye gouge - exactly what their motives are we’d have to go in a time machine and ask them. I do know I see the disavowal for The Three Stooges, in 1969, doing that old stuff. Moe bosses Curly Joe and Larry around, so the latter protest that they’re retired Stooges and Moe can’t boss them around anymore. No fight from Moe. Moe is about to do the tried and true warhorse - the arrow points halfway, I don’t know if it’s half empty or half full bit, Larry and Curly Joe stop him saying they don’t do those old routines anymore. Hate it, hate it, hate it! If they want to reinvent themselves this late in the game, at least come up with something worthwhile to replace it. Unfortunately, they failed to do that. They’re just bickering with each other half the time with no comic payoff and the main theme seems to be Larry can’t catch a fish. That’s it.
For a point of comparison, a late in life Buster Keaton made a film for the Canadian government showing off the scenery in Canada the way The Three Stooges show off scenic America here. It’s called THE RAILRODDER and I highly suggest checking it out on YouTube. Keaton, whose physical act was difficult for a young man, is pulling off gags true to his character and his brand of comedy and it’s awe inspiring to watch. No disavowal of the old stuff here, I wish The Three Stooges would have taken note.
Any positive things about KOOK’S TOUR? A few. The scenery is indeed gorgeous. I do like seeing the boys in their autograph scenes, one with pretty young girls and the other with older ladies who probably remember them from back in the day. With the former, the age and height difference - the girls are much taller, brought a smile to my face. Gotta give some props to Curly Joe. Look at him taking a fall while riding that machine that vacuums the forest. Check him out getting wet in the lake. Good for Curly Joe. I can understand Moe and Larry not being able to do that stuff at this point, but some gouges, slaps and back talk could have been done. Oh, and tell me Derita in that L.A. Dodgers cap doesn’t look like Tommy Lasorda.
So yes, KOOK’S TOUR is historically important as the last footage ever of The The Three Stooges. It’s just a shame they seemed to be artistically in crisis while making it.
