Moronika
General Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: Dolemite on January 04, 2010, 03:08:48 PM
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I'm putting together a few personal DVDs and it's been impossible to find which are truly the best. My guess is that a DVD hasn't come out like this because with nearly 200 films, there's more of a market to put out compilations.
But let's face it, alot of their films were lame, and some were minor gems.
Any help, greatly appreciated.
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I'm putting together a few personal DVDs and it's been impossible to find which are truly the best.
Videography (http://threestooges.net/videography.php?limit=20&page=6)...
The Three Stooges Collection Vols. 1 - 7
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I'm putting together a few personal DVDs and it's been impossible to find which are truly the best.
But let's face it, alot of their films were lame, and some were minor gems.
If you feel that way, then you're probably not going to have much on that DVD you're trying to put together.
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I'm putting together a few personal DVDs and it's been impossible to find which are truly the best. My guess is that a DVD hasn't come out like this because with nearly 200 films, there's more of a market to put out compilations.
But let's face it, alot of their films were lame, and some were minor gems.
Any help, greatly appreciated.
Want a general consensus? Go to imdb.com, search each individual short by name, and sort out by ratings and number of votes. The regarded classics generally get the higher ratings. What are they? We're talking 190 shorts, really too many to say, but my personal favorite is A PLUMBING WE WILL GO. Oh, and while you're here, this site has ratings to as voted by fans, though I don't think that section's as active as it used to be.
That said, my best of compilation or even the general consensus at imdb may not agree with your best of. You know what they say about opinions - they're like.........well, they smell really bad, that's all.
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I just figured it all depended on taste. What one person thinks is classic another person might not be able to stand to watch. My suggestion is to watch all 190 shorts and then make a call on what is the best of the best.
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It's all just a matter of opinion, but my favorite is Dizzy Pilots. It's the first film I show anyone new to the Stooges.
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But let's face it, alot of their films were lame, and some were minor gems.
Why even bother at all?
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Why even bother at all?
Lol, Locoboy. I was gonna say something about that, too. But I thought I'd keep my bitching to a minimum. :P
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You people are absolutely pathetic and completely childish. If you look at any of the great screen comics (and the Stooges certainly don't fall into that category) you'll see that they all have great films, and misses. Laurel & Hardy went straight downhill after they left Hal Roach, culminating in a terrible finale. The Marx Bros. saw a decline after Thalberg died, finishing off with the unwatchable Love Happy. W.C. Fields didn't always make something on the order of The Bank Dick. There are 100 great lists of films, 100 great lists of comedies, and there are certainly Stooges shorts that are better than others. If any of you had any intelligence, perhaps you would sight their "Del Lord" period as being a very productive one. There is certainly a 10 best list of Stooges films. Instead, you make infantile remarks. The Stooges were very limited comedians of limited acting ability who benefited by having a strange, very different physical comic at one period: Curly. Larry couldn't act, Moe was not funny but just mean. But if you're comparing them to a team as brilliant as the Marx Bros. were, then maybe you need an AA meeting.
But then, what did I expect of a board like this? Who would be leaving posts on a board like this? Assholes.
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You people are absolutely pathetic and completely childish. If you look at any of the great screen comics (and the Stooges certainly don't fall into that category) you'll see that they all have great films, and misses. Laurel & Hardy went straight downhill after they left Hal Roach, culminating in a terrible finale. The Marx Bros. saw a decline after Thalberg died, finishing off with the unwatchable Love Happy. W.C. Fields didn't always make something on the order of The Bank Dick. There are 100 great lists of films, 100 great lists of comedies, and there are certainly Stooges shorts that are better than others. If any of you had any intelligence, perhaps you would sight their "Del Lord" period as being a very productive one. There is certainly a 10 best list of Stooges films. Instead, you make infantile remarks. The Stooges were very limited comedians of limited acting ability who benefited by having a strange, very different physical comic at one period: Curly. Larry couldn't act, Moe was not funny but just mean. But if you're comparing them to a team as brilliant as the Marx Bros. were, then maybe you need an AA meeting.
But then, what did I expect of a board like this? Who would be leaving posts on a board like this? Assholes.
OK, you want an "intelligent" opinion. I say the Stooges best era was between 1937 - 1943. Basically when Jules White and Del Lord were trading off shorts and Curly was healthy and at his peak. After that, Del Lord shorts started losing steam and Curly got sick. My two cents. Then again, your original question wasn't open to intelligent conversation. You simply asked us to help you with a compilation DVD, and like I basically said, opinions are like assholes, my version of crap might be your gold and vice versa, so seek out the answer yourself and enjoy your own compilation. I'm not saying that to be rude, just how I feel about the question.
....and as far as your opinion on the Stooges, y'know, I actually WELCOME it. Look, there are plenty of classic comedy fans who view the Three Stooges, as low brow, lesser than the Marx Brothers and Laurel and Hardy, not worthy to shine Chaplin's big floppy shoes, etc. etc. I personally agree The Three Stooges, for the most part, are not as cerebral as other comedians of the day (though food for thought: imagine if the Stooges worked for Roach and Stan and Ollie for Jules White), but damn it, that's why I love 'em. They're an updated version of Mack Sennett with better pacing and funnier comedians.
Your opinion is welcome, and I look forward to debates if you're up to it. All I ask is you please refrain from calling other board members assholes. I'll let that go this time, but when you enter a Three stooges board and make negative comments about their films, you've gotta expect a little backlash, and honestly, I don't think people insulted you that badly.
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and honestly, I don't think people insulted you that badly.
I think I'm the only one that did and it wasn't even much of one, haha.
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Well I don't want to go too much off the mark here as everyone has an opinion. Personally I think the Stooges had two peak periods. The first being 1936-1942. Quickly off topic, has anyone ever noticed how in films like say IDLE ROOMERS, Curly seems to be very pale? Was it just a makeup thing, my own goofy obersvation, or were things starting to happen to him. You can tell in late '42 into '43, his voice starts having the tired sound that I have when I stay out too late.
OK...back on topic. The second peak period is when Shemp returned and that was 1947 through roughly 1950. Those films are very strong with a few dead ones.
With the sheer volume of films the Stooges made, a great deal of them are just ok or a little below ok, including several duds. However any true hardcore fan of any group, actor etc. can find good moments in just about anything that person does (except for maybe Jerry Lewis's Way..Way...Out but again, I'm off topic) :)
Now I agree that if you throw something negative out there like you did, it doesn't make sense that you would post it on a board where you will get some backlash unless you're just being a wiseguy. :) That being said, I personally don't think that L&H went downhill after they left Roach. There are these things that were written ages ago that still stick out there as law. There are a few Fox films of their's that I would watch before some of the Roach product. I introduced an ex-girlfriends son to Laurel and Hardy with the (notorious) film 'The Big Noise'. He loved it! Personally I think it's one of their more solid films from the 40s.
So these things are all objective and this Stooge community is filled with wonderful people who really have a passion for these guys. I'm not sure what your purpose is. Maybe you can give an example of what you consider a 'gem' and what you consider 'lame'. Again, one mans junk is another mans treasure but I'm always interested in what people think of certain films.
Regarding the labelling of people here? Well, you posted on the board too.
:)
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Dolemite I dont think you have the right attitude about the stooges to begin with. Moe is not funny just mean? How could someone that says this even be interested in putting together a best of collection.
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Why did you join the site if you don't like the Stooges ? I don't care all that much for the Marx Brothers but I don't go to their fan sites and insult people. Seems like you're the one that needs to grow up.
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Why did you join the site if you don't like the Stooges ? I don't care all that much for the Marx Brothers but I don't go to their fan sites and insult people. Seems like you're the one that needs to grow up.
Dolemite decided to delete his account yesterday after posting his little tantrum above. After reading Doug's reply to him I decided to wait a day to see if he would change his mind, but apparently he didn't so I've approved his deletion.
To answer Dolemite's original question, I would have suggested using our Filmography page to help decide, based on the popularity of the shorts. All you need to do is go to "The Columbia Years" on the Filmography menu and sort the page by Average Rating in descending order (the little down arrow to the right of the column name), so the most popular are on top. You can also change the number of results returned on one page by using the pull down menu at the bottom of the list; if you change it to 100, you get the Top 100 fan favorites (http://threestooges.net/filmography.php?team=COL&sort=avgrating&sdir=DESC&page=1&maxrecs=100). Almost all of them get 4 out of 4 pokes; only a few at the bottom of the list get 3.5 pokes. I'd say that makes a fairly reliable list to choose from. ;)
By the way, in the updated version of the site I am changing the rating system to go up to 10 pokes, instead of the current 4. Everyone's current ratings will get adjusted automatically once I'm done.
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Interesting footnote to my comment, above: I just noticed that 7 out of the top 10 favorites on this site are Shemp shorts. :D
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Dolemite,
If you're reading this, TV.com (http://www.tv.com/the-three-stooges-show/show/19062/episode.html?tag=ep_guide;paginator;Top%20Episodes&season=Top%20Episodes) has a nice list of "Top Episodes" based on ratings people gave.
Here is what they currently list as the top 10:
1- A Plumbing We Will Go
2- Healthy, Wealthy, and Dumb
3- Three Little Sew and Sews
4- False Alarms
5- Cookoo Cavaliers
6- Hoi Polloi
7- Violent is the Word for Curly
8- How High is Up
9- No Census, No Feeling
10- Gents Without Cents
But since this website is where most of us stooge fans hang out, you'll probably get a better, more accurate result from Dunrobin's post.
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Answered prayers, a list! Moe Larry Cheese!
Sorry, but the Stooges were never as good for me after I had to stop smoking dubie.
Perhaps it's time to revisit them.
What a curious list; for some reason, it seems to be in reverse order, couldn't figure out why the episode I remember most fondly, where they were plumbers, was at the bottom. with a rating of 9.9. Maybe they consider that one of their best?
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Oopsie! Made a big boo boo on my post above. TV.com had their top episodes in reverse order, so my list was all wrong. I revised my post. Looks much better now, but I'm a bit shocked how "Gents Without Cents" made it to the Top 10. I thought that was one of the weaker shorts.
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Hey Dolemite, nobody said you had to be a fanboy. If you don't like 'em as much as you did when you smoked, no problem. There are days I'd rather watch Keaton or Fields myself, it all depends on my mood.
I already mentioned my favorite is A PLUMBING WE WILL GO, my other two faves being HOI POLLOI and AN ACHE IN EVERY STAKE. The top 100, according to imdb.com (the best movie site on the web, bar none), is as follows. Sorry, I copy and pasted this list and it may appear sloppy, but you get rank, title, rating, and number of votes. Like I also mentioned in my first post, this very site you're on has all the shorts rated and reviewed as well. Rob was a little more detailed in his post.
Rank Title Rating Votes
1 No Census, No Feeling (1940) 8.4 150
2 In the Sweet Pie and Pie (1941) 8.3 172
Who Done It? (1949) 8.3 130
4 A Plumbing We Will Go (1940) 8.2 344
Micro-Phonies (1945) 8.2 234
I'll Never Heil Again (1941) 8.2 170
7 You Nazty Spy! (1940) 8.1 259
An Ache in Every Stake (1941) 8.1 191
9 We Want Our Mummy (1939) 8.0 147
Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise (1939) 8.0 136
Three Little Beers (1935) 8.0 230
Three Hams on Rye (1950) 8.0 59
13 Idiots Deluxe (1945) 7.9 122
Violent Is the Word for Curly (1938) 7.9 246
How High Is Up? (1940) 7.9 140
Crash Goes the Hash (1944) 7.9 121
From Nurse to Worse (1940) 7.9 108
They Stooge to Conga (1943) 7.9 117
Pop Goes the Easel (1935) 7.9 211
Time Out for Rhythm (1941) 7.9 22
Punch Drunks (1934) 7.9 381
22 The Captain Hates the Sea (1934) 7.8 306
Goof on the Roof (1953) 7.8 87
Ants in the Pantry (1936) 7.8 199
Fuelin' Around (1949) 7.8 67
Dizzy Detectives (1943) 7.8 149
Dopey Dicks (1950) 7.8 91
Hoi Polloi (1935) 7.8 260
Half-Wits Holiday (1947) 7.8 165
Pardon My Clutch (1948) 7.8 64
Hold That Lion! (1947) 7.8 130
Boobs in Arms (1940) 7.8 150
Yes, We Have No Bonanza (1939) 7.8 147
Tassels in the Air (1938) 7.8 145
Loose Loot (1953) 7.8 63
Grips, Grunts and Groans (1937) 7.8 196
Heavenly Daze (1948) 7.8 98
Three Sappy People (1939) 7.8 150
39 Scrambled Brains (1951) 7.7 76
A Snitch in Time (1950) 7.7 79
Slaphappy Sleuths (1950) 7.7 62
All Gummed Up (1947)
...aka Sweet Vita-Mine (1947) 7.7 95
Slippery Silks (1936) 7.7 138
Disorder in the Court (1936) 7.7 720
If a Body Meets a Body (1945) 7.7 151
Crime on Their Hands (1948) 7.7 118
Three Arabian Nuts (1951) 7.7 92
48 Studio Stoops (1950) 7.6 79
A Pain in the Pullman (1936) 7.6 152
A Ducking They Did Go (1939) 7.6 184
Loco Boy Makes Good (1942) 7.6 114
Dizzy Doctors (1937) 7.6 182
Squareheads of the Round Table (1948) 7.6 106
The Hot Scots (1948) 7.6 97
Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb (1938) 7.6 150
Uncivil Warriors (1935) 7.6 156
Movie Maniacs (1936) 7.6 158
Dutiful But Dumb (1941) 7.6 148
Playing the Ponies (1937) 7.6 121
Three Little Pirates (1946) 7.6 145
61 Idle Roomers (1943)
...aka The Three Stooges Meet the Wolf Man (1943) 7.5 137
Three Smart Saps (1942) 7.5 121
Mummy's Dummies (1948) 7.5 88
Termites of 1938 (1938) 7.5 112
Spook Louder (1943) 7.5 152
Horses' Collars (1935) 7.5 172
Men in Black (1934) 7.5 427
The Sitter Downers (1937) 7.5 125
Cash and Carry (1937) 7.5 136
So Long Mr. Chumps (1941) 7.5 105
What's the Matador? (1942) 7.5 110
Vagabond Loafers (1949) 7.5 87
73 Goofs and Saddles (1937) 7.4 131
No Dough Boys (1944) 7.4 121
Pardon My Backfire (1953) 7.4 60
Scotched in Scotland (1954) 7.4 69
G.I. Wanna Home (1946) 7.4 88
Matri-Phony (1942) 7.4 103
Blunder Boys (1955) 7.4 88
Three Little Pigskins (1934) 7.4 300
Pardon My Scotch (1935) 7.4 167
Cookoo Cavaliers (1940) 7.4 118
Punchy Cowpunchers (1950) 7.4 87
Phony Express (1943) 7.4 97
Gents in a Jam (1952) 7.4 95
86 Cactus Makes Perfect (1942) 7.3 128
Dizzy Pilots (1943) 7.3 161
Three Little Twirps (1943) 7.3 73
Even as IOU (1942) 7.3 71
Wee Wee Monsieur (1938) 7.3 129
Calling All Curs (1939) 7.3 142
Hula-La-La (1951) 7.3 64
Higher Than a Kite (1943) 7.3 108
Back from the Front (1943) 7.3 114
95 Fright Night (1947) 7.2 134
All the World's a Stooge (1941) 7.2 155
Three Little Sew and Sews (1939)
...aka Three Goofy Gobs (1939) 7.2 105
Corny Casanovas (1952) 7.2 74
Spooks! (1953)
...aka Tails of Horror (1953) (USA: 3-D video title) 7.2 107
I Can Hardly Wait (1943) 7.2 142
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I remember as a kid when Officer Joe Bolton (WPIX Ch. 11 in NY) got Moe to come on, he didn't look like a very happy guy, and there was something a bit odd about a man that age with that kind of haircut.
I also remember my brother and I going to the movies to see the Stooges for the first time on the big screen and being devastated that it wasn't Curly.
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I'm a bit shocked how "Gents Without Cents" made it to the Top 10. I thought that was one of the weaker shorts.
I've always liked it more than some because of the music in it, but I think the reason it's a fan favorite and rated so high on that list is because it includes the Niagara Falls routine.
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I posted a while back that I think we should start a topic where everyone just posts their top 10 stooge shorts and we can rank them based on which were included the most in peoples top 10. Its hard to determine the consensus for best stooge films using a 4 or even 10 star(poke) rating because so many episodes will be tied, just look at the lists posted above. It will take a lot of time and consideration but Im going to try to put together a top ten over the next couple days.
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Men in Black, Uncivil Warriors, , Hoi Polloi, Punch Drunks, False Alarms & Women Haters
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Appleskin why are all your favs from the first three years of the stooges at columbia? They really came into their own around 38 ... doing a top ten is harder than I thought especially since I discovered some great Shep shorts I kinda overlooked. When I was younger I was all about Curly. Top five Curlys are A Plumbing We Will Go, How High Is Up?, An Ache In Every Stake, Dizzy Pilots and Boobs in Arms.
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Stooge 1029
My favorites change over time. I may agree with you that the Stooges came into their own in 1938, but that does not diminish Men In Black, Uncivil Warriors, etc. I also very much enjoy the shorts that you mention.
Years ago, I would never have placed Women Haters in the top five or ten, perhaps. But over time, I have grown to appreciate the freshness of the short, the innocence.
I appreciate Shemp, however, I can not put any of the Shemp shorts in the top five. The crispness in movement and editing is gone. The reliance on violence for violence sake in many of the Shemps detracts from them.
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I'm doing really well with this list, even though it needs to be reversed: http://www.tv.com/the-three-stooges-show/show/19062/episode.html?tag=ep_guide;paginator;Top%20Episodes&season=Top%20Episodes
The fact that the episode where they were plumbers was #1 was to me a good sign, as that has long been my favorite. I've watched the first 10 so far and they were terrific.
I'm sure it's no secret that the complete collection is on Pirate Bay and Demonoid and I'm sure others, but I found that simply putting the title in quotes and adding the word "rapidshare" has brought up all of them.
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I appreciate Shemp, however, I can not put any of the Shemp shorts in the top five. The crispness in movement and editing is gone. The reliance on violence for violence sake in many of the Shemps detracts from them.
Ooh, I don't know about that. I'd say that Three Arabian Nuts has a very energetic comic pace and the editing, especially the bit where the Genius changes Shemp's clothes back to normal (C'mon! It's perfect!), is top notch.
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I'm sure it's no secret that the complete collection is on Pirate Bay and Demonoid and I'm sure others, but I found that simply putting the title in quotes and adding the word "rapidshare" has brought up all of them.
Well all of us here have purchased the DVD sets so I don't think we need scaled back crappy AVI files from scattered sources.
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ThumptheShoes: Perfection? I enjoy the short, but it is not in the top twenty, let alone the top ten or five. The best eShemp shorts, as a whole, do not compare with the best or mid-level Curly shorts.
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ThumptheShoes: Perfection? I enjoy the short, but it is not in the top twenty, let alone the top ten or five. The best eShemp shorts, as a whole, do not compare with the best or mid-level Curly shorts.
One of my all time favorite Stooge shorts is " Who Done It ? " In my opinion it stacks up with any of the Curly shorts.
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ThumptheShoes: Perfection? I enjoy the short, but it is not in the top twenty, let alone the top ten or five. The best eShemp shorts, as a whole, do not compare with the best or mid-level Curly shorts.
Warning: Short answer is below!
Yes, the bit where Shemp is running down the corridor and his zoot suit changes back to the chinos and work shirt is perfect! From the filmmaking side, the setup and delivery of the gags within the film are executed in exemplary form.. Though older, the Boys' energy levels and comic timing are top notch .. And the short itself typifies the whole "urban" premise of the later Stooges-- the shorts that take place indoors, where the boys often have steady employment and, seemingly, life outside the four (or, three!) walls of the story. They're caught up in events while working towards a goal, rather than fumbling their way through the next adventure, or just faking their way through the odd job.
There's no sketch feel to it like, say, Men in Black, which consists of setups for general, unrelated instances of hospital tomfoolery. But there's one difference in the styles right there: story. Simple, concise and to the point but, within it's own confines handled very well. The frenetic, early Curly era rarely suffered pacing issues (Except in cases like the wrestling bit in Restless Knights!) as the shorts were bursts of pure energy. Later on and with Shemp, we get direction, structure (repetition!) and solidity of characters as the boys had settled into their personas.
Did we lose some of that naive, boyhood, piss-and-vinegar energy of the early 30's with the development of the act, and the boys as performers and individuals? Maybe it was a tradeoff? (As in, the act had to mature as the actors did..)
Short Answer: It is in my top 20, for sure.
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I believe the best Three Stooges films came from their Golden Age. Some that come to mind include Men in Black, Pop Goes the Easel, You Nazty Spy!, A Plumbing We Will Go, and An Ache in Every Stake.
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ThumptheShoes:
I appreciate your excellent comment and analysis of the later Stooge (Shemp) short & shorts. You certainly provided me with some things to think about. However, I guess that I appreciate the Depression Era Stooges for their strong anti-establishment nature, their anti-high society beliefs. They were the "outsiders", they often represented the outcasts of society. It was often up to the Stooges to show that the emperor has no cloths, whether that was high society in the art world, the fashion world or as veterans of WWI. The Stooges told it like it was.
But I will look anew at Shemp and later Curly's with your comments in mind. As a fifty year "veteran" of Stooge watching I appreciate it. By the way, ThumptheShoes, you may appreciate this. My father passed away about ten years ago. The last time I was with him we watched the Stooges ogether. The last question that he asked me was, "What time do the Stooges come on (TV)". I told him, said good bye to him. He passed away the next day. It was the last time that I spoke to him or saw him alive;
Take care